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COLONEL HILL'S GIG.

My aunt is a woman of easy fortune, agreeable person, and ladylike manners, who, rather late in life, out of some romantic feeling of attachment to a youthful friend, so far overcame her reluctance to a married life, as to unite herself to the widower of her early companion. She had, according to her own account, while in the prime of youth and beauty, resisted the most advantageous offers to establish herself in the world; but being of a turn of mind more than commonly liberal, though she preferred a single state herself, she by no means approved of the same choice in others; on the contrary, she exerted her utmost influence over all her connections to persuade them of the propriety of settling speedily in life. She had latterly been trying her powers of eloquence on this subject in our family, telling my mother that knight-errantry being long since past, when gallant cavaliers used to hunt impatiently through the world in search of beauties, the change in the fashions of the times now required the beauties to take the trouble of looking for the knights. I fancy my father and mother were of the old school, for they certainly did not act upon my aunt's advice, and my four sisters and I lived on at home unmarried, as she had predicted.

The widower had been left with a family of young children, whom he educated with the greatest care. My aunt was reckoned to make a very indulgent step-mother, and, excepting a few peculiarities which had acquired the force of habits during her long life of singleness, she was as comfortable a second wife as the widower could have met with. She is rather of a sentimental turn, and in her youth had written many pretty pieces of poetry, which being mostly of a melancholy cast, were supposed to have given great softness to her character. As her husband's family grew up, the daughters married, and the sons dispersed, and my uncle himself was the first to propose an invitation being dispatched to one of their nieces. My four sisters and I had been rather in the back ground with my aunt since the neglect of her advice with regard to our establishment; but she is an extremely good-natured woman, and reflecting that we were more to be pitied than blamed, she determined on burying all former unkindness, and in future to manage our affairs herself. Though I, the eldest, am something past the full bloom of youth, my aunt was too great a friend to order and regularity in families to prefer one of my younger sisters before me. Accordingly, her carriage, her maid, and her trusty servant, Joseph, were sent to my father's for me.

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I wonder, my dear," said she to her husband, on the first night of my arrival, "I wonder, my dear, whether Colonel Hill really came "home to-day? Betty tells me a gentleman's carriage passed the gate "in good time this morning, and took the turn up to Blessingley."

So many gentlemen's carriages pass that way," said my uncle, who was drinking his wine after dinner, and reading the newspaper. "Yes, my dear," pursued my aunt, "but this was a yellow "carriage, a chariot, which you know is his, and two men on the

"box, and he always travels with two men, and they turned up past "the corner while she stood watching them, and went at a good "round pace."

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My uncle is a grave man; he only smiled, "there are so many yellow carriages, and the road to Blessingley leads to so many "other places....," he began.

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"So it does, but Mrs. Finch told me on Saturday, her master was expected certainly some time this week. If I had thought, I "might have made Joseph enquire at the toll-bar when he went for "the bag. I wonder, my dear, you did not think of that?—I really "wish he were come, he is such a very agreeable man. The sort of "man, Kate," continued my aunt, turning to me," that I am quite sure you will like."

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"Is he handsome, ma'am?" said I.

"Handsome, my dear! who thinks of beauty in a man? You "are too sensible a girl, Kate, to be attracted by beauty. No, my dear, I will not do you that injustice. One of your younger sisters "might indeed with more reason talk of beauty;" she laid a provoking stress on the word younger, "but you...., no, Colonel Hill "certainly is not handsome, not regularly handsome, my dear," said she to her husband, "I don't think you would call Colonel Hill 66 handsome?"

"Who? Hill?" exclaimed my uncle, "I think he's about as ugly a man as I ever saw in my life."

My aunt could not help laughing." Well, perhaps he is "plain!- Yes, he certainly is plain, but so agreeable."

"Is he tall, ma'am?" said I, for I was much amused with the conversation.

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No, not tall, certainly not tall; you wouldn't call Colonel Hill dear?"

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"I call him little better than a dwarf, my dear," answered my uncle provokingly.

"Nonsense, Mr. Pelham; that's ridiculous-that's going quite "to the other extreme-that's quite absurd. Colonel Hill certainly "is not tall, but he is most extremely clever, fascinating, and "agreeable."

