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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: A Song of a Single Note</p> +<p> A Love Story</p> +<p>Author: Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr</p> +<p>Release Date: February 22, 2011 [eBook #35358]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SONG OF A SINGLE NOTE***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Darleen Dove, Ernest Schaal,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-cvr.jpg" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a><img src="images/illus-fpc.jpg" alt="THE SONG OF A SINGLE NOTE." title="THE SONG OF A SINGLE NOTE." /><br /> +<span class="caption">THE SONG OF A SINGLE NOTE.</span> +</div> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/002.png" alt="A SONG OF A +SINGLE NOTE + +A LOVE STORY + +By +AMELIA E. BARR + +Author of "The Bow of Orange Ribbon," "The Maid +of Maiden Lane," etc. + +[Decoration] + +New York +DODD, MEAD & COMPANY +1902" title="A SONG OF A +SINGLE NOTE + +A LOVE STORY + +By +AMELIA E. BARR + +Author of "The Bow of Orange Ribbon," "The Maid +of Maiden Lane," etc. + +[Decoration] + +New York +DODD, MEAD & COMPANY +1902" /> +</div> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<p class="cnobmargin"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1902,</span></p> + +<p class="cnomargins">By <span class="smcap">Dodd, Mead & Company</span>.</p> + +<p class="cnotmargin"><i>First Edition published October, 1902</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="cnobmargin">THE BURR PRINTING HOUSE,</p> + +<p class="cnotmargin">NEW YORK.</p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<p class="cnobmargin">TO</p> + +<p class="cnotmargin">MY FRIEND,</p> + +<p class="center">DR. STEPHEN DECATUR HARRISON:</p> + +<p class="cnobmargin">An American who loves his country "Right or Wrong,"</p> + +<p class="cnotmargin">And who always believes she is "Right,"</p> + +<p class="cnobmargin"><span class="smcap">This Novel</span></p> + +<p class="cnomargins">IS WITH MUCH ESTEEM</p> + +<p class="cnotmargin">DEDICATED.</p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<p class="h2">Contents</p> + +<p class="indent">CHAPTER <span class="ralign">PAGE</span></p> + +<ul class="TOCRSC"> +<li>Red or Blue Ribbons <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></span></li> + +<li>The Fair and the Brave <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">21</a></span></li> + +<li>Life in the Captive City <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">50</a></span></li> + +<li>A Song of a Single Note <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">75</a></span></li> + +<li>Love's Sweet Dream <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">103</a></span></li> + +<li>The Intercepted Message <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">134</a></span></li> + +<li>The Price of Harry's Life <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">160</a></span></li> + +<li>The Help of Jacob Cohen <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">185</a></span></li> + +<li>The Turn of the Tide <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">211</a></span></li> + +<li>Maria Goes to London <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">253</a></span></li> + +<li>The Question of Marriage <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">283</a></span></li> + +<li>Love and Victory <span class="ralign"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">306</a></span></li> +</ul> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<p class="h2">List of Illustrations</p> + +<p class="right">PAGE</p> +<ul class="TOCU"> +<li><span class="smcap">The Song of a Single Note</span>—<span class="ralign"><a href="#illus1"><i>Frontispiece</i>.</a></span></li> + +<li><span class="smcap">Maria lay dressed upon her bed</span><span class="ralign"><i>facing</i> <a href="#illus2">100</a></span></li> + +<li><span class="smcap">The drummers and fifers in front did not see him</span><span class="ralign"><i>facing</i> <a href="#illus3">208</a></span></li> + +<li><span class="smcap">He caused the small boat to put him on shore</span><span class="ralign"><i>facing</i> <a href="#illus4">320</a></span></li> +</ul> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2>PROLOGUE.</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Love, its flutes will still be stringing,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Lovers still will sigh and kneel;</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Freedom sets her trumpets ringing</span><br /> +<span class="i2">To the clash of smiting steel."</span><br /> +<span class="i0">So I weave of love and glory,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Homely toil, and martial show,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Fair romance from the grand story</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Lived a century ago.</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h1>A Song of a Single Note</h1> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">RED OR BLUE RIBBONS.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">It</span> was the fourth year of the captivity of New +York, and the beleaguered city, in spite of military +pomp and display, could not hide the desolations +incident to her warlike occupation. The beautiful +trees and groves which once shaded her streets and +adorned her suburbs had been cut down by the army +sappers; her gardens and lawns upturned for entrenchments +and indented by artillery wheels; and +some of the best parts of the city blackened and +mutilated by fire. Her churches had been turned +into prisons and hospitals, and were centres of indescribable +suffering and poisonous infection; while +over the burnt district there had sprung up a town +of tents inhabited by criminals and by miserable +wretches whom starvation and despair had turned +into highwaymen.</p> + +<p class="indent">But these conditions were the work of man. Nature +still lavished upon the captive city a glory of +sunshine and blue skies, and winds, full of the freshness +and sparkle of the great sea, blew through all +her sickly streets. Wherever the gardens had not +been destroyed, there was the scent of mays and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 2]</span> +laburnums, and the indescribable beauty of apple +blossoms on the first day of their birth.</p> + +<p class="indent">In front of one of these fortunate enclosures, belonging +to a little house on Queen Street, an old +gentleman was standing, looking wistfully in at a +trellis of small red roses. He turned away with a +sigh as a man dressed like a sailor touched him on +the arm, saying, as he did so:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, then, Elder, a good afternoon to you? I +am just from Boston, and I have brought you a +letter from your son."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You, De Vries! I didna look for you just yet."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You know how it is. I am a man of experience, +and I had a good voyage both ways."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And Robertson and Elliot and Ludlow will have +a good percentage on your cargoes?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is the way of business. It is as it ought +to be. I do not defraud or condemn the Government. +It is the young—who have no knowledge or +experience—who do such things."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What do you bring in, Captain?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Some provisions of all kinds; and I shall take +back some merchandise of all kinds—for them who +can not get it in any other way."</p> + +<p class="indent">"To Boston again?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"This time only to the Connecticut coast. The +goods will easily go further. The trade is great. +What then? I must waste no time; I have to live +by my business."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And I have nae doubt you think the 'business' on +the King's service."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Every respectable man is of that way of thinking. +We carry no military stores. I am very precise +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 3]</span> +about that. It is one of my principles. And what, +then, would the merchants of New York do without +this opening for trade? They would be ruined; and +there would also be starvation. They who say different +are fools; we give help and comfort to the +royalists, and we distress the rebels, for we take from +them all their ready money. If the trade was not +'on the King's service,' the Governor would not be +in it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Even so! That circumstance shows it is not far +out o' the way."</p> + +<p class="indent">"'Out of the way!' What the deuce, Elder! I +am a deacon in the Middle Kirk. My respectability +and honesty cannot be concealed: any one can see +them. Batavius de Vries would not steal a groschen; +no, nor half of one!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Easy, easy, Captain! Why should you steal? +It is far mair lucrative to cheat than to steal; and +the first is in the way o' business—as you were remarking. +But this or that, my good thanks for the +letter you have brought me; and is there anything I +can do in return for your civility?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you will kindly call at my dwelling and tell +Madame I am arrived here safe and sound; that +would be a great satisfaction for us both."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I pass your door, Captain, and I will tell Madame +the good news. Nae doubt she will gie me a +smile for it."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then De Vries turned away with some remark +about business, and Elder Semple stood still a moment, +fingering the bulky letter which had been given +him; and, as he did so, wondering what he should +do, for "ill news comes natural these days," he +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 4]</span> +thought, "and maybe I had better read it through, +before I speak a word to Janet anent it. I'll step +into the King's Arms and see what Alexander has +to say."</p> + +<p class="indent">When he entered the coffee-room he saw his son, +Mr. Neil Semple, and Governor Robertson sitting at +a table with some papers between them. Neil smiled +gravely, and moved a chair into place for his father, +and the Governor said pleasantly:</p> + +<p class="indent">"How are you, Elder? It is a long time since I +saw you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am as well as can be expected, considering a' +things, Governor; but what for will I be 'Elder,' +when I have nae kirk to serve?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is that my fault, Elder?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You might have spoke a word for the reopening +of the kirk, and the return o' Dr. Rogers. Your +affirmative would have gone a long way toward it. +And the loyal Calvinists o' New York hae been too +long kirkless. What for didn't you speak the word, +Governor? What for?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Indeed, Elder, you know yourself that Dr. +Rogers is a proved traitor. As a fundamental rule, +a Calvinist is a democrat—exceptions, of course—like +yourself and your worthy sons, but as a fundamental, +natural democrats. There is the Church of +England open for all services."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Aye; and there is the Kirk o' Scotland closed for +all services. What has the Kirk done against King +George?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Must I remind you, Elder, that her ministers, +almost without exception, are against the King? +Did not this very Dr. Rogers pray in the pulpit for +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 5]</span> +the success of the rebels? As for the Church of +Scotland, she has been troubling kings, and encouraging +rebellion ever since there was a Church of +Scotland. What for? No reason at all, that I can +see."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, she had reason enough. Scotsmen read +their Bibles, and they thought it worth while to fight +for the right to do so. There's your colleague, +Judge Ludlow; his great-grandfather fought with +Oliver Cromwell in England in a quarrel of the same +kind. He should have said a word for us."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Elder, it is undeniable that Dissent and Calvinism +are opposed to royalty."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The Kirk is not subject to Cćsar; she is a law +unto hersel'; and the Methodists are dissenters, yet +their chapel is open."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The loyalty of John Wesley is beyond impeachment. +He is a friend of the King."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yet his brother Charles was imprisoned for praying +for the Pretender, and nae doubt at all, he himsel' +would gladly have followed Prince Charlie."</p> + +<p class="indent">"As the Semples and Gordons <i>did do</i>."</p> + +<p class="indent">"To their everlasting glory and honor! God +bless them!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Will your Excellency please to sign these +papers?" interrupted Neil; and his calm ignoring +of the brewing quarrel put a stop to it. The papers +were signed, and the Governor rising, said, as he +offered his hand to the Elder:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Our sufferings and deprivations are unavoidable, +sir. Is there any use in quarreling with the wheel +that splashes us?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"There is nane; yet, if men have grievances——"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 6]</span> +"Grievances! That is a word that always pleases, +and always cheats. There are no grievances between +you and me, I hope."</p> + +<p class="indent">"None to breed ill-will. Human nature is fallible, +but as a rule, Tory doesna eat Tory."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And as for the Whigs, Elder, you know the old +fable of the wolf and the lamb. Judging from +that past event, Tory and Whig may soon make an +eternal peace."</p> + +<p class="indent">He went out well pleased at the implication, and +Neil, after a few moments' silence, said, "I am going +to register these documents, sir, or I would walk +home with you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Much obligated to you, Neil, but I can tak' very +good care o' mysel'. And I have a letter from your +brother Alexander. I must see what news he sends, +before I tell your mother."</p> + +<p class="indent">He was opening his letter as he spoke, carefully +cutting round the large red seal, which bore the +arms of the Semples, and which, therefore, he would +have thought it a kind of sacrilege to mutilate. A +cup of coffee had been brought to him, and he took +one drink of it, and then no more; for everything +was quickly forgotten or ignored in the intelligence +he was receiving. That it was unexpected and astonishing +was evident from his air of perplexity +and from the emotion which quite unconsciously +found relief in his constant ejaculation, <i>"Most extraordinary! +Most extraordinary!"</i></p> + +<p class="indent">Finally, he folded up the epistle, threw a shilling +on the table for his entertainment, and with more +speed than was usual, took the road to the west of +Broadway. He had been remarkable in days past +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 7]</span> +for his erect carriage, but he walked now with his +head bent and his eyes fixed on the ground. There +was so much that he did not want to see, though he +was naturally the most curious and observant of +mortals. Fifteen minutes' walk brought him to the +river side, and anon to a large house separated from +his own by a meadow. There were horses tied to the +fence and horses tethered in the garden; and in a +summer-house under a huge linden tree, a party of +soldiers drinking and playing dominoes. The front +door was partly open, and a piece of faded red ribbon +was nailed on its lintel. Semple knocked loudly +with his walking-stick, and immediately a stout, rosy +woman came toward him, wiping her hands on a +clean towel as she did so.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, then, Elder!" she cried, "you are a good +sight! What is the matter, that you never come +once to see us, this long time?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I come now to bring you good news Joanna—Madame, +I should say."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, no! I make not so much ceremony. When +you say 'Joanna' I think of the good days, before +everybody was unfriends with each other."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, then, Joanna, your husband is back again; +as he says, safe and sound, and I promised him to +let you know as I passed."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But come in once, Elder—come in!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Some day—some day soon. I am in haste at +this time—and you have much company, I see." He +spoke with evident disapproval, and Joanna was at +once on the defensive.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know not how to alter that. A good wife must +do some little thing these hard times; for what is to +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 8]</span> +come after them, who knows—and there are many +boys and girls—but I am not discontented; I like +to look at the bright side, and that is right, is it not?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Semple had already turned away, and he only +struck his cane on the flagged walk in answer. For +while Joanna was speaking he had casually noticed +the fluttering red ribbon above her head; and it had +brought from the past a memory, unbidden and unexpected, +which filled his eyes with the thin, cold +tears of age, and made his heart tremble with a fear +he would not allow himself to entertain.</p> + +<p class="indent">He was so troubled that he had to consciously +gather his forces together before he entered his own +dwelling. It, at least, kept visible state and order; +the garden, perhaps, showed less variety and wealth +of flowers; but the quiet dignity of its handsomely +furnished rooms was intact. In their usual parlor, +which was at the back of the house, he found his +wife. "You are late to-day, Alexander," she said +pleasantly; "I was just waiting till I heard your +footstep. Now I can make the tea."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'll be glad o' a cup, Janet. I'm fairly tired, my +dearie."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What kept you so far ahint your ordinar time? +I thought it long waiting for you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Twa or three things kept me, that I am not accountable +for. I was on the way hame, when Batavius +De Vries spoke to me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He's back again, is he? Few words would do +between you and him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He brought me a letter from our lad in Boston; +and I thought I would go into the King's Arms and +read it."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 9]</span> +"You might have come hame."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I might; but I thought if there was any bad +news folded in the paper, I would just leave it outside +our hame."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There is naething wrang, then?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is an astonishment—the lad has sold all he had +and gone to Scotland. When he can find a small +estate that suits him, he thinks o' buying it, and becoming +'Semple o' that Ilk.' Alexander aye had a +hankering after land."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He has the siller, I suppose; there is no land +given awa in Scotland."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Alexander wasn't born yesterday. He has been +sending siller to England ever since the first whisper +o' these troubles. Ten years ago, he told me the +Stamp Act riots spelt Revolution and maybe Independence; +and that in such case the best we could +hope for would be a dozen or mair states, each with +its ain rights and privileges and government; and a +constant war between them. He is a far-seeing lad, +is Alexander."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think little o' his far sight. There are others +who see further and clearer: petty states and constant +war! Na, na! <i>It's not so written."</i></p> + +<p class="indent">"Perhaps he is right, Janet."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Perhaps is a wide word, Alexander. Perhaps +he is wrang. Has he sailed yet? And pray, what +is to become of the little Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He sailed a week since—and Maria is coming +to us."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Coming to us! And what will we do wi' the +lassie?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"We'll just hae to love and comfort her. In a +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 10]</span> +way she has neither father nor mother—the one being +in the grave and the other beyond seas. She +may be a pleasure to our auld age; when she was +here last she was a bonnie, lovesome little creature."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is mair than eight years ago, and she was +eight years old then; she'll be sixteen and a half, or, +perhaps, nearer seventeen now—you ken weel what +to expect from lassies o' that indiscreet age; or, if +you don't, you ought to."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know she is our ain grandbairn and that we be +to give her love and all that love calls for. She was +the very image o' yoursel' Janet, and her father was +much set up o'er the extraordinar likeness."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I thought she favored you, Alexander."</p> + +<p class="indent">"A little—a little, perhaps—but not enough to +spoil her. If she has kept the Gordon beauty, she +will be a' the mair welcome to me. I have aye had +a strong prejudice in its favor;" and he leaned forward +and took Madame's small brown hand, and +then there was a look and a smile between the old +lovers that made all words impotent and unnecessary.</p> + +<p class="indent">Such pauses are embarrassing; the lealest hearts +must come back quickly to ordinary life, and as the +Elder passed his cup for more tea, Madame asked: +"What way is the lassie coming? By land or +water?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"She is coming by land, with John Bradley and his +daughter."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How's that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madame Charlton's school had to be closed, and +Agnes Bradley was one of the scholars. Her father +has gone to Boston to bring her hame, and Maria +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 11]</span> +being her friend and schoolmate, Bradley promised +Alexander to see her safe in our home and care. +Doubtless, he is well able to keep his word. If the +Governor and the Commander-in-Chief can do ought +to mak' travel safe, John Bradley will hae their assistance; +but I'm vexed to be put under an obligation +to him. I would rather have sent Neil, or even +gane mysel'."