lied at
head-quarters for leave of absence for his son; whom he immediately
summoned up to London, where his own duties, as member of parliament,
would detain him for some time.

Under any other circumstances, Captain Pollexfen would have been delighted
with this arrangement; but, as it was, he would infinitely have preferred
being allowed to marry Mary at once. However, there was no help for it.
Old Mr. Chambellan, himself urged the duty of immediate obedience to his
father's summons, and Pollexfen departed.

For many weeks his letters were as frequent as the post would carry them.
He was very miserable under the separation; and, much as she loved him,
Mary could not wish him to be otherwise. His regiment was suddenly ordered
abroad; the necessary hurry of preparation, and the order to join his
detachment at Canterbury without delay, rendered it quite impossible for
Captain Pollexfen to see Mary before his departure. He wrote her a tender
farewell, sent her his picture, and exhorted her to write frequently, and
never to forget him for an instant; promising, of course, everlasting
constancy for himself.

There was little chance that Mary should forget him, in that old lonely
house, without either friends or neighbors. Besides, the possibility of
ceasing to love her affianced husband never occurred to her. With Captain
Pollexfen it was different. Under no circumstances was his a character
that would bear absence unchanged; and the distraction of foreign scenes,
and the excitement of his profession, soon banished the image of Mary from
his mind. At length he felt it a great bore that he was engaged to be
married. The regiment remained sixteen months absent, and he heartily
hoped that she would have forgotten him.

Mary's father died shortly after her lover's departure; the family
property descended to her brothers, and she was left entirely dependent
upon them. Captain Pollexfen's letters had entirely ceased; Mary had
received no communication for more than six months, when she saw the
return of his regiment announced, and his name gazetted as colonel. He,
however, neither came to see her, nor wrote to her, and Mary became
seriously ill. She could no longer conceal her sufferings from her
brothers. Under the impression that she was actually dying, they wrote to
her lover, demanding the cause of his silence, and telling him of her
situation. Colonel Pollexfen was conscience-stricken by this letter. He
declared to the b