True it was, he observed,
that the more dreamy and impulsive nature of woman engendered within
her erratic fancies, which often started her on strange tracks, only
to abandon them in sharp revulsion at the dictates of her common
sense--sometimes with ludicrous effect. Events which had caused a
lady's action to set in a particular direction might continue to
enforce the same line of conduct, while she, like a mangle, would
start on a sudden in a contrary course, and end where she began.
The Vice-President laughed, and applauded the Colonel, adding that
there surely lurked a story somewhere behind that sentiment, if he
were not much mistaken.
The Colonel fixed his face to a good narrative pose, and went on
without further preamble.
DAME THE SEVENTH: ANNA, LADY BAXBY
By the Colonel
It was in the time of the great Civil War--if I should not rather,
as a loyal subject, call it, with Clarendon, the Great Rebellion.
It was, I say, at that unhappy period of our history, that towards
the autumn of a particular year, the Parliament forces sat down
before Sherton Castle with over seven thousand foot and four pieces
of cannon. The Castle, as we all know, was in that century owned
and occupied by one of the Earls of Severn, and garrisoned for his
assistance by a certain noble Marquis who commanded the King's
troops in these parts. The said Earl, as well as the young Lord
Baxby, his eldest son, were away from home just now, raising forces
for the King elsewhere.
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