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What ails you at John Bradley? He wears the +red ribbon on his breast, and it blaws o'er his shop +door, and he is thick as thack with a' the dignities—civil +and military."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't like him, and I don't like his daughter +being friends with my granddaughter."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He serves our turn now, and once is nae custom."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Let alone the fact that girls' friendships are naething +but fine words and sugar candy. I shall put a +stop to this one at the very outset."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You'll do what, gudeman?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Put my commands on Maria. I shall tell her +that beyond yea and nay, and a fine day, or the like +o' that, she is to have no intercourse wi' John Bradley's +daughter."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You'll have revolution inside the house, as weel +as outside. Let the girls alane. Some young men +will come between them and do your business for +you. You have managed your lads pretty well—wi' +my help—but two schoolgirls in love wi' one anither! +they will be aboon your thumb—ane o' them may +keep you busy."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I shall lay my commands on Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And if Maria tak's after the Gordons, she'll be +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 12]</span> +far mair ready to give commands than to tak' them. +Let be till she gets here. When did she leave Boston?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mair than a week ago, but Sunday intromits, +and Bradley, being what they call a local preacher +would hae to exploit his new sermon and hold a class +meeting or a love feast; forbye, he wouldna neglect +ony bit o' business that came his way on the +road. I shouldn't wonder if they were at Stamford +last Sunday, and if so, they would be maist likely at +East Chester to-night. They might be here to-morrow. +I'll ask Neil to ride as far as the Halfway +House; he will either find, or hear tell o' them +there."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What for should Neil tak' that trouble? You +ken, as weel as I do, that if Bradley promised +Maria's father to deliver her into your hand, at your +ain house, he would do no other way. Say you were +from hame, he would just keep the lassie till he could +keep his promise. He is a very Pharisee anent such +sma' matters. If you have finished your tea, gudeman, +I will get the dishes put by."</p> + +<p class="indent">They both rose at these words, Madame pulled a +bell rope made of a band of embroidery, and a girl +brought her a basin of hot water and two clean +towels. Semple lit his long, clay pipe and went into +the garden to see how the early peas were coming +on, and to meditate on the events the day had +brought to him. Madame also had her meditations, +as she carefully washed the beautiful Derby china, +and the two or three Apostle teaspoons, and put them +away in the glass cupboard that was raised in one +corner of the room. Her thoughts were complex, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 13]</span> +woven of love and hope and fear and regret. The +advent of her granddaughter was not an unmixed +delight; she was past sixty, not in perfect health, +and she feared the care and guiding of a girl of +scarce seventeen years old.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Just the maist unreasonable time of any woman's +life," she sighed. "At that age, they are sure they +know a' things, and can judge a' things; and to +doubt it is rank tyranny, and they are in a blaze at a +word, for they have every feeling at fever heat. A +body might as well try to reason wi' a baby or a +bull, for they'll either cry or rage, till you give in to +them. However, Maria has a deal o' Gordon in +her, and they are sensible bodies—in the main. I'll +even do as the auld song advises:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Bide me yet, and bide me yet,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">For I know not what will betide me yet."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p class="indent">When the room was in order, she threw a shawl +round her and went to her husband. "I hae come to +bring you inside, Elder," she said, "the night air +is chilly and damp yet, and you arena growing +younger."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I walked down as far as the river bank, Janet," +he answered, "and I see the boat is rocking at her +pier. Neil should look after her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Neil is looking after another kind of a boat at +present. I hope he will have as much sense as the +rats, and leave a sinking ship in good time to save +himsel'."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Janet, you should be feared to say such like +words! They are fairly wicked—and they gie me a +sair heart."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 14]</span> +"Oh, forgive me, Alexander! My thoughts will +fly to my lips. I forget! I forget! I hae a sair +heart, too"—and they went silently into the house +with this shadow between them until Janet said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Let me help you off wi' your coat, dearie. Your +soft, warm wrap is here waiting for you," and +against her gentle words and touch he had no armor. +His offense melted away, he let her help him to remove +his heavy satin-lined coat, with its long stiffened +skirts, and fold round his spare form the damasse +wrap with its warm lining of flannel. Then, +with a sigh of relief he sat down, loosened his neckband, +handed Madame his laces, and called for a +fresh pipe.</p> + +<p class="indent">In the meantime Madame hung the coat carefully +over a chair, and in flecking off a little dust from its +richly trimmed lapel, she tossed aside with an unconscious +contempt, the bit of scarlet ribbon at the +buttonhole. "You are requiring a new ribbon, Alexander," +she said. "If you must wear your colors +on your auld breast, I would, at least, hae them +fresh."</p> + +<p class="indent">He either ignored, or did not choose to notice the +spirit of her words; he took them at their face value, +and answered: "You are right, Janet. I'll buy a +half yard in the morning. I tell you, that one bit +o' rusty, draggled red ribbon gave me a heart-ache +this afternoon."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame did not make the expected inquiry, and +after a glance into her face he continued: "It was at +the Van Heemskirk's house. I was talking to Joanna, +and I saw it o'er the door, and remembered the +night my friend Joris nailed up the blue ribbon +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 15]</span> +which Batavius has taken down. I could see him +standing there, with his large face smiling and shining, +and his great arms reaching upward, and I +could hear the stroke o' the hammer that seemed to +keep time to his words: '<i>Alexander myn jougen!</i>' +he said, 'for Freedom the color is always blue. Over +my house door let it blow; yes, then, over my grave +also, if God's will it be.' And I answered him, 'you +are a fool, Joris, and you know not what you are +saying or doing, and God help you when you do +come to your senses.' Then he turned round with +the hammer in his hand and looked at me—I shall +never forget that look—and said 'a little piece of +blue ribbon, Alexander, but for a man's life and +liberty it stands, for dead already is that man who +is not free.' Then he took me into the garden, and +as we walked he could talk of naething else, 'men +do not need in their coffins to lie stark,' he said, +'they may without that, be dead; walking about this +city are many dead men.'"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Joris Van Heemskirk is a good man. Wherever +he is, I ken well, he is God's man," said Janet, "doing +his duty simply and cheerfully."</p> + +<p class="indent">"As he sees duty, Janet; I am sure o' that. +And as he talked he kept touching the ribbon in his +waistcoat, as if it was a sacred thing, and when I +said something o' the kind, he answered me out o' +the Holy Book, and bid me notice God himself +had chosen blue and told Israel to wear it on the +fringes o' their garments as a reminder o' their deliverance +by Him. Then I couldna help speaking o' +the Scotch Covenanters wearing the blue ribbon, and +he followed wi' the Dutch Protestors, and I was able +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 16]</span> +to cap the noble army wi' the English Puritans fighting +under Cromwell for civil and religious liberty."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And gudeman!" cried Janet, all in a tremble of +enthusiasm, "General Washington is at this very +time wearing a broad blue ribbon across his breast;" +and there was such a light in her eyes, and such +pride in her voice, the Elder could not say the words +that were on his tongue; he magnanimously passed +by her remark and returned to his friend, Joris Van +Heemskirk. "Blue or red," he continued, "we had a +wonderfu' hour, and when we came to part that +night we had no need to take each other's hands; +we had been walking hand-in-hand together like twa +laddies, and we did not know it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You'll have many a happy day with your friend +yet, gudeman; Joris Van Heemskirk will come +hame again."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He will hae a sair heart when he sees his hame, +specially his garden."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He will hae something in his heart to salve all +losses and all wrongs; but I wonder Joanna doesna +take better care o' her father's place."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She canna work miracles. I thought when I got +her there as tenant o' the King, she would keep a' +things as they were left; but Batavius has six or +eight soldiers boarding there—low fellows, non-commissioned +officers and the like o' them—and the +beautiful house is naething but barricks in their +sight; and as for the garden, what do they care for +boxwood and roses? They dinna see a thing beyond +their victuals, and liquor, and the cards and +dominoes in their hands. Joanna has mair than she +can manage."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 17]</span> +"Didn't Batavius sell his house on the East river?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course he did—to the Government—made a +good thing of it; then he got into his father-in-law's +house as a tenant of the Government. I don't think +he ever intends to move out of it. When the war is +over he will buy it for a trifle, as confiscated property."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He'll do naething o' the kind! He'll never, +never, never buy it. You may tak' my solemn word +for that, Alexander Semple."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How do you ken so much, Janet?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"The things we ken best, are the things we were +never told. I will not die till I have seen Joris Van +Heemskirk smoking his pipe with you on his ain +hearth, and in his ain summer-house. He can paint +some new mottoes o'er it then."</p> + +<p class="indent">She was on the verge of crying, but she spoke with +an irresistible faith, and in spite of his stubborn loyalty +to King George, Semple could not put away the +conviction that his wife's words were true. They +had all the force of an intuition. He felt that the +conversation could not be continued with Joris Van +Heemskirk as its subject, and he said, "I wonder +what is keeping Neil? He told me he would be +hame early to-night."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you saw him to-day?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He was in the King's Arms, when I went there +to read my letter—he and Governor Robertson—and +I had a few words wi' the Governor anent Dr. Rogers +and the reopening of our kirk."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You did well and right to speak to them. It is a +sin and a shame in a Christian country to be kept out +o' Sabbath ordinances."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 18]</span> +"He told me we had the Church o' England to +go to."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Aye; and we hae the King o' England to serve."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Here comes Neil, and I am glad o' it. Somehow, +he makes things mair bearable."</p> + +<p class="indent">The young man entered with a grave cheerfulness; +he bowed to his father, kissed his mother, and +then drew a chair to the cold hearth. In a few +minutes he rang the bell, and when it was answered, +bid the negro bring hot coals and kindle the fire.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Neil, my dear lad," said the Elder, "are you remembering +that wood is nearly ungetable—ten +pounds or mair a cord? I hae but little left. I'm +feared it won't see the war out."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If wood is getable at any price, I am not willing +to see mother and you shivering. Burn your wood +as you need it, and trust for the future."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I hae told your father the same thing often, Neil; +careful, of course, we must be, but sparing is not +caring. There was once a wife who always took +what she wanted, and she always had enough." The +fire blazed merrily, and Neil smiled, and the Elder +stretched out his thin legs to the heat, and the whole +feeling of the room was changed. Then Madame +said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Neil, your brother Alexander has gane to Scotland."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I expected him to take that step."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And he is sending little Maria to us, until he gets +a home for her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should not think she will be much in the way, +mother. She is only a child."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She is nearly seventeen years old. She won't be +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 19]</span> +much in my way; it is you that will hae to take her +out—to military balls and the like."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nonsense! I can't have a child trailing after me +in such places."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Vera likely you will trail after her. You will be +better doing that than after some o' the ladies o' +Clinton's court."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I can tell you, Neil," said Neil's father, "that +it is a vera pleasant sensation, to hae a bonnie lassie +on your arm wha is, in a manner, your ain. I ken +naething in the world that gives a man such a superior +feeling."</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil looked at the speaker with a curious admiration. +He could not help envying the old man who +had yet an enthusiasm about lovely women.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I fancy, sir," he answered, "that the women of +your youth were a superior creation to those of the +present day. I cannot imagine myself with any +woman whose society would give me that sensation."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Women are always the same, Neil—yesterday, +to-day, and forever. What they are now, they were +in Abraham's time, and they will be when time shall +be nae langer. Is not that so, mother?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maybe; but you'll tak' notice, they hae suited a' +kinds o' men, in a' countries and in a' ages. I dare +say our little Maria will hae her lovers as well as the +lave o' them, and her uncle Neil will be to keep an +eye on them. But I'm weary and sleepy, and if you +men are going to talk the fire out I'll awa' to my +room and my bed."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have something to say to father," answered +Neil, "about the Government, and so——"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 20]</span> +"Oh, the Government!" cried Madame, as she +stood with her lighted candle in her hand at the open +door; "dinna call it a government, Neil; call it a +blunderment, or a plunderment, if you like, but the +other name is out o' all befitting."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mother, wait a moment," said Neil. "You were +saying that Maria would want to be taken to dances; +I got an invitation to-day. What do you say to this +for an introduction?" As he spoke he took out of +his pocket a gilt-edged note tied with transverse +bands of gold braid and narrow red ribbon. Madame +watched him impatiently as he carefully and +deliberately untied the bows, and his air of reverential +regard put her in a little temper.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Cut the strings and be done wi' it, Neil," she said +crossly. "There is nae invite in the world worth +such a to-do as you are making. And dinna forget, +my lad, that you once nearly threw your life awa' for +a bit o' orange ribbon! Maybe the red is just as +dangerous."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Neil took the red ribbon between his finger +and thumb, and dropping it into the fire looked at +his mother with the denial in his face. "It is from +Mrs. Percival," he said; and she nodded her understanding, +but could not help giving him a last word +ere she closed the door:</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you hae a fancy for ribbons, Neil, tak' my +advice, and get a blue one; a' the good men in the +country are wearing blue."</p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">THE FAIR AND THE BRAVE.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">At</span> breakfast next morning the conversation +turned naturally upon the arrival of Maria Semple. +The Elder showed far the most enthusiasm concerning +it. He wondered, and calculated, and supposed, +till he felt he had become tiresome and exhausted +sympathy, and then he subsided into that painful attitude +of disappointment and resignation, which is, +alas, too often the experience of the aged? His +companions were not in sympathy with him. Madame +was telling herself she must not expect too +much. Once she had set her heart upon a beautiful +girl who was to become Neil's wife, and her love had +been torn up by the roots: "maist women carry a +cup of sorrow for some one to drink," she thought, +"and I'm feared for them." As for Neil, he felt +sure the girl was going to be a tie and a bore, and he +considered his brother exceedingly selfish in throwing +the care of his daughter upon his aged parents.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was not a pleasant meal, but in good hearts depression +and doubt find no abiding place. When +Neil had gone to his affairs, the Elder looked at his +wife, and she gave him his pipe with a smile, and +talked to him about Maria as she put away her china. +And she had hardly turned the key of the glass +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 22]</span> +closet, when the knocker of the front door fell twice—two +strokes, clear, separate, distinct. The Elder +rose quickly and with much excitement. "That is +Bradley's knock," he said; "I never heard it before, +but it is just the way he would call any one."</p> + +<p class="indent">He was going out of the room as he spoke, and +Madame joined him. When they entered the hall +the front door was open, and a short, stout man was +standing on the threshold, holding a young girl by +the hand. He delivered her to the Elder very much +as he would have delivered a valuable package intrusted +to his care, and then, as they stood a few +moments in conversation, Maria darted forward, and +with a little cry of joy nestled her head on her grandmother's +breast. The confiding love of the action +was irresistible. "You darling!" whispered the +old lady with a kiss; "let me look at you!" And she +put her at arm's length, and gazed at the pretty, dark +face with its fine color, and fine eyes, charmingly set +off by the scarlet hood of her traveling cloak.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What do you think o' your granddaughter, Elder?" +she asked, when he joined them, and her voice +was trembling with love and pride.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think she is yoursel' o'er again; the vera same +bonnie Janet Gordon I woo'd and loved in Strathallen +nearly fifty years syne. Come and gie me +twenty kisses, bairnie. You are a vera cordial o' +gladness to our hearts."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame had swithered in her own mind before +the arrival of Maria about the room she was to occupy—the +little one in the wing, furnished in rush +and checked blue and white linen; or the fine guest +room over the best parlor. A few moments with her +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 23]</span> +grandchild had decided her. "She shall hae the best +we have," she concluded. "What for would I gie +it to my cousin Gordon's wife, and lock my ain flesh +and blood out o' it?" So she took Maria to her best +guest chamber, and when the girl stood in the center +of it and looked round with an exclamation of delight, +she was well rewarded.</p> + +<p class="indent">"This is the finest room I ever saw," said Maria. +"I love splendid rooms, and mahogany makes any +place handsome. And the looking glasses! O +grandmother, I can see myself from top to toe!" and +she flung aside her cloak, and surveyed her little figure +in its brown camblet dress and long white stomacher, +with great satisfaction.</p> + +<p class="indent">"And where are your clothes, Maria?" asked +Madame.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I brought a small trunk with me, and Mr. Bradley +will send it here this morning; the rest of my +trunks were sent with Captain De Vries. I dare say +they will be here soon."</p> + +<p class="indent">"They are here already, De Vries arrived yesterday, +but the rest o' your trunks, how many more +have you, lassie?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Three large, and one little one. Father told me +I was to get everything I wanted, and I wanted so +many things. I got them all, grandmother—beautiful +dresses, and mantillas, and pelerines; and dozens +of pretty underwear. I have had four women sewing +for me ever since last Christmas."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But the expense o' it, Maria!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mrs. Charlton said I had simply received the +proper outfit for a young lady entering society."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But whatever did your father say?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 24]</span> +"He whistled very softly. There are many ways +of whistling, grandmother, and my father's whistle +was his form of saying he was astonished."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I hae no doubt he was astonished."