Sentence:  However, here's our young friend here never heard it, and it will be a treat to her, especially if what they say of young ladies in general be true, that the mischances and misadventures and <WSD>cowps</WSD> of us old bachelors are just marrow to their bones. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A reversal of fortune; An unexpected misfortune.