He answered with grave courtesy all remarks made to him, but immediately lapsed into a sombre abstraction, from which it seemed difficult to rouse him.
At the end of the supper Lord Howe rose to his feet, made a dashing little speech to the company, full of fire and enthusiasm, and proposed the toast: "Success to the expedition against Ticonderoga!" Fritz happened to be looking at the grave, still face of Major Campbell, and as these words were spoken he saw a sudden spasm pass across it.

The soldier rose suddenly to his feet, took up his glass for a moment, put it down untasted, and with a bow to his hostess pushed aside his chair, and strode from the room in an access of visible emotion.
Lord Howe looked after him a moment, and draining his glass, seemed about to go after the guest; but young Alexander, from the other side of the table, made him a sign, and he sat down again.
The incident, however, seemed to act like the breaking up of the supper party, and the guests rose and left the table, dispersing quickly to look after bag or baggage or some last duty, till only Mrs.Schuyler, Lord Howe, Fritz, and Lieutenant Campbell were left in the supper room.
It was then that young Alexander looked round and said, "It was the name you spoke which affected my father so strangely--the fatal name of Ticonderoga!" "Fatal! how fatal ?" asked Lord Howe quickly.
"You have not heard the strange story, then ?" "No; what story ?" "It concerns my father; it is the cause of his melancholy.

When you have heard it you will not perhaps wonder, though to you the incident may seem incredible." "I have learned that there are many things in this world which are wonderful and mysterious, yet which it is folly to disbelieve," answered Howe.

"Let us hear your story, Campbell.

I would not have spoken words to hurt your father could I have known." "I am sure you would not; but hear the tale, and you will know why that name sounds in his ears like a death knell.
"Long years ago it must have been when I was but a little child--my father was sitting alone over the fire in our home at Inverawe; a wild, strange place that I love as I love no other spot on earth.
He was in the great hall, and, suddenly there came a knocking at the door, loud and imperative.