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I had to have summer and winter dresses, and +ball dresses, and home dresses, and street dresses; +and all the little things which Mrs. Charlton says +are the great things. Father is very generous to +me, and he has ordered Lambert and Co. to send +me thirty pounds every month. He told me that +food and wood and every necessity of life was +very dear in New York, and that if I was a good +girl I would do my full share in bearing the burden +of life."</p> + +<p class="indent">This was her pretty way of making it understood +that she was to pay liberally for her board, and then, +with a kiss, she added, "let us go downstairs. I +want to see all the house, grandmother. It is like +home, and I have had so little home. All my life +nearly has been spent at school. Now I am come +home."</p> + +<p class="indent">They went down hand in hand, and found the Elder +walking about in an excited manner. "I think I +shall bide awa' from business to-day," he said; "I +dinna feel like it. It isna every day a man gets a +granddaughter."</p> + +<p class="indent"><i>"Tuts!</i> Nonsense, Alexander! Go your ways +to the store, then you can talk to your acquaintance +o' your good fortune. Maria and I will hae boxes to +unpack, and clothes to put away; and you might as +weel call at De Vries, and tell him to get Miss Semple's +trunks here without sauntering about them. +Batavius is a slow creature. And Neil must hae the +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 25]</span> +news also, so just be going as quick as you can, +Alexander."</p> + +<p class="indent">He was disappointed; he had hoped that Maria +would beg him to stay at home, but he put on his +long coat with affected cheerfulness, and with many +little delays finally took the road. Then the two +women went through the house together, and by that +time Bradley had sent the small trunk, and they +unpacked it, and talked about the goods, and about +a variety of subjects that sprang naturally from the +occupation.</p> + +<p class="indent">All at once Madame remembered to ask Maria +where she had spent the previous night, and the girl +answered, "I slept at the Bradley's. It was quite +twilight when we reached their house, and Mr. +Bradley said this road was beset by thieves and bad +people after dark, and he also thought you retired +early and would not care to be disturbed."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Vera considerate o' Mr. Bradley, I am sure; +perhaps mair so than necessary. Maria, my dear, I +hope you are not very friendly wi' his daughter."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not friendly with Agnes Bradley! Why, +grandmother, I could not be happy without her! +She has been my good angel for three years. When +she came to Mrs. Charlton's I had no friends, for +I had such a bad temper the girls called me 'Spitfire' +and 'Vixen' and such names, and I was proud +of it. Agnes has made me gentle and wishful to +do right. Agnes is as nearly an angel as a woman +can be."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Fair nonsense, Maria! And I never was fond +o' angelic women, they dinna belong to this world; +and your grandfather dislikes John Bradley, he will +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 26]</span> +not allow any friendship between you and Agnes +Bradley. That is sure and certain."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What has Mr. Bradley done wrong to grandfather?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Naething; naething at all! He just does not +like him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I shall have to explain things to grandfather. +He ought not to take dislikes to people without +reason."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There's no one can explain things to your +grandfather that he does not want to understand. +I know naething o' John Bradley, except that he is +a Methodist, and that kind o' people are held in +scorn."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think we can use up all our scorn on the Whigs, +grandmother, and let the Methodists alone. Mr. +Bradley is a Tory, and trusted and employed by the +Government, and I am sure he preached a beautiful +sermon last Sunday at Stamford."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Your grandfather said he would preach at Stamford."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He preached on the green outside the town. +There were hundreds to listen to him. Agnes led +the singing."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria Semple! You don't mean to tell me you +were at a field preaching!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was a good preaching and——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"The man is a saddle-maker! I hae seen him +working, day in and day out, in his leather apron."</p> + +<p class="indent">"St. Paul was a tent-maker; he made a boast of +it, and as he was a sensible man, I have no doubt +he wore an apron. He would not want to spoil +his toga."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 27]</span> +<i>"Hush! Hush!</i> You must not speak o' Saint +Paul in that tempered and common way. The +Apostles belong to the Kirk. Your father was +brought up a good Presbyterian."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Dear grandmother, I am the strictest kind of +Presbyterian. I really went to hear Agnes. If you +had seen her standing by her father's side on that +green hill and heard her sing:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Israel, what hast thou to dread?</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Safe from all impending harms,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Round thee, and beneath thee, spread,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Are the everlasting arms.'</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="indent">you would have caught up the song as hundreds did +do, till it spread to the horizon, and rose to the sky, +and was singing and praying both. People were +crying with joy, and they did not know it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I would call her a dangerous kind o' girl. Has +she any brothers or sisters?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Her brother went to an English school at the +beginning of the war. He was to finish his education +at Oxford. Annie Gardiner—one of the schoolgirls—told +me so. He was her sweetheart. She +has no sisters."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Sweetheart?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Just boy and girl sweethearting. Agnes seldom +spoke of him; sometimes she got letters from +him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Has Agnes a sweetheart?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"There was a young gentleman dressed like a +sailor that called on her now and then. We thought +he might be an American privateer."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then Agnes Bradley is for the Americans! +Well, a good girl, like her, would be sure to take the +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 28]</span> +right side. Nae doubt the hymn she sung referred +to the American army."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am sure people thought so; indeed, I fear +Agnes is a little bit of a rebel, but she has to keep +her thoughts and feelings to herself."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Plenty o' folks hae to do the same; thought may +be free here, but speech is bond slave to His Majesty +George o' Hanover, or England, or Brunswick, or +what you like."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Or America!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nae, nae! You may make that last statement +wi' great reservation, Maria. But we must make +no statements that will vex your grandfather, for +he is an auld man, and set in his ways, and he does +not believe in being contradicted."</p> + +<p class="indent">And at this moment they heard the Elder's voice +and step. He came in so happily, and with such +transparent excuses for his return home, that the +women could not resist his humor. They pretended +to be delighted; they said, "how nice it was that he +had happened to arrive just as dinner was ready to +serve;" they even helped him to reasons that made +his return opportune and fortunate. And Batavius +arriving with the trunks immediately after the meal, +Madame made unblushing statements about her dislike +of the man, and her satisfaction in the Elder +being at hand to prevent overcharges, and see to +the boxes being properly taken upstairs.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Maria begged him to remain and look at +her pretty things, and that was exactly what he +wished to do; and so, what with exhibiting them, +and trying some of them on, and sorting, and putting +them into drawers and wardrobes, the afternoon +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 29]</span> +slipped quickly away. The Elder had his pipe +brought upstairs, and he sat down and smoked it on +the fine sofa Mrs. Gordon had covered with her own +needlework when she occupied the room; and no +one checked him or made discouraging demurs. He +had his full share of the happy hours; and he told +himself so as the ladies were dressing; and he sat +waiting for Neil, alone with his pleasant thoughts +and anticipations.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Auld age has its compensations," he reflected. +"They wouldna hae let Neil sit and smoke amid their +fallals; and it was the bonniest sight to watch them, +to listen to their <i>Ohs!</i> and <i>Ahs!</i> and their selfish +bits o' prattle, anent having what no ither woman +was able, or likely to have. Women are queer creatures, +but, Oh, dear me, what a weary world it would +be without them!"</p> + +<p class="indent">And when Maria came down stairs in a scarlet +gown over a white silk petticoat, a string of gold +beads round her neck, and her hair dressed high and +fastened with a gold comb, he was charmed afresh. +He rose with the gallantry of a young man, to get +her a chair, but she made him sit down and brought +a stool to his side, and nestled so close to him that he +put his arm across her pretty shoulders. And it +added greatly to his satisfaction that Neil came suddenly +in, and discovered them in this affectionate +attitude.</p> + +<p class="indent">"One o' the compensations o' auld age," he said in +happy explanation. "Here is your niece, Maria +Semple, Neil; and proud you may be o' her!"—and +Maria rose, and made her uncle a sweeping courtesy, +and then offered him her hand and her cheek. The +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 30]</span> +young man gave her a warm welcome, and yet at +the same moment wondered what changes the little +lady would bring to the house. For he had sense +and experience enough to know that a girl so attractive +would irresistibly draw events to her.</p> + +<p class="indent">In two or three days the excitement of her advent +was of necessity put under restraint. Age loves +moderation in all things, and Maria began to feel the +still, stately house less interesting than the schoolroom. +Whigs and Tories, however unequally, divided +that ground, and the two parties made that +quarrel the outlet for all their more feminine dislikes. +Her last weeks at school had also been weeks +full of girlish triumphs; for she was not only receiving +a new wardrobe of an elaborate kind, but she +was permitted to choose it; to have interviews with +mantua-makers and all kinds of tradespeople; and +above all, she was going to New York. And New +York at that time was invested with all the romance +of a medićval city. It was the center around which +the chief events of the war revolved. Within her +splendid mansions the officers of King George feasted, +and danced, and planned warlike excursions; and +in her harbor great fleets were anchored whose mission +was to subjugate the whole Southern seaboard. +This of itself was an interesting situation, but how +much more so, when Whig and Tory alike knew, +that just over the western shore every hilltop, and +every lofty tree held an American sentinel, while +Washington himself, amid the fastnesses of New +Jersey, watched with unerring sagacity and untiring +patience the slightest military movement on Manhattan +Island.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 31]</span> +Thus, the possibilities and probabilities of her expected +change of life had made her the envy of romantic +girls; for all of them, no matter what their +political faith, had their own conception of the great +things which might be achieved in a city full of military +and naval officers. It was the subject on which +conversation was always interesting, and often +provocative; thus, in the very last talk she had with +her schoolmates, one little Tory maid said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"O, the dear officers! How delightful it will be +to dance with brave men so magnificently dressed in +scarlet and gold! How I wish that I was you, +Maria!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"O, the hateful creatures!" ejaculated another +girl of different opinions. "I would not dance a +step with one of them; but if I did, I should be saying +to myself all the time: very soon my fine fellow, +some brave man in homespun blue will kill you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If I was Maria," said another, "and had a British +officer for my servant, I would coax him to tell +me what General Clinton was going to do; and then +I would send word to General Washington."</p> + +<p class="indent">"O, you mean girl!" answered Maria, "would +you be a spy?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, I would."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And so would I!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"And I!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"And I!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"And I!" And then an equal chorus of "What +a shame! Just like Whigs!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria missed these encounters. She saw that her +grandmother usually deprecated political conversation, +and that her uncle and grandfather did not include +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 32]</span> +her in the discussion of any public event. On +the fourth day she began to feel herself of less importance +than she approved; and then there followed +naturally the demoralizing luxury of self-pity:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Because I am a girl, and a very young girl, no +one appears to think I have common sense. I am as +loyal to the King as any one. I wish grandmother +would speak out. I believe she is a Whig. Uncle +Neil said he would take me to some entertainments; +he has not done so. I am not tired—that is just an +excuse—I want to go out and I want to see Agnes. +I will not give up Agnes—no one, no one shall make +me—she is part of my heart! No, I will not give +up Agnes; her father may be a saddler—and a +Methodist—I am above noticing such things. I +will love who I like—about my friends I will not +yield an inch—I will not!"</p> + +<p class="indent">She was busy tatting to this quite unnecessary +tirade of protestations and her grandmother noticed +the passionate jerk of the shuttle emphasizing her +thoughts. "What is vexing you, dearie?" she +asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, I am wretched about Agnes," she answered. +"I am afraid grandfather has been rude in some +way."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You needna be afraid on that ground, Maria; +your grandfather is never rude where women are +concerned."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But he is unkind. If he was not, there could be +no objections to my calling on Agnes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is it not her place to call on you? She is at +home—born and bred in New York—you are +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 33]</span> +a stranger here. She is older than you are; she +seems to have assumed some kind of care or oversight——."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She has been my guardian angel."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then I think she ought to be looking after a +desolate bairn like you; one would think you had +neither kith nor kin near you, Maria." Madame +spoke with an air of offense or injury, and as the +words were uttered, the door was softly moved inward, +and Agnes Bradley entered.</p> + +<p class="indent">She courtesied to Madame, and then stretched out +her hands to Maria. The girl rose with a cry of +joy, and all her discontent was gone in a moment. +Madame could not forget so easily; in fact, her +sense of unkindness was intensified by the unlooked-for +entrance of its cause. But there was no escaping +the influence of Agnes. She brought the very +atmosphere of peace into the room with her. In ten +minutes she was sitting between Madame and +Maria, and both appeared to be alike happy in her +society. She did not speak of the war, or the soldiers, +or the frightful price of food and fuel, or the +wicked extravagance of the Tory ladies in dress and +entertainments, or even of the unendurable impudence +of the negro slaves. She talked of Maria, +and of the studies she ought to continue, and of +Madame's flowers and needlework, and a sweet feeling +of rest from all the fretful life around was insensibly +diffused. In a short time Madame felt herself +to be under the same spell as her granddaughter, +and she looked at the charmer with curious interest; +she wondered what kind of personality this daughter +of tranquility possessed.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 34]</span> +A short scrutiny showed her a girl about nineteen +years old, tall, but not very slender, with a great deal +of pale brown hair above a broad forehead; with +eyebrows thick and finely arched, and eyelids so +transparent from constant contact with the soul that +they seemed to have already become spiritual. Her +eyes were dark grey, star-like, mystical, revealing—when +they slowly dilated—one hardly knew what of +the unseen and heavenly. Her face was oval and +well shaped, but a little heavy except when the warm +pallor of its complexion was suddenly transfigured +from within; then showing a faint rose color quickly +passing away. Her movements were all slow, +but not ungraceful, and her soft voice had almost a +caress in it. Yet it was not these things, one, or all +of them, that made her so charmful; it was the invisible +beauty in the visible, that delighted.</p> + +<p class="indent">Without question here was a woman who valued +everything at its eternal worth; who in the midst of +war, sheltered life in the peace of God; and in the +presence of sorrow was glad with the gladness of +the angels. An hour with Agnes Bradley made +Madame think more highly of her granddaughter; +for surely it was a kind of virtue in Maria to love +the goodness she herself could not attain unto.</p> + +<p class="indent">Nearly two hours passed quickly away. They +walked in the garden and talked of seeds, and +of the green things springing from them; and down +at the lily bed by the river, Madame had a sudden +memory of a young girl, who had one Spring afternoon +gone down there to meet her fate; and she said +to Agnes—with a note of resentment still in her +voice:</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 35]</span> +"A lassie I once loved dearly, came here to gather +lilies, and to listen to a lover she had nae business to +listen to. She would sit doubtless on the vera step +you are now sitting on, Maria; and she made sorrow +and suffering enough for more than one good +heart; forbye putting auld friends asunder, and +breeding anger where there had always been love. +I hope you'll never do the like, either o' you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Who was she, grandmother?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Her name was Katherine Van Heemskirk. +You'll hae heard tell o' her, Miss Bradley?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I saw her several times when she was here four +years ago. She is very beautiful."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame did not answer, and Maria stepped lower +and gathered a few lilies that were yet in bloom, +though the time of lilies was nearly over. But +Agnes turned away with Madame, and both of them +were silent; Madame because she could not trust +herself to begin speech on this subject, and Agnes +because she divined, that for some reason, silence +was in this case better than the fittest words that +could be spoken.</p> + +<p class="indent">After a short pause, Agnes said, "My home is but +a quarter of a mile from here, and it is already orderly +and pleasant. Will you, Madame, kindly permit +Maria to come often to see me! I will help her with +her studies, and she might take the little boat at the +end of your garden, and row herself along the water +edge until she touches the pier in our garden."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She had better walk."</p> + +<p class="indent">In this way the permission was granted without +reserves or conditions. Madame had not thought +of making any, and as soon as she realized her implied +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 36]</span> +approval, she was resolved to stand by it. +"The lassie requires young people to consort wi'," +she thought, "and better a young lass than a young +lad; and if her grandfather says contrary, I must +make him wiser."</p> + +<p class="indent">With this concession the visit ended, but the girls +went out of the parlor together, and stood talking +for some time in the entrance hall. The parting +moment, however, had to come, and Maria lifted her +lips to her friend, and they were kissing each other +good-bye, when Neil Semple and a young officer in +the uniform of the Eighty-fourth Royal Highlanders +opened the door. The picture of the two girls in +their loving embrace was a momentary one, but it +was flooded with the colored sunshine pouring on +them from the long window of stained glass, and the +men saw and acknowledged its beauty, with an involuntary +exclamation of delight. Maria sheltered +herself in a peal of laughter, and over the face of +Agnes there came and went a quick transfiguring +flush; but she instantly regained her mental poise, +and with the composure of a goddess was walking +toward the door, when Neil advanced, and assuming +the duty of a host, walked with her down the +flagged path to the garden gate. Maria and the +young soldier stood in the doorway watching them; +and Madame at the parlor window did the same +thing, with an indescribable amazement on her face.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It isna believable!" she exclaimed. "Neil Semple, +the vera proudest o' mortals walking wi' auld +Bradley's daughter! his hat in his hand too! and +bowing to her! bowing to his vera knee buckles! +After this, the Stuarts may come hame again, or any +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 37]</span> +other impossible thing happen. The world is turning +tapsalterie, and I wonder whether I am Janet +Sample, or some ither body."</p> + +<p class="indent">But the world was all right in a few minutes; for +then Neil entered the room with Maria and Captain +Macpherson, and the mere sight of the young Highlandman +brought oblivion of all annoyances. Madame's +heart flew to her head whenever she saw the +kilt and the plaid; she hastened to greet its wearer; +she took his plumed bonnet from his hand, and said +it was "just out o' calculation that he should go +without breaking bread with them."