reaming
over their faces; the latter with faded flowers, uncurled wigs, smudged
rouge, blear eyes, draggling feathers, rumpled satins--each more
desperately melancholy and hideous than the other--each, except my
beloved Belinda Bulcher, whose raven ringlets never having been in curl,
could of course never go OUT of curl; whose cheek, pale as the lily,
could, as it may naturally be supposed, grow no paler; whose neck and
beauteous arms, dazzling as alabaster, needed no pearl-powder, and
therefore, as I need not state, did not suffer because the pearl-powder
had come off. Joy (deft link-boy!) lit his lamps in each of her eyes
as I entered. As if I had been her sun, her spring, lo! blushing roses
mantled in her cheek! Seventy-three ladies, as I entered, opened
their fire upon me, and stunned me with cross-questions, regarding my
adventures in the camp--SHE, as she saw me, gave a faint scream, (the
sweetest, sure, that ever gurgled through the throat of a woman!)
then started up--then made as if she would sit down--then moved
backwards--then tottered forwards--then tumbled into my--Psha! why
recall, why attempt to describe that delicious--that passionate greeting
of two young hearts? What was the surrounding crowd to US? What cared we
for the sneers of the men, the titters of the jealous women, the shrill
"Upon my word!" of the elder Miss Bulcher, and the loud expostulations
of Belinda's mamma? The brave girl loved me, and wept in my arms.
"Goliah! my Goliah!" said she, "my brave, my beautiful, THOU art
returned, and hope comes back with thee. Oh! who can tell the anguish
of my soul, during this dreadful, dreadful night!" Other similar
ejaculations of love and joy she uttered; and if I HAD perilled life
in her service, if I DID believe that hope of escape there was none, so
exquisite was the moment of our meeting, that I forgot all else in this
overwhelming joy!

*****

[The Major's description of this meeting, which lasted at the very
most not ten seconds, occupies thirteen pages of writing. We have been
compelled to dock off twelve and a half; for the whole passage, though
highly creditable to his feelings, might possibly be tedious to the
reader.]

*****

As I said, the ladies and gentlemen were inclined to sneer, and were
giggling audibly. I led the dear girl to a chair, and, scowling round
with a tremendous fierceness, which those who know me know I can
sometimes put on, I shouted out, "Hark ye men and women--I a