At that important moment--at the critical instant of the attempt--
the clatter of female voices was heard approaching the chamber.
They must have suddenly come round some passage corner, for it was
evident by the sound that they were close upon us before we had any
warning of their advent. At this very minute Mr. Horne was somewhat
embarrassed in his attempts, and was not fully in possession of his
usual active powers of movement, nor of his usual presence of mind.
He only looked for escape; and seeing a door partly open, he with
difficulty retreated through it, and I followed him. We found that
we were in a small dressing-room; and as by good luck the door was
defended by an inner bolt, my friend was able to protect himself.
"There shall be another siege, at any rate as stout as the last,
before I surrender," said he.
As the ladies seemed inclined to linger in the room it became a
matter of importance that the above-named articles should fit, not
only for ornament but for use. It was very cold, and Mr. Horne was
altogether unused to move in a Highland sphere of life. But alas,
alas! General Chasse had not been nurtured in the classical
retirement of Ollerton. The ungiving leather would stretch no point
to accommodate the divine, though it had been willing to minister to
the convenience of the soldier.
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