</p> + +<p class="indent">Captain Macpherson had no desire to go. He +had seen and spoken with Maria, and she was worth +staying for; besides which, a Scot in a strange land +feels at home in a countryman's house. Macpherson +quickly made himself so. He went with Neil to +his room, and anon to the garden, and finally loosed +the boat and rowed up the river, resting on the oars +at the Bradley place, hoping for a glance at Agnes. +But nothing was to be seen save the white house +among the green trees, and the white shades gently +stirring in the wind. The place was as still as a +resting wheel, and the stillness infected the rowers; +yet when Macpherson was in Semple's garden, the +merry ring of his boyish laughter reached Madame +and Maria in the house, and set their hearts beating +with pleasure as they arranged the tea-table, and +brought out little dishes of hoarded luxuries. And +though Madame's chickens were worth three dollars +each, she unhesitatingly sacrificed one to a national +hero.</p> + +<p class="indent">When the Elder came home he was equally +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 38]</span> +pleased. He loved young people, and the boyish +captain with his restless, brimming life, was an +element that the whole house responded to. His +heart had a little quake at the abundance of the meal, +but it was only a momentary reserve, and he smiled +as his eyes fell on the motto carved around the +wooden bread-plate—<i>"Spare Not! Waste Not! +Want Not!"</i></p> + +<p class="indent">Madame looked very happy and handsome sitting +before her tray of pretty china, and the blended aromas +of fine tea and hot bread, of broiled chicken, +and Indian preserves and pickles were made still +more appetizing by the soft wind blowing through +the open window, the perfume of the lilacs and the +southernwood. Madame had kept the place at her +right hand for Macpherson; and Maria sat next to +him with her grandfather on her right hand, so that +Neil was at his mother's left hand. Between the two +young men the old lady was radiantly happy; for +Macpherson was such a guest as it is a delight to +honor. He ate of all Madame had prepared for +him, thoroughly enjoyed it, and frankly said so. +And his chatter about the social entertainments +given by Generals Clinton and Tryon, Robertson +and Ludlow was very pleasant to the ladies. Neil +never had anything to say about these affairs, except +that they were "all alike, and all stupid, and all wickedly +extravagant;" and such criticism was too general +to be interesting.</p> + +<p class="indent">Very different was Macpherson's description of +the last ball at General Tryon's; he could tell all +its details—the reception of the company with kettle +drums and trumpets—the splendid furniture of his +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 39]</span> +residence, its tapestries, carpets, and silk hangings—the +music, the dancing, the feasting—the fine +dressing of both men and women—all these things +he described with delightful enthusiasm and a little +pleasant mimicry. And when Madame asked after +her acquaintances, Macpherson could tell her what +poplins and lutestrings, and lace and jewels they +wore. Moreover, he knew what grand dames +crowded William Street in the mornings and afternoons, +and what merchants had the largest display +of the fashions and luxuries of Europe.</p> + +<p class="indent">"John Ambler," he said, "is now showing a most +extraordinary cargo of English silks and laces, and +fine broadcloths, taken by one of Dirk Vandercliff's +privateers. Really, Madame, the goods are worth +looking at. I assure you our beauties lack nothing +that Europe can produce."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, there is one thing the privateers canna furnish +you, and that is fuel. You shivered all last +winter in your splendid rooms," said the Elder.</p> + +<p class="indent">"True," replied Macpherson. "The cold was +frightful, and though General Clinton issued one +proclamation after another to the farmers of Long +Island to send in their wood, they did not do it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Why should they?" asked Madame.</p> + +<p class="indent">"On the King's service, Madame," answered the +young man with a final air.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Vera good," retorted Madame; "but if the King +wanted my forest trees for naething, I should say, +'your Majesty has plenty o' soldiers wi' little to do; +let them go and cut what they want.' They wouldna +waste it if they had it to cut. But the wastrie in +everything is simply sinful, and I canna think where +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 40]</span> +the Blacks and Vanderlanes, and all the other 'Vans' +you name—and whom I never heard tell of in our +kirk—get the money."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Privateering!" said Macpherson with a gay +laugh. "Who would not be a roving privateer? I +have myself longings for the life. I have thoughts +of joining Vandercliff's fleet."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You are just leeing, young man," interrupted +Madame. "It would be a thing impossible. The +Macphersons have nae salt water in their blood. +Could you fling awa' your tartans for a sailor's tarry +coat and breeches? How would you look if you +did? And you would feel worse than you looked."</p> + +<p class="indent">Macpherson glanced at his garb with a smile of +satisfaction. "I am a Macpherson," he answered, +proudly, "and I would not change the colors of my +regiment for a royal mantle; but privateering is no +small temptation. On the deck of a privateer you +may pick up gold and silver."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is not very far from the truth," said Neil. +"In the first year of the war the rebel privateers took +two hundred and fifty West Indiamen, valued at +nearly two millions of pounds, and Mr. Morris complained +that the Eastern states cared for nothing but +privateering."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Weel, Morris caught the fever himself," said the +Elder. "I have been told he made nearly four hundred +thousand dollars in the worst year the rebel +army ever had."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do the rebels call that patriotism?" asked Macpherson.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes," answered the Elder, "from a Whig point +of view it is vera patriotic; what do you think, +Neil?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 41]</span> +"If I was a Whig," answered Neil, "I should certainly +own privateers. Without considering the +personal advantage, privateering brings great riches +into the country; it impoverishes the enemy, and it +adds enormously to the popularity of the war. The +men who have hitherto gone to the Arctic seas for +whales, find more wealthy and congenial work in +capturing English ships."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And when men get money by wholesale high-seas +robbery——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Privateering, Madame," corrected Macpherson.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Weel, weel, give it any name you like—what I +want to say is, that money got easy goes easy."</p> + +<p class="indent">"In that, Madame, you are correct. While we +were in Philadelphia that city was the scene of the +maddest luxury. While the rebels were begging +money from France to feed their starving army at +Valley Forge, every kind of luxury and extravagance +ran riot in Philadelphia. At one entertainment +there was eight hundred pounds spent in pastry +alone."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Stop, Macpherson!" cried Madame, "I will not +hear tell o' such wickedness," and she rose with +the words, and the gentlemen went into the parlor to +continue their conversation.</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame had been pleased with her granddaughter's +behavior. She had not tittered, nor been vulgarly +shy or affected, nor had she intruded her opinions +or feelings among those of her elders; and yet +her self-possession, and her expressive face had been +full of that charm which showed her to be an interested +and a comprehending listener. Now, however, +Madame wished her to talk, and she was annoyed +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 42]</span> +when she did not do so. It was only natural +that she should express some interest in the bright +young soldier, and her silence concerning him Madame +regarded as assumed indifference. At last she +condescended to the leading question:</p> + +<p class="indent">"What do you think o' Captain Macpherson, +Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I do not know, grandmother."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is a very handsome lad. It did my heart +good to see his bright face."</p> + +<p class="indent">"His face is covered with freckles."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Freckles! Why not? He has been brought up +in the wind and the sunshine, and not in a boarding-school, +or a lady's parlor."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Freckles are not handsome, however, grandmother."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame would not dally with half-admissions, +and she retorted sharply:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Freckles are the handsomest thing about a man; +they are only the human sunshine tint; the vera +same sunshine that colored the roses and ripened the +wheat gave the lad the golden-brown freckles o' +rich young life. Freckles! I consider them an improvement +to any one. If you had a few yoursel' +you would be the handsomer for them."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Grandmother!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, and your friend likewise. She has scarce a +mite o' color o' any kind; a little o' the human sunshine +tint—the red and gold on her cheeks—and she +might be better looking."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Better looking! Why, grandmother, Agnes +was the beauty of the school."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Schoolgirls are poor judges o' beauty. She has +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 43]</span> +a wonderfu' pleasant way with her, but that isn't +beauty."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I thought you liked her, I am so sorry and disappointed."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She is weel enough—in her way. There are +plenty o' girls not as pleasant; but she is neither +Venus, nor Helen o' Troy. I was speaking o' Captain +Macpherson; when he stood in the garden with +your uncle Neil, his hand on his sword and the wind +blowing his golden hair——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Grandmother! His hair is red."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is naething o' the kind, Maria. It is a bonnie +golden-brown. It may, perhaps, have a cast o' red, +but only enough to give it color. And he has a +kindly handsome face, sweet-eyed and fearless."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I did not notice his eyes. He seems fearless, +and he is certainly good-tempered. Have you +known him a long time, grandmother?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I never saw him before this afternoon," the old +lady answered wearily. She had become suddenly +tired. Maria's want of enthusiasm chilled her. +She could not tell whether the girl was sincere or +not. Women generally have two estimates of the +men they meet; one which they acknowledge, one +which they keep to themselves.</p> + +<p class="indent">When the gentlemen returned to the sitting-room +a young negro was lighting the fire, and Macpherson +looked at him with attention. "A finely built +fellow," he said, when the slave had left the room; +"such men ought to make good fighters." Then +turning to Madame he added, "Captain de Lancey +lost four men, and Mr. Bayard five men last week. +They were sent across the river to cut wood and they +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 44]</span> +managed to reach the rebel camp. We have knowledge +that there is a full regiment of them there +now."</p> + +<p class="indent">"They are fighting for their personal freedom," +said the Elder, "and who wouldna fight for that? +Washington has promised it, if they fight to the end +o' the war."</p> + +<p class="indent">"They have a good record already," said Macpherson.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have nae doubt o' it," answered the Elder. +"Fighting would come easier than wood cutting, no +to speak o' the question o' freedom. I heard a +sough o' rumor about them and the Hessians; true, +or not, I can't say."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is true. They beat back the Hessians three +times in one engagement."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm glad o' it," said Madame, "slaves are good +enough to fight hired human butchers."</p> + +<p class="indent">"O, you know, Madame, the Hessians are mercenaries; +they make arms a profession." He spoke +with a languid air of defense; the Hessians were +not of high consideration in his opinion, but Madame +answered with unusual warmth:</p> + +<p class="indent">"A profession! Well, it isn't a respectable one in +their hands—men selling themselves to fight they +care not whom, or for what cause. If a man fights +for his country he is her soldier and her protector; +if he sells himself to all and sundry, he is worth just +what he sells himself for, and the black slave fighting +for his freedom is a gentleman beside him." Then, +before any one could answer her tart disparagement, +she opened a little Indian box, and threw on the table +a pack of cards.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 45]</span> +"There's some paper kings for you to play wi'," +she said, "and neither George nor Louis has a title to +compare wi' them—kings and knaves! Ancient +tyrants, and like ithers o' their kind, they would +trick the warld awa' at every game but for some +brave ace," and the ace of hearts happening to be in +her hand she flung it defiantly down on the top of +the pack; and that with an air of confidence and +triumph that was very remarkable.</p> + +<p class="indent">With the help of these royalties and some desultory +conversation on the recent alliance of France +with the rebels, the evening passed away. Madame +sat quiet in the glow of the fire, and Maria, as Neil's +partner, enlivened the game with many bewitching +airs and graces she had not known she possessed, +until this opportunity called them forth. And whatever +Macpherson gained at cards he lost in another +direction; for the little schoolgirl, he had at first +believed himself to be patronizing, reversed the situation. +He became embarrassed by a realization of +her beauty and cleverness; and the sweet old story +began to tell itself in his heart—the story that comes +no one knows whence, and commences no one knows +how. In that hour of winning and losing he first +understood how charming Maria Semple was.</p> + +<p class="indent">The new feeling troubled him; he wished to be +alone with it, and the ardent pleasure of his arrival +had cooled. The Elder and his wife were tired, and +Neil seemed preoccupied and did not exert himself +to restore the tone of the earlier hours; so the young +officer felt it best to make his adieu. Then, the +farewell in a measure renewed the joy of meeting; +he was asked to come again, "to come whenever he +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 46]</span> +wanted to come," said Madame, with a smile of +motherly kindness. And when Maria, with a downward +and upward glance laid her little hand in his, +that incident made the moment wonderful, and he +felt that not to come again would be a great misfortune.</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria was going to her room soon afterward but +Neil detained her. "Can you sit with me a little +while, Maria?" he asked; "or are you also sleepy?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am not the least weary, uncle; and I never was +wider awake in my life. I will read to you or copy +for you——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Come and talk to me. The fire still burns. It +is a pity to leave its warmth. Sit down here. I +have never had a conversation with you. I do not +know my niece yet, and I want to know her."</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria was much flattered. Neil's voice had a +tone in it that she had never before heard. He +brought her a shawl to throw around her shoulders, +a footstool for her feet, and drawing a small sofa +before the fire, seated himself by her side. Then he +talked with her about her early life; about her father +and mother, and Mrs. Charlton, and without +asking one question about Agnes Bradley led her so +naturally to the subject, and so completely round +and through it, that he had learned in an hour all +Maria could tell concerning the girl whose presence +and appearance had that day so powerfully attracted +him. He was annoyed when he heard her name, +and annoyed at her pronounced Methodism, which +was evidently of that early type, holding it a sin +not to glory in the scorn of those who derided it. +Yet he could not help being touched by Maria's +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 47]</span> +enthusiastic description of the girl's sweet godliness.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You know, uncle," she said, "Agnes's religion is +not put on; it is part of Agnes; it is Agnes. Girls +find one another out, but all the girls loved Agnes. +We were ashamed to be ill-natured, or tell untruths, +or do mean things when she was there. And if you +heard her sing, uncle, you would feel as if the heavens +had opened, and you could see angels."</p> + +<p class="indent">Now there is no man living who does not at some +time dream of a good woman—a woman much better +than himself—upon his hearthstone. Neil felt +in that hour this divine longing; and he knew also, +that the thing had befallen him which he had vowed +never would befall him again. Without resistance, +without the desire to resist, he had let the vision of +Agnes Bradley fill his imagination; he had welcomed +it, and he knew that it would subjugate his +heart—that it had already virtually done so. For +Maria's descriptions of the pretty trivialities of their +school life was music and wine to his soul. He was +captivated by her innocent revelations, and the tall +girl with her saintly pallor and star-like eyes was invisibly +present to him. He had the visionary sense, +the glory and the dream of love, and he longed to +realize this vision. Therefore he was delighted +when he heard that Maria had permission to continue +her studies under the direction of her friend. +It was an open door to him.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was at this point that Maria made her final +admission: "I am obliged to tell you, uncle, that I +am sure Agnes is a Whig." This damaging item in +her idol's character Maria brought out with deprecating +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 48]</span> +apologies and likelihood of change, "not a +bad Whig, uncle; she is so gentle, and she hates +war, and so she feels so sorry for the poor Americans +who are suffering so much, because, you know, +they think they are right. Then her father is a +Tory, and she is very fond of her father, and very +proud of him, and she will now be under his influence, +and of course do what he tells her—only—only——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Only what, Maria? You think there is a difficulty; +what is it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Her lover. I am almost certain he is a rebel."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Has she a lover? She is very young—you must +be mistaken?" He spoke so sharply Maria hardly +knew his voice, and she considered it best to hesitate +a little, so she answered in a dubious manner:</p> + +<p class="indent">"I suppose he is her lover. The girls all thought +so. He sent her letters, and he sometimes came to +see her; and then she seemed so happy."</p> + +<p class="indent">"A young man?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, a very young man."</p> + +<p class="indent">"A soldier?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think, more likely, he was a sailor. I never +asked Agnes. You could not ask Agnes things, as +you did other girls."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I understand that."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He wore plain clothes, but all of us were sure he +was a sailor; and once we saw Agnes watching +some ships as far as she could see them, and he had +called on her that day."</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil did not answer her conjecture. He rose and +stood silently on the hearth, his dark eyes directed +outward, as if he was calling up the vision of the +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 49]</span> +sea, and the ships and the girl watching them. For +the first time Maria realized the personal attractiveness +of her uncle. "He is not old," she thought, +"and he is handsomer than any one I ever saw. +Why has he not got married before this?" And as +she speculated on this question, Neil let his eyes fall +upon the dead fire and in a melancholy voice said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria, my dear, it is very late, I did not remember—you +have given me two pleasant hours. +Good-night, child."</p> + +<p class="indent">He spoke with restraint, coldly and wearily. He +was not aware of it, for his mind was full of +thoughts well-nigh unspeakable, and Maria felt their +influence, though they had not been named. She +went away depressed and silent, like one who has +suddenly discovered they were no longer desired.</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil speedily put out the lights, and went to the +solitude his heart craved. He was not happy; but +doubt and fear are love's first food. For another +hour he sat motionless, wondering how this woman, +whom he had not in any way summoned, had taken +such possession of him. For not yet had it been +revealed to him, that "love is always a great invisible +presence," and that in his case, Agnes Bradley was +but its material revelation.</p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">LIFE IN THE CAPTIVE CITY.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">At</span> this time in New York, John Bradley Was a +man of considerable importance. He was not only +a native of the city, but many generations of Bradleys +had been born, and lived, and died in the wide, +low house close to the river bank, not far north of +old Trinity. They were originally a Yorkshire family +who had followed the great Oliver Cromwell +from Marston Moor to Worcester, and who, having +helped to build the Commonwealth of England, refused +to accept the return of royalty. Even before +Charles the Second assumed the crown, Ezra Bradley +and his six sons had landed in New York. They +were not rich, but they had gold sufficient to build a +home, and to open near the fort a shop for the making +and repairing of saddlery.