nephew, made love to Desdemona, which shows that color
does not make so much difference as one would think.
Now I do hope your man will not make love to Hannah,
I don’t think she would like it, my dear, and
yet you know she might; one never knows what women
will do; they are always making fools of themselves,”
she added angrily, thinking at the moment how a young
girl she had trained up as a cook had, after being
with her three years, left a few weeks before to marry
the village blacksmith, “and I should be sorry
to lose Hannah. She has been with us more than
twenty years. If he must fall in love with one,
my dear, let it be the cook.”
Tom had a great command of his countenance, but he
had great difficulty in steadying his muscles.
After a moment or two he said, “I will give
Sam a hint, aunt, if it becomes necessary, but I do
not think you need fear. I do not fancy Sam is
matrimonially inclined at present, and he wouldn’t
leave us even to marry Desdemona herself. Good
night, aunt.”
So saying, Tom went upstairs, where he repeated to
Peter, who was still awake, his conversation with
his aunt, and the two went into shouts of laughter
over the idea of Sam making love to the prim Hannah.
The next six months passed over quietly and happily.
The boys were made a great deal of by the whole county,
and Miss Scudamore was greatly gratified at the name
and credit they had gained for themselves. She
no longer worried about them, but as Rhoda declared,
quite spoiled them, and as Sam made no attempt to win
the love of the faithful Hannah, there was no cloud
to mar the pleasure of the holiday.
Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos.
It was in the beginning of December, 1811, that the
Scudamores again sailed up the Tagus to Lisbon, after
an absence of just six months. When they had
passed the medical board, they were transferred from
the unattached list to the 52d Regiment, which was,
fortunately for them, also in Spain. No events
of great importance had taken place during their absence.
Wellington, after the battles of Fuentes d’Onoro
and Albuera, had been compelled to fall back again
to the frontier in the face of greatly superior forces,
and had maintained his old position on the Coa till
the approach of winter compelled the French to retire
into the interior, where they had their magazines and
depots.
The Scudamores found that the 52d were encamped on
the Agueda, and they at once prepared to go up country
to join them. Their chargers—presents
from their aunt on leaving—were fresh and
vigorous, and they purchased a strong country horse
for Sambo, who, thanks to some practice which he had
had in England, was now able to cut a respectable
figure on horseback. A few hours were sufficient
to make their preparations, and at noon on the day
after landing, they mounted, and, followed by Sam,
accompanied by a muleteer and two mules carrying their
baggage, they started from the hotel at which they
had put up.