"Is he dark or fair, aunt?"

"I declare I can hardly tell. He has been so long in India "that."

"Has he been long in India, ma'am?”

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Why,a few years. Yes, ten years in India you know, Kate, "tell more than twenty at home, &c."

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"Dear me, ma'am, I am afraid this friend of your's must be very old and very ugly?"

By no means, my dear, you take me up quite wrongly, Kate. "Besides, he's no such particular friend of mine; you talk so much "yourself, you don't hear a word I say. I dare say you would think "such a man as Frank much the most charming of the two, because "he is six feet high, has fine eyes, and a hussar uniform; girls are so

"6 perverse and so self-conceited. Not but what I've a great affection "for Frank, my dear," continued my aunt, looking kindly on my uncle, "but to compare a young man just entering life to a man " of Colonel Hill's experience, you know is absurd."

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Quite," said my uncle, smiling, "Frank has his way to fight "in the world, poor fellow, and Colonel Hill, Kate, has a good house "well fitted, and well furnished, and three good thousand a year to " spend in it."

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"Three thousand at least," said my aunt.

After all this, it was a little tantalizing to find that the yellow chariot had not belonged to Colonel Hill. Joseph learned nothing further at the toll-bar than that it had passed the gate to Blessingley; and Mrs. Finch told my aunt's housekeeper, when they met at Farmer Cope's on a bargain for turkeys, that there was no word of the colonel yet. Still my aunt always hoped that some bright morning would bring him over to call; he was an old man, and liked to pop in unawares on people; and we never paid a visit in the neighbourhood that she did not expect he would suddenly arrive to make one of the company. But we were doomed to suffer perpetual disappointment: Colonel Hill never appeared, he was still in London; though what he could be doing there, at this absurd time of year, was more than my aunt could make out. "Courting a "wife, perhaps," said my uncle coolly. "Nonsense," said my aunt; "how ridiculous, Mr. Pelham! Wives in London in November!"

About this time, in the midst of our despair, we received an invitation from one of my uncle's daughters, who was settled at some little distance in a neighbouring county. It was a christening party, and there was expected to be a grand concourse of relations. "Surely," said my aunt, "Frank will never be so absurd as to ask "leave of absence for such nonsense! But young men are so silly; "and he is so foolishly fond of his sister. I only hope he won't offer "a visit here. I hate encouraging young people in idleness."

It was a very cold foggy morning when we set out. There had been a great fall of snow followed by a hoar frost, and I did not augur well of the comforts of the journey; for I was immured between my uncle and aunt, neither of them very spare in their persons, and any attempt to enlarge the ledge of seat allotted to me was frustrated by my uncle's great drab coat on one side, and my aunt's bandbox, with her best turban and feathers, on the other. In addition to this, two newly killed hares lay at my feet, and a waggon and team of horses, for one of the little boys, beside them.

We turned into the Blessingley road, and my aunt made one effort more to hear news of her favorite colonel. She bid the postillions stop at the Lodge.

"Yes, ma'am, master be come home, that is, he but five miles 'off," said the woman who came to the gate. "At Lord Carwinton's, "ma'am, at the Hall; but we don't expect master home afore "Tuesday or Wednesday week; he have another visit to pay twelve or fifteen miles away. We don't expect him afore Tuesday week."

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"Twelve or fifteen miles off, Mr. Pelham," said my aunt; depend upon it, he is going to the christening: he is a great friend "of Caroline's. Lord Carwinton's did she say? I am not surprised "at that, he has very fashionable acquaintance. Look at Blessingley, "Kate, isn't it a pretty place? Capital gardens you see, and every "kind of luxury."

It was a comfortable looking place, certainly, but not otherwise remarkable, though my aunt dwelt with emphasis on its perfections, for a mile or two. She was stopt by the men suddenly checking the horses to make way for a carriage that was driving furiously down a cross lane into the public road. It was only a gig, containing two gentlemen muffled up to their eyes in cloaks, furs, and neckcloths. They bowed slightly as they passed.

"God bless my soul," exclaimed my aunt," is not that the road "from Lord Carwinton's, Mr. Pelham? To be sure it is, and that's "the colonel, I knew him directly. Stop," cried she to the servant, letting down the glass hastily, and leaning out she bowed most complacently to the hedge.

