Then, turning to the father, he proceeded, "Then, sir, I am to understand a Mr. Harper has not been here?"
"Mr. Harper?" echoed the other; "yes, I had forgotten; but he is gone, and if there is anything wrong in his character we are in entire ignorance of it."
"He is gone--how, when, and whither?"
"He departed as he arrived," said Mr. Wharton, gathering confidence, "on horseback, last evening; he took the northern road."
The officer turned on his heel, left the apartment, and gave orders which sent some of the horsemen out of the valley, by its various roads, at full speed.
Then, re-entering the room, he walked up to Wharton, and said, with some gravity, "Now, sir, may I beg to examine the quality of that wig? And if I could persuade you to exchange this old surtout for that handsome blue coat, I think you never could witness a more agreeable metamorphosis."
Young Wharton made the necessary changes, and stood an extremely handsome, well-dressed young man.
"I am Captain Lawton, of the Virginian Horse," said the dragoon.
"And I, sir, am Captain Wharton, of His Majesty's 60th Regiment of Foot," returned Henry, bowing.
The countenance of Lawton changed from quaintness to great earnestness, as he exclaimed, "Then, Captain Wharton, from my soul I pity you!"