soon ripened into love, although John had not sufficient courage to encounter the advocate at his own residence, not being positive that he had quite forgiven the trick which had been played upon him.
CHAPTER X.
MADAMOISELLE DUPONT.
Captain Campbell was not at all sorry that the mischievous Ensign had raised a barrier to his introduction to the family, and thus saved himself any apprehension of being ousted from the affections of Miss Forbes, never dreaming that John's affections were already fixed upon another of the young ladies. Another objection the Captain had to the acquaintance was the dread of being exposed, through the witticisms of John Lom, in the presence of the ladies.
Some days after the ball, the Captain again began to twit the Ensign upon the obstacle he himself had made to his introduction to the family, and set forth in glowing terms the favourable footing he had among them, stating that he had been commissioned to select a French lady to instruct the Misses Forbes in that language, and that he had advertised for one.
The Ensign, who had patiently borne with all the Captain's teazing while listening to his braggadocia, at last proposed, to the Captain's as well as Charlie's surprise, to renew the wager—that he would a second time introduce himself to the company and dupe the Captain again. This was eagerly snapped at by the Captain, in order to recover his favorite charger, for to deceive him a second time was, in his opinion, an impossibility. Thus the three passed the time pleasantly, and Charlie's disappointment was greatly relieved by the pleasant company in which he daily mixed.
A case of considerable importance came before the courts of law at this time, in which Advocate Forbes was engaged, which occupied a great deal of time for several days. This was a favourable opportunity for the