</p> + +<p class="indent">Ever since that time this trade had been the distinctive +occupation of the family, and the John Bradley +who represented it in the year 1779, had both an +inherited and a trained capability in the craft. No +one in all America could make a saddle comparable +with Bradley's; the trees were of his own designing, +and the leather work unequalled in strength and +beauty. In addition to this important faculty, he +was a veterinary surgeon of great skill, and possessed +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 51]</span> +some occult way of managing ungovernable horses, +which commended itself peculiarly to officers whose +mounts were to be renewed frequently from any +available source. And never had his business been +so lucrative as at the present date, for New York +was full of mounted military during the whole +period of the war, and enormous prices were willingly +paid for the fine saddlery turned out of the workshop +of John Bradley.</p> + +<p class="indent">Contrary to all the traditions of his family, he +had positively taken the part of the King, and at +the very commencement of the national quarrel had +shown the red ribbon of loyalty to England. His +wife dying at this time, he sent his daughter to a +famous boarding-school in Boston, and his son to +the great dissenting academy in Gloucester, England; +then he closed his house and lived solitarily +in very humble fashion above his workroom and +shop. In this way, he believed himself to have provided +for the absolute safety of his two children; +the boy was out of the war circle; the thundering +drum and screaming fife could not reach him in the +cloistered rooms of the Doddridge School; and as +for Agnes, Mrs. Charlton's house was as secure as a +convent; he had no fear that either English or +American soldiers would molest a dwelling full of +schoolgirls. And John Bradley could keep the +door of his mouth; and he believed that a man who +could do that might pursue a trade so necessary as +his, with an almost certain degree of safety.</p> + +<p class="indent">In appearance he was a short, powerful-looking +man with tranquil, meditating eyes and a great talent +for silence; an armed soul dwelling in a strong +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 52]</span> +body. Some minds reflect, shift, argue, and are like +the surface of a lake; but John Bradley's mind was +like stubborn clay; when once impressed it was sure +to harden and preserve the imprint through his life, +and perhaps the other one. His Methodism was +of this character, and he never shirked conversation +on this subject; he was as ready to tell his experience +to General Howe or General Clinton as to +the members of his own class meeting; for his +heart was saturated with the energy of his faith; he +had the substance of things hoped for, the evidence +of things not seen.</p> + +<p class="indent">On politics he would not talk; he said, "public +affairs were in wiser hands than his, and that to +serve God and be diligent in business, was the +length and breadth of his commission." His shop +was a place where many men and many minds met, +and angry words were frequently thrown backward +and forward there; yet his needle never paused an +instant for them. Only once had he been known to +interfere; it was on a day when one of De Lancey's +troop drew his sword against a boyish English ensign +almost at his side. He stopped them with his +thread half drawn out, and said sternly:</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you two fools are in a hurry for death, and the +judgment after death, there are more likely places +to kill each other than my shop," and the words were +cold as ice and sharp as steel, and the men went out +rebuked and checked, and washed away their hot +temper in wine instead of blood. For the vision of +death, and the judgment after death, which Bradley's +words and manner had evoked, was not to be +faced at that hour. Yet, withal, Bradley was rather +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 53]</span> +a common-looking man, ill-mannered and rough as +hemp to the generality; but not so where childhood +or calamity appealed to his strength or forbearance. +In other respects, General Howe had, not inaptly, +described him as "very unlike other men when +at chapel, but not much so, when among horses in +the stable, or selling saddles in the shop."</p> + +<p class="indent">This was the man who came up from the waterside +early one morning in the beginning of July, +singing Dr. Watts' lyrical dream of heaven:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"There is a land of pure delight,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Where saints immortal reign."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p class="indent">His voice was strong and melodious, and it was +evident that Agnes had inherited her charming vocal +power from him. He did not cease as he entered +the house, but continued his hymn until he was in +the little sitting-room, and Agnes finished the verse +with him:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"And see the Canaan that we love,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">With unbeclouded eyes."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p class="indent">He sat down to breakfast with the heavenly vision +in his heart, and reluctantly let it pass away. But +his spiritual nature had hands as well as wings, and +he felt also the stress of the daily labor waiting him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The expedition leaves for the Connecticut coast +to-day," he said. "General Clinton is determined +to strike a blow at the people in New Haven, and +Fairfield, and New London."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, father? What do you say to that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I say it is better they should be struck down than +that they should lie down."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Matthews has but just returned from ravaging +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 54]</span> +the river counties of Virginia, and Clinton from +Stony Point. Have they not made misery enough +for a little while? Who is going with the Connecticut +expedition?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Tryon, and he goes to do mischief with the joy +of an ape."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I heard trumpets sounding and men mustering, +as I was dressing myself."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Trumpets may sound, and not to victory, Agnes. +Fire and pillage are cowardly arms; but I heard +Tryon say, any stick was good enough to beat a dog +with, and all who differ from Tryon are dogs. Vile +work! Vile work! And yet all this does not keep +New York from dancing and drinking, and racing, +and gambling, and trading; nor yet New York +women from painting and dressing themselves as if +there were no such persons as King George and +George Washington."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, father, a great many of our best families +are very poor."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Those not employed by the government, or those +who are not contractors or privateers, are whipped +and driven to the last pinch by poverty. Ah, Agnes, +remember New York before this war began, its +sunny streets shaded with trees, and its busy, happy +citizens talking, laughing, smoking, trading, loving +and living through every sense they had at the same +time. Now there is nothing but covert ill-will and +suspicion. Our violent passions have not cured our +mean ones; to the common list of rogueries, we have +only added those of contractors and commissioners."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think war is the most terrible calamity that +can befall a people, father."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 55]</span> +"The despair of subjugated souls would be +worse."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do they never doubt you, father?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Howe never did. That amiable, indolent officer +might have liked me all the more if he had doubted +me. Clinton is a different man; and I think he may +have thought my loyalty to royalty lukewarm, for +he sent for me on the King's birthday, and after +some talk about a horse and saddle, he said, 'Mr. +Bradley, it is the King's birthday; shall we drink +his Majesty's health?' And I answered him, 'if it +please you, General.' So he filled a glass with Portugal +wine for me, and then filling one for himself +raised it, and waited for me to speak. There were +several officers present, and I lifted my glass and +said, 'To King George the Third! God bless him, +and make him and all his officers good John Wesley +Methodists!'"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then, father?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Clinton put down his glass with a ringing guffaw, +and the rest followed him. Only one bit of a +beardless boy spoke, and he said: 'you think, Bradley, +Methodism might make his Majesty a better +king?' And I answered, 'I am not here to judge +his Majesty's kingship. I think it would make him +and all present, better and happier men.' I did not +try to go away or shirk questions; I looked squarely +in their faces until General Clinton said, 'Very good, +Bradley. You will remember Saladin and the new +saddle for him'; and I answered, 'I will see to it at +once, General.' So I went out then, and I think +they were not all sure of me; but they cannot do +without me, and they know it is better to put their +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 56]</span> +doubts out of inquiry. Wise men obey necessity, +and that is true for them as well as for me. Agnes, +I want to know something about that little girl of +Semple's? I don't like her coming here day after +day. She will be seeing or hearing something she +ought not to see or hear. Women are dangerous in +politics, for, as a rule, politics either find or leave +them vixens."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria is to be trusted."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You can not be sure. She is passionate, and +though a woman in a temper may not intend to burn +any one, she pokes the fire and makes a blaze and sets +others looking and wondering. I can tell you of +many such women in New York; they think ill of +their neighbor, and the thoughts get to their tongues, +and before they know the mischief is done. Then, +like the wolf in the fable, they thank God they are +not ferocious. Oh, no! They have only loosed the +dogs of war and left others to set them worrying."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How you do run on, father! And not one word +you have said fits the little Maria, no, nor any one of +the Semples. Indeed, I am sure Madame is as true +a patriot as you could find anywhere."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The old man is as bitter a royalist as I could find +anywhere."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is, however, a good old man. Last Monday +night, when you had to go to the leaders' meeting, +I walked home with Maria and stayed to tea there. +And after tea Madame asked me to sing a hymn, and +I sang the one you were singing this morning, and +when I had finished, the Elder said, 'Now, then, we +will supplement Isaac Watts with the Apostle John'; +and he opened the Bible and read aloud John's vision +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 57]</span> +of 'the land of pure delight' from the twenty-first +of Revelation; then standing up, he asked us all to +join in the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ. And +we stood up with him and said to 'Our Father which +is in heaven,' the words he taught us. I felt it to be +a very precious few minutes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have nothing to say against such experiences, +Agnes. If people would stick to what Christ says, +there might be only one creed and one church; it is +Peter and Paul that make disputing. But if you +go to Semple's house do not stop after sunset. +There are bad men about."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mr. Neil Semple walked home with me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh! Mr. Neil Semple! And what had he to +say?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Very little. He praised my singing, he said it +went to his heart; and he spoke about the moon, and +the perfume of the locust flowers. I think that was +all."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The moon and the locust flowers! What does +Mr. Neil Semple know about the moon and the locust +flowers? And he spoke very little! He can +talk fast enough when he is in court, and well paid +for it. He is a proud man—ill-tempered, too, I +should think."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am sure he is not ill-tempered. He is as sweet +as a child to his father and mother; and Maria says +many pleasant things about him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Let him pass for what he is worth; but remember +always this thing, Agnes, I am trusting my life +in your hands. If you inadvertently repeated even +what I have said this morning, I should be hard put +to answer it."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 58]</span> +"You know well that I would die rather than reveal +anything you said to me. My life for yours, +father!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I trust you as my own soul. You are an inexpressible +comfort to me. I can speak to you. I +can open my heart to you. I can get relief and sympathy +from you. Your coming home makes me a +hundred-fold safer. If your brother with his hot +temper and young imprudences had been here, no one +knows what would have happened before this. I +thank God continually that he is so far out of the +way. Has he left school yet?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"School does not close until June."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then he will go directly to Doctor Brudenel in +London?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"That was your instruction to him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"When did you have a letter from him?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is nearly a month since."</p> + +<p class="indent">"When will you write to him next?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I write to him every opportunity I have."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Does he need money? Young men are often extravagant."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He has never named money to me. He is well +and happy."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Tell him he must not come home, not think of +coming home till I give him permission. Tell him +that his being away from home is my great comfort. +Make that plain to him, Agnes, my great comfort. +Tell him he must stay in London till a man can +speak his mind safely in New York, whatever his +mind may be."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will tell him all, father."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Bradley went to his shop and his daughter +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 59]</span> +sat down to consider with herself. Many persons +stimulate or regulate thought in movement and find +a positive assistance to their mental powers in action +of some kind, but Agnes had the reverse of this temperament. +She needed quiet, so closing the door +of her room she sat still, recalling, reviewing, and +doing her best to anticipate events. There were +certain things which must be revealed to Maria, +wholly, or in part, if she continued to visit the house, +and Agnes saw not how to prevent those visits. +Nor did she wish to prevent them; she loved Maria +and delighted in her companionship. They had +many acquaintances and events in common to talk +about, and she was also interested in Maria's life, +which was very different to her own. She felt, too, +that her influence was necessary and valuable to the +young girl, suddenly thrown into the midst of what +Agnes regarded as sinful and dangerous society. +And then into this process of self-examination there +drifted another form—the stately, rather sombre, +but altogether kindly personality of Neil Semple. +It was linked with Maria, she could not separate the +two; and as intrusion involved some heart-searching +she was not inclined to, she rather promptly decided +the question without any further prudential +considerations, and as she did so Maria called her.</p> + +<p class="indent">She answered the call gladly. It was to her +one of those leadings on which she spiritually relied, +and her face was beaming with love and pleasure as +she went down stairs to her friend. Maria was +standing in the middle of the small parlor, most +beautifully arrayed in an Indian muslin, white as +snow and lustrously fine, as only Dacca looms could +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 60]</span> +weave it. Her shoulders were covered with a little +cape of the same material, ruffled and laced and fastened +with pink ribbons, and on her head was a bewitching +gypsy hat tied under her chin with bows +of the same color. Her uncle stood at her side, +smiling with grave tolerance at her girlish pride in +her dress, and the pretty airs with which she exhibited +it to Agnes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Am I not handsome?" she cried. "Am I not +dressed in the most perfect taste? Why do you not +say as Miss Robinson is sure to say—'La, child, you +are adorable!'"</p> + +<p class="indent">Agnes fell quite naturally into her friend's excited +mood, and in the happiest tone of admiring mimicry, +repeated the words dictated. She made the most +perfect contrast to Maria; her pale blue gown of +simple material and simple fashion was without ornament +of any kind, except its large falling collar of +white muslin embroidery, but the long, unbroken +line of the skirt seemed to Neil Semple the most fitting, +the only fitting, garment he had ever seen on +any woman.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Its modesty and simplicity is an instinct," he +thought; "and I have this morning seen a woman +clothed by her raiment. Now I understand the difference +between being dressed and clothed. Maria +is dressed, Agnes is clothed; her garments interpret +her."</p> + +<p class="indent">He was lifted up by his love for her; and her +calico gown became a royal robe in his imagination. +Every time he saw her she appeared to have +been adorned for that time only. It was a delightful +thing for him to watch her tenderness and pride +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 61]</span> +in Maria. It was motherly and sisterly, and without +a thought of envy, and he trembled with delight +when she turned her sweet, affectionate face to his +for sympathy in it. And really this morning Agnes +might reasonably have given some of her admiring +interest to Maria's escort. He was undeniably +handsome. His suit of fine, dark cloth, his spotless +lawn ruffles, his long, light sword, his black beaver +in his hand, were but fitting adjuncts to a noble face, +graven with many experiences and alight with the +tender glow of love and the steady fire of intellectual +power and purpose.</p> + +<p class="indent">He did not stay at this time many minutes, but +the girls watched him to the garden gate and +shared the courtly salute of his adieu there. "Is he +not the most graceful and beautiful of men?" asked +Maria.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Indeed he is very handsome," replied Agnes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There is not an officer in New York fit to latch +his shoe buckles."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then why do you dress so splendidly, only to +show yourself to them?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, Agnes, see how <i>they</i> dress. As we were +coming here we met men in all the colors of the rainbow; +they were rattling swords and spurs, and tossing +their heads like war horses scenting the battle +afar off."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You are quoting the Bible, Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Uncle did it first. You don't suppose I thought +of that. We passed a regiment of Hessians with +their towering brass-fronted helmets, their yellow +breeches, and black gaiters; really, Agnes, they +were grand-looking men."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 62]</span> +"Very," answered Agnes, scornfully. "I have +seen them standing like automatons, taking both +the commands and the canes of their officers. Very +grand-looking indeed!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You need not be angry at the poor fellows. It +must be very disagreeable for them to be caned in +public and not dare to move an eyelash or utter a +word of protest."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Men that will suffer such things are no better +than the beasts of the field; not as good, for the +beasts do speak in their way with hoofs, or horns, or +teeth, or claws, and that to some purpose, when their +sense of justice is outraged."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is all military discipline, you know, Agnes. +And you must allow, the regiments make fine appearances. +I dare say these Hessians have to be +caned—most men have, in one way or another. +Uncle is coming back for me this afternoon. We +are going to see the troops leaving; it will be a fine +sight. I told uncle you might like to go with us, +and he said he would ask you, but he did not."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He had more grace granted him, Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think he is a little afraid of you, Agnes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nothing of the kind. He had sense enough to +understand I would not go." Then, without further +thought or preliminary she said: "Sit down +here beside me, Maria, I have something very important +to say to you. I know that I can perfectly +trust you, but I want to hear you tell me so. Can +you keep a secret inviolate and sure, Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"If the secret is yours, Agnes, neither in life nor +in the hour of death would I tell it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you were questioned——"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 63]</span> +"I should be stupid and dumb; if it was your secret, +fire could not burn it out of me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I believe you. Many times in Boston you must +have known that a young man called on me. You +may have seen his face."</p> + +<p class="indent">"None of the girls saw his face but Sally Laws; +we all knew that he called on you. I should recognize +his figure and his walk anywhere, but his face +I never saw. Sally said he was as handsome as +Apollo."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Such nonsense! He has an open, bright, strong +countenance, but there is nothing Greek about him, +nothing at all. He is an American, and he loves his +native land, and would give his life for her freedom."