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My dear," said my uncle quietly, "I don't think that's the "colonel."

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"But, my dear," returned my aunt, "I am sure it is. Didn't you see how intimately he bowed?"

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"Oh dear,

"But he never travels in a gig," said my uncle. yes! he does, Mr. Pelham. Don't you remember he came to us, "in the summer, in a gig--a green gig. Joseph, was that a green "gig?" called my aunt, thrusting her head a second time out of the window.

"I don't know, I'm sure, ma'am," answered Joseph, touching his hat.

"Didn't you look?"

"No, ma'am, I did not,” replied Joseph again with equal ceremony.

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"That man never sees any thing, I believe," said my aunt, pulling up the glass with a jerk. "It's very odd that some people "make no sort of use of their eyes: however, I am quite convinced "that was the colonel: I know his fur cap. I wish we could find "out: it's so disagreeable not to be certain. I am quite sure he is going to Caroline's, that's the road. How many miles did the woman at the Lodge say, Kate? Twelve or fifteen, wasn't it? Exactly the distance you know, Mr. Pelham. Very odd he should "have been so near and never called on us. I declare," continued she, putting her head out again from the side window, "there they are, before us still! a good way on! They will just be hurrying "forward to rest their horses at the Nag's Head."

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The Nag's Head was a public house in a small village, about half way between the regular stages. My aunt stopped there to get change. As she drew her long purse from her pocket, she looked eagerly round for the gig, but the yard was quite empty.

"How tiresome!" exclaimed she, "I'm sure I thought they took

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"this road. Pray, Mr. Hodson, wasn't there a gig went by just now -a green gig with two gentlemen in it very much muffled up ?" "There might, indeed, ma'am, I was in the stable and didn't see. Thomas, Thomas Hostler! was there ever a gig passed within "this few minutes?"

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My dear," said my uncle, "how can you make yourself so "ridiculous. What does it signify?"

"A green gig with two gentlemen in military cloaks?" screamed out Thomas Hostler.

"There, now, Mr. Pelham, military cloaks," said my aunt, nodding wisely to my uncle, and setting herself more comfortably in her seat.

"Yes, ma'am," said Mr. Hodson, "the gentlemen stopt a "minute just to water their horses, and went on again directly."

As she

"Thank you, Mr. Hodson. Just the people we saw, my dear," pursued my aunt, half appealing to my uncle. "Go on." spoke, the noise of wheels approached us, and, before we could any of us utter a single exclamation, the green gig passed again. Again the two gentlemen bowed.

"There, look you out at this window, Kate. Oh! you don't "know him. Out at that window Mr. Pelham-quick. Is it the "colonel or not? I really begin to believe it can't be he. Where "in the world can they have been? Through all the cross-roads in "the country, I suppose. It's a very extraordinary thing. Joseph ! "do you think that's the colonel now?"

"No, ma'am, I don't indeed; I didn't see no sabre cut over the "gentleman's left heye; and I looked pretty sharp too."

My aunt threw herself back upon the seat: " Well! it is the "strangest adventure !"

"As good as the stout gentleman," said my uncle; " isn't it, my "dear? But I hope, for your satisfaction, it will end more tangibly." "Oh dear no, uncle,” said I; "it would spoil the whole plot if "the colonel were ever to appear. He should be like Antony White'-always invisible."

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"I'm not at all clear, now," said my aunt, gravely, "that it's "he at all."

"Nor 1," said my uncle.

"Yet they bowed," continued my aunt. "They must be going "to the christening, however, whoever they are. We shall soon "I declare," pur

"see, the road divides at the next mile-stone. "sued she, looking intently at the wheel tracks; "I declare they "have taken the right road; they have indeed: I can trace the fresh "marks quite plain."

Even my uncle was roused by this, and leaning out, he strained his eyes over the snowy path.-"Good, Mary, I believe you're right. "If it should be the colonel after all!"

"Why you may depend upon it Caroline would invite him; "take my word for it he will be there. See now, Mr. Pelham, you may track them all the way as plain as possible. Look!"

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