352 A JACOBITE EXILE

indeed, such as very few young fellows can have. He
enters our army as a captain under the eye of Marlborough
himself, with a reputation gained under that of the greatest
soldier in Europe. So we have no reason to regret the past,
cousin, and on that score you have no cause for grief. As
to the future, I trust that it will be bright for both of us,
and I think,” he added meaningly, “our former plans for
our children are likely to be.some day realized.”

Four years later, indeed, the union that both parents had
at heart took place during one of the pauses of the fierce
struggle between the British forces under Marlborough, and
the French. At Blenheim, Ramillies, and Oudenarde, and
in several long and toilsome sieges, Charlie had distin-
guished himself greatly, and was regarded by Marlborough
as one of the most energetic and trustworthy of his officers.
He had been twice severely wounded, and had gained the
rank of colonel. Harry Jervoise—who had had a leg shot
away below the knee by a cannon-ball at Ramillies, and
had then left the army with the rank of major—was, on the
same day as his friend, married to the daughter of one of
the gentlemen who had been driven into exile with his
father.

In the spring Charlie again joined the army, and com-
manded a brigade in the desperate struggle on the hill of
Malplaquet, one of the hardest fought battles in the history
of war. Peace was made shortly afterwards, and at the
reduction of the army that followed he went on half-pay,
and settled down for life at Lynnwood, where Tony Peters
and his wife had, at the death of the former occupant of
the lodge, been established.

When Harry Jervoise returned to the Swedish head-
quarters with the news that his father was cleared, he was the
bearer of a very handsome present from Charlie to his faith-
ful servant Stanislas, who had on their return from Poland
been at once employed by Count Piper on other service.