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And he will come here to see you now?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, but my father must not know it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I thought you were always so against anything +being done unknown to our parents. When I +wanted to write good-bye to Teddy Bowen you +would not let me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I expected you to remind me of this, and at present +I can give you no explanation. But I tell you +positively that I am doing right. Can you take my +word for it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I believe in you, Agnes, as if you were the Bible. +I know you will only do right."</p> + +<p class="indent">"All that you see or hear or are told about this +person must be to you as if you had dreamed a +dream, and you must forget that you ever had it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have said that I would be faithful. Darling +Agnes, you know that you may trust me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Just suppose that my friend should be seen, and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 64]</span> +that my father should be told," she was silent a moment +in consideration of such an event, and Maria +impulsively continued:</p> + +<p class="indent">"In that case I would say it was my friend."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That would not be the truth."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But he might be my friend, we might have become +friends, not as he is your friend, nothing like +that, just a friend. Are you very fond of him, +Agnes?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I love him as my own life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And he loves you in that way?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He loves me! Oh, yes, Maria, he loves me! +even as I love him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Sweetest Agnes, thank you for telling me. I +will see what you tell me to see, and hear what you +tell me to hear; that, and that only. I will be as +true to you as your own heart."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am sure you will. Some day you shall know +all. Now, we will say no more until there is a reason; +everything is so uncertain. Tell me about the +rout last night."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was at Governor Robertson's. His daughter +called and asked me to honor them with my company; +and grandmother said I ought to go, and +uncle Neil said I ought to go—so I went. There +was a great time dressing me, but I made a fine appearance +when it was done. I wore my silver-tissue +gown, and grandmother loaned me her pearl necklace. +She told me how many generations of Gordon +ladies had worn it, and I felt uncanny as she clasped +it round my throat. I wondered if they knew——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You should not wonder about such things. Did +you dance much?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 65]</span> +"I had the honor to dance with many great people. +Every gentleman danced one minuet with his partner, +and then began cotillon and allemand dances; +and there were some songs sung by Major André, +and a fine supper at midnight. It was two o'clock +when I got home."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Tell me who you talked with."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, everybody, Agnes; but I liked most of all, +the lady who stays with the Robertsons—Mrs. Gordon; +her husband was with Burgoyne and is a prisoner +yet. She was very pleasant to me; indeed, she +told Uncle Neil 'I was the perfectest creature she had +ever seen,' and that she was 'passionately taken with +me.' She insisted that I should be brought to her, +and talked to me about my dress and my lovers, and +also about grandfather and grandmother."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She lived with them once, and helped to make +great sorrow in their house."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know. Grandmother does not forgive her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And your uncle?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is very civil to her, for she is vastly the fashion. +She played cards all the evening, and called +me to her side more often than I liked. She said I +brought her luck. I don't think she approved of +my dancing so often with Captain Macpherson. +She asked questions about him, and smiled in a way +that was not pleasant, and that made me praise the +Highlander far more than I meant to, and she barely +heard me to the end of my talk ere she turned back +to her cards, and as she did so, said: 'What a paragon +in tartan! Before this holy war there may have +been such men, but if you are a good child pray that +a husband may drop down from heaven for you; +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 66]</span> +there are no good ones bred here now.' Then every +one near began to protest, and she spread out her +cards and cried, 'Who leads? Diamonds are +trump.' When she called me next, she was sweeping +the sovereigns into her reticule; and Governor +Ludlow said she was Fortune's favorite, and uncle +Neil said, 'I see, Madame, that you now play for +gold,' and I think uncle meant something that she +understood, for she looked queerly at him for a moment, +and then answered, 'Yes I play for money +now. I confess it. Why not? If you take away +that excuse, the rest is sinning without temptation.' +She is so well bred, Agnes, and she speaks with such +an air, you are forced to notice and remember what +she says."</p> + +<p class="indent">Agnes was troubled to think of the innocent child +in such society, and without obtruding counsel, yet +never restraining it when needful, she did her best to +keep Maria's conscience quick and her heart right. +It was evident that she regarded the whole as a kind +of show, whose color and sound and movement attracted +her; yet even so, this show was full of temptation +to a girl who had no heart care and no lack of +anything necessary for the pride of life.</p> + +<p class="indent">This afternoon the half-camp and half-garrison +condition of New York was very conspicuous. All +was military bustle and excitement; trumpets were +calling, drums beating, and regiments parading the +streets once devoted to peaceful commerce and domestic +happiness. Royalist merchants stood in the +doors of their shops exchanging snuff-box compliments +and flattering prophecies concerning the expedition +about to leave—prophecies which did not +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 67]</span> +hide the brooding fear in their eyes or the desponding +shake of the head when sure of a passer's sympathy. +And a sensitive observer would have felt the +gloom, the shame and sorrow that no one dared to +express; for, just because no one dared to express it, +the very stones of the streets found a voice that +spoke to every heart. The bitterest royalist remembered. +All the riot of military music could not +drown the memory of sounds once far more familiar—the +cheerful greeting of men in the market place, +and all the busy, happy tumult of prosperous trade; +the laughter and chatter of joyful women and children, +and the music of the church bells above the +pleasant streets.</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil was silent and unhappy; Maria full of the +excitement of the passing moment. They sat in the +open window of Neil's office and watched company +after company march to the warships in which they +were to embark: Grenadiers of Auspach with their +towering black caps and sombre military air; brass-fronted +Hessians; gaudy Waldeckers; English +corps glittering in scarlet pomp; and Highlanders +loaded with weapons, but free and graceful in their +flowing contour. On these latter especially, both +Neil and Maria fixed their interest. Who can say +how long national feeling, expatriated, may live? +Neil leaped to his feet as the plaided men came in +sight. Their bagpipes made him drunk with emotion; +they played on his heartstrings and called up +centuries of passionate feelings. He clasped his +sword unconsciously; his hand trembled with that +magnetic attraction for iron that soldiers know. At +that moment he said proudly to his soul, "Thou also +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 68]</span> +art of Scottish birth!" and a vision of hills and +straths and of a tossing ocean filled his spiritual +sight.</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria's interest was of the present and was centered +on the young captain walking at the head of +his company; for Quentin Macpherson was a born +soldier, and whatever he might lack in a ball-room, +he lacked nothing at the head of his men. His red +hair flowing from under his plaided bonnet was the +martial color; it seemed proper to his stern face and +to the musket and bayonet, the broadsword, dirk and +pistols which he wore or carried with the ease and +grace of long usage. He stepped so proudly to the +strains of "Lochaber;" he looked so brave and so +naturally full of authority that Maria was, for the +moment, quite subjugated. She had told him on +the previous night, at what place she was to view the +embarkment; and she detected the first movement +which showed him to be on the watch for her.</p> + +<p class="indent">This fleeting pleasure of exhibiting himself at his +best to the girl he loves, is a soldier's joy; and the +girl is heartless who refuses him the small triumph. +Maria was kind, and she shared the triumph with +him; she knew that her white-robed figure was entrancing +to the young captain, and she stood ready +to rain down all of Beauty's influence upon his lifted +face. Only a moment was granted them, but in that +one moment of meeting eyes, Maria's handkerchief +drifted out of her hand and Macpherson caught it +on his lifted bayonet, kissed, and put it in his bosom. +The incident was accomplished as rapidly and perfectly +as events unpremeditated usually are; for +they are managed by that Self that sometimes takes +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 69]</span> +our affairs out of all other control and does perfectly, +in an instant, what all our desiring and planning +would have failed to do in any space of time.</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil was much annoyed, and made a movement +to stop the fluttering lawn.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What have you done, Maria?" he asked angrily. +"The Van der Donck's and half a dozen other women +are watching you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I could not help it, Uncle Neil. I do not know +how it happened. I never intended to let it fall. +Honor bright! I did not."</p> + +<p class="indent">And perhaps Neil understood, for he said no more +on the subject as they walked silently home through +the disenchanted city. All the bareness of its brutal +usage was now poignantly evident, and the very atmosphere +was heavy with an unconquerable melancholy. +Some half-tipsy members of the De Lancey +militia singing about "King George the Third" only +added to the sense of some incongruous disaster. +Everyone has felt the intolerable <i>ennui</i> which follows +a noisy merry-making—the deserted disorder, +the spilled wine, the disdained food, the withered +flowers, the silenced jest, the giving over of all left +to desecration and destruction—all this, and far +more was concentrated in that wretched <i>ennui</i> of +unhappy souls which filled the streets of New York +that hot summer afternoon. For an intense dejection +lay heavy on every heart. Like people with the +same disease, men avoided and yet sought each +other. They dared not say, they hardly dared to +think, that their love for the King was dying of a +disease that had no pity—that their idol had himself +torn away the roots of their loyalty. But they +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 70]</span> +closed their shops early, and retreated to the citadel +of their homes. Melancholy, hopelessness, silence, +infected the atmosphere and became epidemic, and +men and women, sensitive to spiritual maladies, went +into their chambers and shut their doors, but could +not shut out the unseen contagion. It rained down +on them in their sleep, and they dreamed of the +calamities they feared.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was on this afternoon that John Bradley received +a new "call" and answered it. Affected +deeply by the events of the day, he left his shop in +the middle of the hot afternoon and went about some +business which took him near the King's College +Building, then crowded with American prisoners. +As he came under the windows, he heard a thin, +quavering voice singing lines very dear and familiar +to him:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take!</span><br /> +<span class="i2">The clouds ye so much dread</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Are big with mercy, and shall break</span><br /> +<span class="i2">In blessings on your head.</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">But trust him for his grace:</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Behind a frowning providence</span><br /> +<span class="i2">He hides a smiling face.</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="indent">Then there was a pause and Bradley called aloud: +"Brother, who are you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"William Watson," was the answer.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I thought so. How are you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Dying," then a pause, and a stronger voice added, +"and in need of all things."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Brother Watson, what do you want that I can +get now?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Cold water to drink, and some fresh fruit," and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 71]</span> +then, as if further instructed the voice added, "when +you can, a clean shirt to be buried in."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Tell William he shall have them." His whole +manner had changed. There was something he +could do, and he went at once for the fruit and +water. Fortunately, he knew the provost of this +prison and had done him some favors, so he had no +hesitation in asking him to see that the small comforts +were given to William Watson.</p> + +<p class="indent">"He was a member of my class meeting, Provost," +said Bradley; "a Methodist leader must love +his brother in Christ." Here Bradley's voice failed +him and the Provost added, "I knew him too—he +used to live in good style in Queen Street. I will +see that he gets the fruit and water."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And if you need anything for yourself in the +way of saddlery, Provost, I will be glad to serve +you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was thinking of a new riding whip."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will bring you the best I have. One good turn +deserves another."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then, after a little further conversation he turned +homeward, and men who met him on the way wondered +what was the matter with John Bradley. For, +without cessation, as he walked, he went over and +over the same three words, <i>"Christ forgive me!"</i> +And no one could smile at the monotonous iteration; +the man was in too dead earnest; his face was too +remorseful, his voice too tragic.</p> + +<p class="indent">The next morning he was very early in Superintendent +Ludlow's office. The great man of the +Court of Police had not arrived, but Bradley waited +until he came.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 72]</span> +"You are an early visitor, Mr. Bradley," he said +pleasantly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have a favor to ask, Judge."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Come in here then. What is it? You are no +place or plunder hunter."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Judge, a month ago you asked me to make you a +saddle."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And you would not do it. I remember."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I could not—at least I thought I could not; now, +if you will let me, I will make you the fittest saddle +possible—it shall be my own work, every stitch of +it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How much money do you want for such a saddle, +Bradley?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I want no money at all. I want a very small +favor from you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nothing for the rebels, I hope. I cannot grant +any favor in that direction."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I want nothing for the rebels; I want one hour +every Sunday afternoon in the College prison with +my class members."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, I don't know, Bradley——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, you know, Judge. You know, if I give you +my promise, I will keep every letter of it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What is your promise?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I want only to pray with my brothers or to +walk awhile with them as they go through the Valley +of the Shadow. I promise you that no word +of war, or defeat or victory; that no breath of any +political opinion shall pass my lips. Nor will I listen +to any such."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Bradley, I don't think I can grant you this request. +It would not be right."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 73]</span> +"Judge, this is a thing within your power, and +you must grant it. We shall stand together at the +Judgment, and when the Lord Christ says, 'I was +hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, +and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye +took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, +and in prison, and ye visited me not:' don't let me +be obliged to plead, 'Lord Christ, I would have fed, +and clothed, and visited the sick and in prison, but +this man barred my way.' Open the door, Judge, +and it shall be well with you for it."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then, without a word, Ludlow turned to his desk +and wrote an order permitting John Bradley to visit +his friends for one hour every Sunday afternoon; +and as he did so, his face cleared, and when he +signed his name he had the glow of a good deed in +his heart, and he said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Never mind the saddle, Bradley. I don't want +to be paid for this thing. You say William Watson +is dying—poor Willie! We have fished together +many a long summer day"; and he took a few +gold pieces from his pocket and added, "they are +for the old friend, not for the rebel. You understand. +Good morning, sir."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Good morning, Judge. I won't overstep your +grant in any way. I know better."</p> + +<p class="indent">From this interview he went direct to the prison +and sent the gold to the dying man. And as he +stood talking to the provost the dead cart came, and +five nearly naked bodies were thrown into it, their +faces being left uncovered for the provost's inspection. +Bradley gazed on them with a hot heart; +emaciated to the last point with fever and want, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 74]</span> +there was yet on every countenance the peace that to +the living, passeth understanding. They had died +in the night-watches, in the dark, without human +help or sympathy, but doubtless sustained by Him +whose name is <i>Wonderful!</i></p> + +<p class="indent">"All of them quite common men!" said the provost +carelessly—"country rustics—plebeians!"</p> + +<p class="indent">But when Bradley told his daughter of this visit, +he added, passionately, <i>"Plebeians!</i> Well, then, +Agnes, <i>Plebeians who found out the secret of a noble +death!"</i></p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sweeter than Joy, tho' Joy might abide;</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Dearer than Love, tho' Love might endure,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Is this thing, for a man to have died</span><br /> +<span class="i4">For the wronged and the poor!</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Let none be glad until all are free;</span><br /> +<span class="i2">The song be still and the banner furled,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Till all have seen what the poets see</span><br /> +<span class="i4">And foretell to the world!</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">A SONG OF A SINGLE NOTE.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">The</span> next morning, very soon after breakfast, +Maria came down stairs ready to visit her friend. +She was dressed like a schoolgirl in a little frock of +India chintz, her black hair combed backward and +plaited in two long, loose braids. One morning she +had tied these braids with red ribbon, and been +scornfully criticised by her grandmother for "makin' +a show of herself." The next morning she had tied +them with blue, and been heart-pained by her grandfather's +sigh and look of reproach; so this morning +they were tied with ribbons as black as her hair, and +as she turned herself before the long mirror she was +pleased with the change.</p> + +<p class="indent">"They make my braids look ever so much longer," +she said with a pretty toss of her head; "and grandmother +can not say I am making a show of myself. +One must have ribbons of some color, and black is +really distinguished. I suppose that is the reason +Uncle Neil wears so much black cloth and velvet."</p> + +<p class="indent">To these thoughts she ran gaily down stairs. The +Elder was reading Rivington's <i>Royal Gazette</i>; Madame +had a hank of wool over two chairs, and was +slowly winding it. She looked at Maria with a +little disappointment. Her hat was on her head, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 76]</span> +her books in her hand, and she understood where +the girl was going; yet she asked: "Is it Agnes +Bradley again, Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, grandmother. I said no lessons yesterday. +We were watching the soldiers pass, and the people, +and I was expecting Neil, and there seemed no +use in beginning then. I told Agnes I would say +extra lessons to-day."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And I'm doubting, even with the 'extra,' if the +lessons amount to much."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh grandmother! I have learned a page of +'Magnall's Questions,' and studied a whole chapter +in 'Goldsmith's History' about King John."</p> + +<p class="indent">"King <i>who?"</i> asked Madame, suspiciously. "I +never heard tell o' a King John. David, and Robert, +and James I ken; but John! No, no, lassie! +There's nae King John."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria means John of England," explained the +Elder. "He was a vera bad king."