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           Hehaddischargedhisownduty,andhenowpressedtothesideoftheoldman,toknowinwhatparticularhemightservehim.

           "Mydaughters,"wasthebriefbutexpressivereply.

           "Goodheavens!arenotarrangementsalreadymadefortheirconvenience?"

           "To-dayIamonlyasoldier,MajorHeyward,"saidtheveteran."Allthatyouseehere,claimaliketobemychildren."

           Duncanhadheardenough.Withoutlosingoneofthosemomentswhichhadnowbecomesoprecious,heflewtowardsthequartersofMunro,inquestofthesisters.Hefoundthemonthethresholdofthelowedifice,alreadypreparedtodepart,andsurroundedbyaclamorousandweepingassemblageoftheirownsex,thathadgatheredabouttheplace,withasortofinstinctiveconsciousnessthatitwasthepointmostlikelytobeprotected.ThoughthecheeksofCorawerepale,andhercountenanceanxious,shehadlostnoneofherfirmness;buttheeyesofAlicewereinflamed,andbetrayedhowlongandbitterlyshehadwept.Theyboth,however,receivedtheyoungmanwithundisguisedpleasure;theformer,foranovelty,beingthefirsttospeak.

           "Thefortislost,"shesaid,withamelancholysmile;"thoughourgoodname,Itrust,remains."

           "’Tisbrighterthanever.But,dearestMissMunro,itistimetothinklessofothers,andtomakesomeprovisionforyourself.Militaryusage—pride—thatprideonwhichyousomuchvalueyourself,demandsthatyourfatherandIshouldforalittlewhilecontinuewiththetroops.