And the
shadow of the thought was, that he deserved the punishment!
He was in his garden with the dawn. Hard exercise is the best of opiates
for dismal reflections. The General discomposed his daughter by offering
to accompany her on her morning ride before breakfast. She considered
that it would fatigue him. 'I am not a man of eighty!' he cried. He could
have wished he had been.
He led the way to the park, where they soon had sight of young Rolles,
who checked his horse and spied them like a vedette, but, perceiving that
he had been seen, came cantering, and hailing the General with hearty
wonderment.
'And what's this the world says, General?' said he. 'But we all applaud
your taste. My aunt Angela was the handsomest woman of her time.'
The General murmured in confusion, 'Dear me!' and looked at the young
man, thinking that he could not have known the time.
'Is all arranged, my dear General?'
'Nothing is arranged, and I beg--I say I beg . . . I came out for fresh
air and pace.'..
The General rode frantically.
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