</p> + +<p class="indent">"John of England, or George of England!" answered +Madame disdainfully, "kings are much of a +muchness. And if he was a bad king, he was a bad +man, and ye ought to put your commandments on +your granddaughter, Elder, to learn naething about +such wicked men. Ye ken as well as I do, that the +Almighty forbid the children o' Israel even to <i>inquire</i> +anent the doings of thae sinners, the Canaanites. +And it is bad enough to hae to thole the evil +doings o' a living king, without inquiring after the +crimes o' a dead one."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will give up my history if you wish it, grandmother. +I care nothing about King John."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria must learn what other people learn," said +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 77]</span> +the Elder. "She has to live in the world, and she +has sense enough to make her own reflections. Give +me a kiss, dearie, and study King John if you like +to, he was a bad man, and a bad king, but——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Others worse than him!" ejaculated Madame.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Give me a kiss, darling grandmother, one for +myself, and one for Agnes; she always asks for it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, you flattering lassie!" But the old lady gave +the two kisses, and with a sweeping courtesy, Maria +closed the door and went humming down the garden +walk: <i>"Who Saw Fair Pamela?"</i></p> + +<p class="indent">She had not gone far before she met Moselle, the +only slave Bradley possessed. She was in her Sunday +clothing, and she said Missee had given her a +whole day's holiday. In that case Agnes would be +alone, and Maria hastened her steps onward. The +little house was as calm and peaceful looking as +usual, the windows all open, the mignonette boxes +on their sills in full bloom; the white shades gently +stirring in the wind. The door was closed, but on +the latch, and Maria turned the handle and went +into the parlor. It was empty, but the ruffle Agnes +was gathering was on the table, and Maria took off +her bonnet and laid it and her books down on the +cushioned seat within the window recess. As she +lifted her head an astonishing sight met her eyes. +In the middle of the yard there was a very handsome +young man. He was bareheaded, tall, and straight +as a ramrod, and stood with one hand on his hip +and his face lifted to the sunshine. Maria's heart +beat quick, she lifted her bonnet and books, retreated +to the front door, and called "Agnes" in a +clear, eager voice.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 78]</span> +In a moment or two, Agnes came in at the opposite +door. "Maria!" she cried, "I am glad to see +you. Is your uncle with you? No? That is well. +Come with me to the kitchen. I have given Moselle +a holiday. Maria, I have a friend—a very dear +friend. I am cooking him some breakfast. Come +and help me."</p> + +<p class="indent">Agnes spoke in a hurried, excited manner very +unusual to her, and as she did so, the two girls went +into the little outside kitchen. The coffee was +ready, the steak broiled, and as Agnes lifted the food +she continued, "yes, I have a friend this morning. +He is going to eat in the summer-house, and you will +help me to wait upon him. Will you not, Maria? +Oh, my dear, I am so happy!" And Maria, who remembered +only too vividly the bare-headed youth +she had seen for a moment, gladly accepted the office. +A spirit of keen pleasure was in the dingy little +kitchen, and the girls moved gaily to it. "You +shall carry the coffee, and I will carry the steak," +said Agnes; "the bread and the china are already +placed." So laughing and chatting, and delighted +with their service the two girls entered the summer-house.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Harry," said Agnes, "this is my friend, Maria +Semple; and Maria, this is Harry Deane." And +Harry looked with frank eyes into Maria's eyes, and +in a moment they knew each other. What was this +strange impression made by a look? Not a word +was spoken, but the soul salutation through meeting +eyes was a far more overwhelming influence than +any spoken word could have evoked. Then came +the current forms of courtesy, and the happy tones +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 79]</span> +of low laughter slipping in between the mingling of +voices, or the soft tinkling of glass and china, and +everyone knows that as soon as talking begins the +divine gates close. It mattered not, Maria knew +that something wonderful had happened to her; and +never in all her subsequent life could she forget that +breakfast under the clematis vines.</p> + +<p class="indent">Swiftly the hot, still hours of the mid-day passed. +The city was torpid in the quivering heat. There +was no stir of traffic—no lumbering sound of loaded +wagons—no noise of shouting drivers—no footsteps +of hurrying men. The streets were almost +empty; the very houses seemed asleep. Only the +cicadas ran from hedge to hedge calling shrilly; or +now and then a solitary trumpet stirred the drowsy +air, or, in the vicinity of the prisons, the moaning of +the dying men, made the silence terribly vocal.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Let us go into the house," said Agnes, "it will +be cooler there." And they took Maria's hands and +went to the shaded parlor. Then Harry drew some +cool water from the well, and as they drank it they +remembered the men in the various prisons and their +pitiful need of water at all times.</p> + +<p class="indent">"They are the true heroes," said Agnes; "tortured +by heat and by cold, by cruel hunger and more +cruel thirst, in all extremities of pain and sorrow, +they are paying their life blood, drop by drop, like +coin, for our freedom."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And when our freedom is won," answered +Harry, "we will give to the dead their due. They, +too, have saved us."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you think, Harry, this French alliance is going +to end the war?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 80]</span> +"Those who know best say it will. But these +Frenchmen are giving Washington no end of +trouble. They are mostly military adventurers. +They worry Washington for promotion and for increase +of pay; they have only their own interest in +view. They scorn our privations and simplicity, +and their demands can only be gratified at the expense +of native officers whose rights they unjustly +wish to invade. Yet I am told that without French +money and French help we should have to give up +the struggle. I don't believe it. Starving and demoralized +as our army is, there are many who will +never give up while Washington is alive to lead +them."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If I was a rebel," said Maria, "I should want +our freedom won by our own hands only. The +French are coming here at the last hour, and they +will get all the credit. Do you think it is for love +of freedom they help the Americans? If so, why +do they not give freedom to France? She has the +most tyrannical and despotic of governments; +Uncle Neil says so; and yet she pretends to thrill +with indignation because England violates the liberties +of her colonies. France had better mind her +own affairs, or, as grandmother says, she will scald +herself with other people's broth."</p> + +<p class="indent">"God made the French, and He may understand +them, I do not," answered Harry. "Fancy the +French government allowing our Declaration of Independence +to be translated and scattered broadcast +all over the country! No wonder that Lafayette +smiled grimly when he heard of it; no wonder he +said that 'the principles of government we had announced +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 81]</span> +would soon be heard from in France.' He +can see the results, but the king and queen—who +catch up every fashion and every enthusiasm with +childish levity—do not imagine any one will have +the audacity to apply American principles of government +to the French monarchy. 'Give me good news +from our dear American republicans,' is always +Marie Antoinette's greeting to Franklin, and he +himself is one of her prime favorites."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, he is a cunning old man," said Maria. "I +have heard grandfather talk about him. I am sure +he is disagreeable; yet the French have his picture +on their snuff-boxes and rings and brooches. It is +such foolishness. And Uncle Neil—who is a very +clever lawyer—says some very disparaging things +about this famous Declaration. It is at least most +inconsistent."</p> + +<p class="indent">Harry looked his dissent, and Agnes said: "Perhaps +you did not understand your uncle, Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am not quite a fool, Agnes. In one respect I +am cleverer than Mr. Jefferson. Imagine an assembly +composed largely, like himself, of slave-owners, +saying 'that all men were created equal, and were +given by God an unalienable right to liberty.' And +do you think if I were king or queen of France I +would scatter a paper in every house telling my +miserable, starving subjects, that 'whenever a government +did not do what it ought to do, it was the +right of the people to alter or abolish it.' Indeed, I +think King Louis and Queen Marie Antoinette will +be sorry some day for teaching their people American +ideas of government."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What do they say in England about the French +alliance?" asked Agnes.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 82]</span> +"The Parliament declares we have not only rebelled +against the mother-country, but also mortgaged +ourselves to her enemy; and that if we are +to become an accession to France, self-preservation +requires England to make that accession of as little +value as possible. That does not sound very bad, +Agnes, but it means killing men, women and children, +burning houses, ravaging land, and making +life so wretched that death will be preferable. Now +you understand such expeditions as Matthew's and +Tryon's. So I say with Miss Semple, it is a pity for +many reasons we had to beg foreign help; especially +from the three nations who are hereditary foes of +England."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The French did not help you much at Newport," +said Maria scornfully.</p> + +<p class="indent">"They left us in the very oncoming of the battle; +as soon as Lord Howe came in sight—sailed away +to the West Indies, where they had plans of their +own to carry out. The indignation of our army was +beyond description; no one but Washington could +at this time have kept peace between the French and +American soldiers. Their jealousy was flaming, +and Washington could not help saying he wished +there was not a foreigner in the army but Lafayette. +But when Necessity compels, it becomes Destiny, eh, +Agnes?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. I think England must now be in a very +dangerous predicament, Harry."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She has thirteen colonies in revolt; France, +Spain, Holland, uniting against her, and a large majority +of her own people conspicuously in our favor. +Our old mother-country! I am sorry for her, for +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 83]</span> +she <i>is ours</i>, and we are her sons, even though we +have been compelled to rebel against her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think it is England that has rebelled against +us," said Agnes. "She has repudiated our chartered +rights, and made us aliens to the laws and privileges +which are our natural heritage. England is traitor +to America, and I don't see why you should be sorry +for her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Can you take the English blood out of my heart? +No. I want our Independence, that we must have, +nothing less will now satisfy us; but I don't want to +see three other nations, who have no business in our +family quarrel, badgering the old mother. If you +had a liking for some noble old mastiff, and saw him +attacked by three strange dogs, how would you +feel?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, Harry, if the mastiff was hurting me, I +might feel obliged to the strange dogs. I do not +wonder that France, Spain, and Holland should take +this opportunity to fight England; but I do wonder +that Englishmen, living in England, should be on +our side."</p> + +<p class="indent">"They have been so from the very first. The +King has found it impossible to get soldiers to fight +us. They regard us as their countrymen. They +refuse to acknowledge the war as an 'English' war; +they call it 'The King's War'; and they look upon +our victories as triumphs for representative government. +I saw a letter from Judge Curwen of Boston, +in which he says he visited a large factory in Birmingham +where they were making rifles to be used by +the English troops in America; and he found that the +proprietor, as well as every man thus employed, was +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 84]</span> +enthusiastically on our side. Fox spoke of an English +success on Long Island as 'the terrible news +from America'; and many say that the Whig party, +of which he is the leader, adopted blue and buff for +their colors, because Washington had chosen them +for his troop. In both houses of Parliament we +have many powerful friends, and the American +cause is spoken of throughout England as the cause +of Liberty."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, you must be mistaken!" cried Maria. +"Grandfather says things very different; and if +England is for us, why does the war go on? Whose +fault is that."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is the fault of King George; the most stupid +of men, but with a will as indomitable as the beasts +of the desert. Not even King Charles was so determined +to ruin himself and the nation. He is cruel +as he is immovable. It is <i>The King's War</i>, my +mistresses, and only the King's friends and sycophants +and the clergy defend it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And what will those Englishmen who would not +lift a finger against us do against our allies?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do? They are preparing with joyful enthusiasm +to fight their old enemies. It made my heart +throb to hear how they were jumping to arms, at the +mere idea of a French and Spanish fleet in the English +Channel."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You are half an Englishman, Mr. Deane," said +Maria.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No," he answered warmly; "I am out and out, +from head to foot, an American! I was born +here, bred here, and I shall live and die here; nor do +I wish to live in any other country. But brave men +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 85]</span> +and free men feel with a gigantic throb each other's +rights and wrongs, even across oceans—thus we are +brothers. And the roots of my being are somewhere +in England; I can not cut myself loose from +them; I do not wish to. The feeling belongs to the +unknown side of human reasons—but it governs +me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I thought," said Maria, "you would talk about +nothing but Washington, and you have hardly +named him. Is he as great a man as we are told he +is? Or does he have faults like the rest of poor +mortals?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Indeed, Miss Semple, he is so great a man I have +forgotten whether he has a fault. He is such a man +as men build their love round while he leads them on +the way to immortality. Often I have seen the whole +army shaken, confused, hopeless; but Washington +never shrank, or slipped, or compromised; he looked +unswervingly to the end. He is the Moses of America; +our people's hope, our young men's idol, our +old men's staff and sword. And even physically, +who would compare our god-like Washington with +this?" and he took from his pocket-case a pen-and-ink +sketch of King George, taken at the beginning +of the war and showed it to the girls.</p> + +<p class="indent">They looked at it curiously, and Maria said: +"Surely, Mr. Deane, that is not a true likeness; it is +what you call a pasquil—a lampoon—to make +ridiculous his Majesty."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is not intended as a lampoon. But I never +see it without thinking of the mighty ghosts of +the great Henrys, and the armed Edwards, and +then I wonder if they are not watching, with +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 86]</span> +anger and amazement, the idiotic folly of this German."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I must really go home now," said Maria. She +spoke as if she had all at once become aware of the +gravity of the words she was listening to. "I should +not have stopped so long. Grandmother is not +well."</p> + +<p class="indent">And she thought Agnes was not sorry to bid her +good-bye; "but that is natural," she reflected, "I +suppose I should feel the same. She must have a +great many things to tell such a lover. I dare be +bound I have been much in the way."</p> + +<p class="indent">Her feelings were captious and impetuous, and +she walked rapidly to them, in spite of the heat. +Somehow she was not pleased with Agnes, and +Harry Deane also had bid her but a formal farewell. +And yet not formal, for when he held her hand a +moment, he laid it open within his own, and said +with a look she could not forget, "my life lies there. +I have put it in your hand myself, knowingly, willingly." +And she had clasped his hand and answered +gravely:</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is as safe there as it would be in the hand of +your mother—or of Agnes."</p> + +<p class="indent">It was not Harry that she was fretted at, it was +Agnes. She felt that in some way Agnes had deceived +her. She had not said secrecy would include +hours of rebel conversation—"and I wonder at myself +for listening to it," said the little woman angrily. +"I suppose it was Mr Deane—men talk women +down. I know I should not have let Agnes talk in +that way to me—just as if I believed all he said! If +Uncle Neil had been there, he would have scattered +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 87]</span> +every word to the four winds with little trouble. +And," she continued, with rising temper, "I don't +think Agnes acts fairly to Uncle Neil. He is her +devoted lover, and she knows it, she must know it. +People don't walk slowly up and down in the moonlight +and not know such things. I am, they say, +only a child, but I have walked with Captain Macpherson +in the moonlight, and I know how amiable +it makes me feel. I am disappointed in Agnes!" +and she really felt at that moment as if her friend +had done her some great wrong. So much easier is +it to blame others than to look deep down into our +own hearts for the reason of dissatisfaction. For +whenever we are disappointed, we are disappointed +with ourselves, though we may not admit it.</p> + +<p class="indent">When she entered the Semple garden she was encompassed +with the delicious perfume of carnations. +Then she remembered that they were her grandfather's +favorite flower, and that before the war his +garden had been a wonder and delight with their +beauty and fragrance. And in some subtle way, the +flowers made an avenue for a spiritual influence, +more in accord with the natural uprightness of +the girl's nature. She sighed and sauntered through +the scented space, and as she did so, began to make +her confession. "Perhaps it was my fault—perhaps +I was just a little jealous—it is not pleasant to be the +outside one; if Captain Macpherson, or even that +stupid Lord Medway had been my servant I should +not have felt so small; but that was not the fault of +Agnes—nevertheless, Agnes ought not to treat +Uncle Neil badly."</p> + +<p class="indent">It was a kind of inconsequent reasoning, but it +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 88]</span> +restored her to herself, and she entered the house +very cheerfully, looking into the parlor first of all, +to see whom she could find to talk to. All the rooms +down stairs were sweet with the same enthralling +odor of carnations; but they were dusky, silent and +empty; and she went to her grandmother's room on +the second floor. "Are you awake, dear grandmother?" +she asked, as she tapped gently on the +door.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Come in, dearie," was the answer, and Madame +raised herself from the bed as Maria entered and +went to a large chair by the open window. "It is +hotter than needs be," she said, "and I have had +company."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Who has been here, grandmother?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mrs. Jermyn brought us an invitation to the +Bayards. It is for a three days' visit."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am so happy. I have heard about Colonel +Bayard's fine house on the Heights; you will surely +go, grandmother?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I can not go, Maria; but Mrs. Jermyn offered +to take you in her party; and to that I am agreeable. +Madame Jacobus will go with you, and I am vera +fond o' Madame Jacobus. She is not an ordinary +woman; she has had romantics in her life, and the +vera look o' her sets you thinking o' all sorts o' impossibilities. +Tell her Madame Semple keeps good +mind o' her, and would be glad to see her again;" +then she added sharply, "Mrs. Gordon was with her. +I was quite taken aback. I was all in a tremble at +first."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She is so anxious to be friends with you; can't +you forgive her, grandmother? It is a long time +since."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 89]</span> +"Maria Semple, no one is mair willing than I am, +to let byganes be byganes. But mind this, there are +folks simply unlucky to you, and not intending it; +and Adelaide Gordon and Janet Semple are best +apart. She is one o' them women who bring happenings +and events, and I notice they are not pleasant +or favorable. You will hae heard say, Maria, +<i>wha</i> it is, that sends a woman, where he canna go +himsel'. Cousin Gordon means no harm—but."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Indeed, she really likes you. She talks to me +of the days she lived with you, and of all your kindness +to her. It was Katherine Van Heemskirk that +behaved badly. I don't think I like that person—and +I want you to forgive Mrs. Gordon."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have forgiven Mrs. Gordon, Maria. Do you +think I would put the Lord's prayer behind my back +for Adelaide Gordon? And I couldna dare to say it +and not forgive her; but to love your friend, and +look to yoursel' isna out o' the way o' wisdom."</p> + +<p class="indent">"When am I to go, grandmother?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mrs. Jermyn will call for you at ten o'clock tomorrow +morning. How about thae lessons, and the +'extras' you were speaking o'?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is such warm weather. I think I ought to +have my holiday now; and what about my frocks, +grandmother? Shall I not have to pack my small +trunk?"