"
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 distinguished 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 cannonball 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 commanded 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 headquarters, with the
news that his father was cleared, he was the bearer of a very
handsome present from Charlie to his faithful servant Stanislas,
who had, on their return from Poland, been at once employed by
Count Piper on other service.
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