XVI.
The hunting party returned. The commissioner was inexhaustible in William’s praise. “After such proofs of skill,” said he, “it seems next to ridiculous that I should call for any other test: but to satisfy old ordinances, we are sometimes obliged to do more than is absolutely needful; and so we will despatch the matter as briefly as possible. Yonder is a dove sitting on that pillar: level, and bring her down.”
“Oh! not that—not that, for God’s sake, William,” cried Katharine hastening to the spot, “shoot not, for God’s sake, at the dove. Ah! William, last night I dreamed that I was a white dove; and my mother put a ring about my neck; then came you, and in a moment my mother was covered with blood.”
William drew back his piece which he had already leveled; but the commissioner laughed. “Eh, what?” said he, “so timorous? That will never do for a forester’s wife: courage,
