wife of another. "And can it be possible," thought he, "that the son of her to whom I spoke can be destined to become so happy a man. Can he be worthy of her? I much doubt it, for who on earth can be worthy of such an angel!"
In this untoward event that had occurred to him, his reigning, strong disposition to melancholy returned with increased force, so as to cause him to suppose his earthly happiness blasted for ever. All future events were alike indifferent to him: "Fate," he exclaimed, "do with me what you please; dispose of me and my fortunes, for indeed I seem marked out to be thy sport and victim!"
Thus, ever in the extremes of happiness or grief, he sunk into one of his habitual fits of gloom and despair: when an order was issued, stating that all officers absent from such and such regiments were immediately to repair to head quarters, there to hold themselves in readiness to embark for foreign service. Not having yet sold out, Harcourt could not think of leaving the army at such a critical juncture; voluntarily therefore, and without hesitation, he submitted to the necessity of rejoining his regiment. Time might heal the recent wound his heart had received; but whether or not, he left England frustrated in his pursuits