</p> + +<p class="indent">This subject was, of course, paramount, and Madame +went to Maria's room with her, and the proper +garments were selected and packed. Very soon the +whole house was infected with the hurry and excitement +of the little lady, and the Elder tried to join in +the discussion and employment; it being one of his +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 90]</span> +pet ideas that he had a pretty taste about women's +clothing. But his first suggestion that the simple +frock of India chintz Maria was wearing was a most +becoming morning gown, met with such a decided +rebuff he had no courage left for further advice. +For Maria looking scornfully down at its short simplicity +asked, "Why do you not advise a white ruffled +pinafore also, grandfather? Then I would be fit for +an infant school. I am a young lady now," she +continued, as she spread out its three breadths to +their utmost capacity, showing in the act the prettiest +little feet, shod in bronze leather with red rosettes +on the instep. And when a man finds his opinions +out of date, what can he do but retire with them +into silence?</p> + +<p class="indent">The quiet that fell upon the house after Maria's +departure was a grateful respite. The old people +sat down with a sigh of relief, and while they praised +their granddaughter's sweet nature, and talked +proudly of all her excellences, they were not sorry +to be at rest for a day or two. Neither was the Elder +sorry to casually notice the absence of Maria to +certain royalist upstarts who had won wealth +through their chicaneries, but who had not been able +to win the social notice they craved.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Elder Semple may be pinched, now and then, for +a few sovereigns," he thought, "but he and his can +sit down with the highest of the King's servants and +be counted one o' them. And it will be lang ere the +Paynes and the Bradleys and many others I could +name, will get that far!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Such reflections gave to the old gentleman's steps +something of the carriage of his more prosperous +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 91]</span> +days; he looked outward and upward in his old +manner, and thus saw Mr. Cohen, the Jewish trader, +standing in his shop door. He asked pleasantly +after his health, and by so doing brought a few good +words on himself, which somehow went warmly to +his heart. In this amiable temper he passed the famous +saddlery shop. John Bradley was just dismissing +a customer. He was wearing his apron of +blue and white ticking, and had a paper cap upon his +head, and he looked precisely what he was—a capable, +self-respecting workman. Semple had always +permitted a polite salutation to cover all claims on +his courtesy that Bradley might have; but this morning +he said with a friendly air, "How's all with you, +Mr. Bradley? Will you tell your charming daughter +that her friend, Miss Semple, has gone wi' a +party o' our military friends to the Bayards' for a +three days' visit?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Agnes will miss her friend, Elder."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, yes! They went off this morning early, up +the river wi' music and singing. Young things, +most o' them, Mr. Bradley, and we must make allowances."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If we must, we must, Elder. And God knows, +if it isn't the lute and the viol, and the tinkling feet of +the foolish maidens, it is the trumpet, and the sword, +and the hell of the battlefield. Evil times we are +fallen on, sir."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But they are to bring us good times. We must +not doubt that. My respects, sir, to Miss Bradley, +who has a voice to lift a soul on the wings of melody, +heavenward. Good day, sir."</p> + +<p class="indent">Semple went forward a little dashed, he hardly +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 92]</span> +knew why; and Bradley was chagrined. He had +tried to say something that should not only represent +himself, but also acknowledge the kindness +he was sensible of; but he had only blundered into +commonplaces, and quite against his will, shown +much of his roughest side. Why did he include the +Elder's granddaughter among the tinkling feet of +foolish maidens? She was the friend of his own +child also. He felt that he had had an opportunity +and mismanaged it, and a sense of his inabilities in +all social matters mortified and fretted him all the +day afterward.</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria was expected home in three days, but she +did not come. Her party went directly from the +Bayard house to Hempstead, where Colonel Birch +was entertaining a large company from the city; so +it was fully a week before the young lady returned +to New York. In the meantime Destiny was not +asleep, and affairs in which Maria was interested did +not lie still waiting for her reappearance.</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria had left a message for Agnes with her +uncle, and he resolved to take it personally that evening. +But as he was drinking his tea the Elder said, +"I saw Mr. Bradley this morning, and I sent word +by him to his daughter anent Maria's absence." +Neil did not make any answer, but his mother noticed +the sweep of color up and down his dark face, +and she was on the point of saying, "you hae taken +the job out o' hands that would hae done it better, +gudeman." But the wisdom and kindness of silence +was granted her; yet the Elder felt his remark +to be unpropitious, and sighed. There were so +many subjects these days that he made mistakes +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 93]</span> +about; and he had a moment's recollection of his +old authoritative speech, and a wonder as to what +had happened him. Was it that he had fallen out of +the ranks of the workers of the world? Or, was it +because he was growing old? He was silent, and so +pathetic in his silence, that Neil observed it and +blamed himself.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Father," he said, "pardon me! I was thinking. +I have been with Major Crosby all day about the +Barrack Department finances, and that is not work +to be talked about. It is well you told Mr. Bradley +of Maria's absence."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I wonder you did not go with Maria; you had +an invitation."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, I had an invitation, but I had engagements +of more importance with Brigadier Skinner and +Treasurer McEvers. McEvers is to pay me with +wood from a rebel tract granted him. So when the +cold weather comes we shall not require to count the +sticks; we can at least keep warm."</p> + +<p class="indent">He rose with these words and went to his room. +He told himself that he would there consider a visit +to Miss Bradley, and yet he knew that he intended +to make it no matter what considerations came up +for his deliberation. Not for a moment did he deceive +himself; he was well aware that for the first +time in his life he was really in love. He admitted +frankly that his early passion for the pretty Katherine +Van Heemskirk had been a selfish affair; and +that his duel with Captain Hyde was fought, not so +much for love of Katherine, as for hatred and jealousy +of his rival. He had never loved Katherine as +he loved Agnes, for it was the soul of Agnes that +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 94]</span> +attracted him and drew him to her by a gravitation, +like that which one star exerts upon another. His +first love he had watched grow from childhood to +maidenhood; he could count on his fingers the number +of times he had seen Agnes Bradley; and yet +from this slender experience there had sprung an invincible +longing to say to her, "O, Soul of my Soul, +I love you! I need you!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Yet to make Agnes his wife at this time was to +make sacrifices that he durst not contemplate. They +included the forfeiture of his social position, and +this loss was certain to entail the same result on his +political standing and emoluments. His father was +connected with his financial affairs, and to ruin himself +meant also ruin to the parents he loved so truly. +Then the sudden fear that assails honest lovers made +his heart tremble; Agnes might have scruples and +reluctances; she might not be able to love him; she +might love some other man, Maria had named such +a probability; with a motion of his hand he swept all +contingencies aside; no difficulties should abate his +ardor; he loved Agnes Bradley and he was determined +to win her.</p> + +<p class="indent">With this decision he rose, stood before his mirror, +and looked at himself. Too proud a man to +be infected with so small a vice as vanity, he regarded +his personality without unreasonable favor. +"I am still handsome," he said. "If I have not +youth, I have in its place the perfection of my own +being; I am now in the prime of life, and have not +begun to fall away from it. Many young and beautiful +women have shown me favor I never sought. +Now, I will seek favor; I will woo it, beg it, pray +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 95]</span> +for it. I will do anything within honor and honesty +to win this woman of my soul, this adorable Agnes!"</p> + +<p class="indent">He found her in the garden of her home; that is, +she was sitting on the topmost step of the short +flight leading to the door. Her silent, penetrative +loveliness encompassed her like an atmosphere in +which all the shafts of the shelterless, worrying day +fell harmless. She smiled more than spoke her welcome, +and her eyes unbarred her soul so that they +seemed to understand each other at a glance; for +Neil's love was set far above all passionate tones of +welcome or personal adulation. Sitting quiet by +her side he noticed a man walking constantly before +the house, and he pointed out the circumstance to +Agnes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"He will walk there until my father comes home," +she answered. "It is Elias Hurd the chapel keeper. +Father pays him to come here every day at sunset +and watch till he returns."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Your words take a great fear from me," said +Neil; and then, though his heart was brim full he +could say no more. Silence again enfolded them, +and the song in each heart remained unsung. Yet +the overwhelming influence of feelings which had +not found words was upon them, and this speechless +interlude had been to both the clearest of revealers.</p> + +<p class="indent">After a week's pleasure-seeking Maria returned +home. It was in the middle of a hot afternoon, and +life was at its most languid pitch. The Elder was +asleep in his chair, Madame asleep on the sofa, and +the negroes dozing in the kitchen. Her entry +aroused the house, her personality instantly filled it. +She was flushed and tired, but alive with the egotistical +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 96]</span> +spirit of youth. "Were you not expecting me?" +she asked with an air of injury, as she entered the +drowsy, tidy house. "And I do want a cup of tea +so much, grandmother."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You were coming Monday, and then you were +coming Wednesday; we did not know whether +you would come to-day or not; but you are very +welcome, dear, and you shall have tea in ten +minutes."</p> + +<p class="indent">She went upstairs while it was preparing, took off +her bonnet and her silk coat, dashed cool water over +her flushed face and shoulders and arms, wet her +hair and brushed it backward, and then put on a +loose gown of thin muslin. "Now I can drink my +tea in comfort," she said, "and just talk at my leisure. +And dear me! What a week of tumult it has +been!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Have you enjoyed your visits?" asked the Elder +when she reappeared.</p> + +<p class="indent">"So, so, grandfather," she answered; and as she +spoke, she lifted the small tea-table close to his side, +and whispered on his cheek, "you will have a cup of +tea with me, dear grandfather, I shall not enjoy mine +unless you do." He said "pooh! pooh! child," but +he was delighted, and with beaming smiles watched +her small hands busy among the china, and the bread +and meat.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am downright hungry," she said. "We had +breakfast before leaving, but that seems hours and +hours ago, and, O grandmother! there is no tea and +bread like yours in all the world."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then she began her long gossip concerning people +and events: the water parties on the river, the picnics +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 97]</span> +in the woods, the dancing and gambling and +games in the house. "And I must tell you," she +said, "that really and truly, I was the most admired +of all the beauties there. The ladies all envied my +frocks, and asked where I got them, and begged for +the patterns; and I wished I had taken more with +me. It is so exhilarating to have a new one for +every evening. Lord Medway said every fresh one +became me better than the last."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Lord Medway!" said the Elder. "Is he that +long, lazy man that trails after General Clinton like +his shadow?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, they love each other. It seems funny for +men to love one another; but General Clinton and +Lord Ernest Medway are like David and Jonathan."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria Semple!" cried Madame, "I think you +might even the like o' Clinton and the English Lord, +to some one o' less respectability than Bible characters."</p> + +<p class="indent">"O grandmother! General Clinton is just as +blood-thirsty as General David ever was. He hates +his enemies quite as perfectly, and wishes them all +the same sorts and kinds of calamities. I don't +know whether Jonathan was good-natured, but Lord +Medway is. He danced with me as often as I would +let him, and he danced with nobody else! think of +that, grandmother! the women were all madly jealous +of me. I did not care for that much."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Janet, dear," said the Elder to his wife, "if you +had ever seen this Lord Medway trailing up William +Street or Maiden Lane, you wouldna believe the lassie. +He is just the maist inert piece o' humanity +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 98]</span> +you could imagine. <i>Dancing! Tuts! Tuts! lassie!"</i></p> + +<p class="indent">"He can dance, grandfather. Mrs. Gordon said +the way he led me through a minuet was adorable; +and Major André told me that in a skirmish or a +cavalry charge, no one could match him. He was +the hardest rider and fiercest fighter in the army."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Weel, weel!" said Madame, "a man that isna +roused by anything short o' a battle or a cavalry +charge, might be easy to live with—if you have any +notion for English lords."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Indeed, I have not any notion for Lord Medway. +He is the most provoking of men. He takes no interest +in games, he won't stake money on cards, he +listened to the music with his eyes shut; and when +Miss Robertson and Major André acted a little piece +the Major had written, he pretended to be asleep. +He was not asleep, for I caught him awake, and he +smiled at me, as much as to say that I knew all about +his deception, and sanctioned it. I told him so afterward, +and he laughed so heartily that every one +looked amazed, and what do you think he said? 'It +is a fact, ladies; I really laughed, but it is Miss Semple's +fault.' I don't think, grandmother, I would +have been invited to Hempstead if he had not let it +be known that he was not going unless Miss Semple +went."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is he in love with you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He thinks he is."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Are you in love with him?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria smiled, and with her teacup half-way to +her mouth hummed a line from an old Scotch song:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"I'm glad that my heart's my ain."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 99]</span> +Such conversation, touching many people and +many topics, was naturally prolonged, and when +Neil came home it was carried on with renewed interest +and vigor. And Maria was not deceived +when Neil with some transparent excuse of 'going +to see a friend' went out at twilight.</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is going to see Agnes," she thought; "my +coming home is too good an excuse to lose, but why +did he not tell me? Lovers are so sly, and yet all +their cunning is useless. People always see through +their little moves. In the morning I shall go to +Agnes, and I hope she will not be too advising, because +I am old enough to have my own ideas: besides, +I have some experiences."</p> + +<p class="indent">All the way to her friend's house in the morning, +she was making resolutions which vanished as soon +as they were put to the test. It was only too easy +to fall into her old confidential way, to tell all she +had seen and heard and felt; to be petted and admired +and advised. Also, she could relate many little +episodes to Agnes that she had not felt disposed +to tell her grandparents, or even Neil—compliments +and protestations, and sundry "spats" of envy and +jealousy with the ladies of the party. But the conversation +settled mainly, however often it diverged, +upon Lord Medway. Agnes had often heard her +father speak of him. He knew John Wesley, and +had asked him to preach at Market-Medway to his +tenants and servants; and on the anniversary of the +Wesley Chapel in John Street he had given Mr. +Bradley twenty pounds toward the Chapel fund. +"He is a far finer man than he affects to be," she +added, "and father says he wears that drawling, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 100]</span> +trailing habit like a cloak, to hide his real nature. +Do you think he has fallen in love with you, Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Would it be a very unlikely thing to happen, +Agnes? He danced only with me, and when Major +André arranged the Musical Masque, he consented +to sing only on the condition that I sang with him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And what else, Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"One evening Quentin Macpherson danced the +Scotch sword dance—a very clever barbaric thing—but +I did not like it; the man looks better at the +head of his company. However, he sang a little +song called 'The Soldier's Kiss' that was pretty +enough. The melody went in this way"—and Maria +hummed a strain that sounded like the gallop of +horses and shaking of bridles—"I only remember the +chorus," she said.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A kiss, Sweet, a kiss, Sweet,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">For the drums are beat along the street,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">And we part, and know not when we meet,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">With another kiss like this, Sweet.</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="indent">"And Lord Medway whispered to me that Shakespeare +had said it all far better in one line, <i>'Touch +her soft mouth and march.'</i> In Major Andre's +masque we had a charming little verse; I brought +you a copy of it, see, here it is. The first two lines +have a sweet crescendo melody; at the third line +there was a fanfare of trumpets in the distance and +the gentlemen rattled their swords. The fourth line +we sang alone, and at the close Lord Medway bowed +to me, and the whole room took up the refrain." +Then the girls leaned over the paper, and Agnes +read the words aloud slowly, evidently committing +them to her memory as she read:</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 101]</span></p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A song of a single note!</span><br /> +<span class="i2">But it soars and swells above</span><br /> +<span class="i0">The trumpet's call, and the clash of arms,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">For the name of the song is Love."</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="indent">"Now sing me the melody, Maria," said Agnes; +and Maria sang, and Agnes listened, and then they +sang it together until it was perfect. "Just once +more," said Maria, and as they reached the close of +the verse, a strong, musical voice joined in the refrain, +and then Harry came into the room singing it.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Harry! Harry!" cried Agnes, joyfully.</p> + +<p class="indent"><i>"And the name of the song is Love!"</i> he answered, +taking Agnes in his arms and kissing the +word on her lips. Then he turned with a glowing +face to Maria, and she bent her head a little proudly, +and remained silent. But soon Agnes went away to +order coffee for her visitor, and then Harry sat down +by Maria, and asked to see the song, and their hands +met above the passionate words, and the dumb letters +became vocal. They sang them over and over, +their clear, fresh voices growing softer and softer, +till, almost in a whisper of delight, they uttered the +last word <i>"Love!"</i> Then he looked at her as only +a lover can look, and she looked at him like one who +suddenly awakens. Her past was a sleep, a dream; +that moment her life began. And she had all the +tremors that mark the beginnings of life; a great +quiet fell upon her, and she wanted to go into solitude +and examine this wonderful experience. For +Harry had stirred one of those unknown soul depths +that only Love ventures down to.</p> + +<p class="indent">When Agnes returned she said she must go home, +her grandmother was not well; and then she blundered +into such a number of foolish excuses as made +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 102]</span> +Agnes look curiously, perhaps anxiously, at her. +And for several days she continued these excuses; +she sent Neil with messages and letters, but she did +not go to her friend. There was something wrong +between them, and Maria finally threw the blame +upon Agnes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Any one may see that she is deceiving either +Harry or uncle Neil—and I hate a deceiver. It is +not fair—I am sure if Harry knew about uncle—if +he was not engaged to Agnes—Oh, no! I must not +think of him. Poor uncle Neil! If Agnes treats +him badly, I shall never forgive her, never!" Thus, +and so on, ran her reflections day after day, and +yet she had not the courage to go and talk the matter +out with Agnes. But she noticed an unusual exaltation +in her uncle's manner; he dressed with more +than his usual sombre richness; he seemed to tread +upon air, and though more silent than ever, a smile +of great sweetness was constantly on his lips. And +one afternoon as Maria sat at her tambour frame, +Madame entered the parlor hastily, looking almost +frightened.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you hear him? Your uncle, I mean. Do +you hear him, Maria?" she cried. "He is singing. +He must be <i>fey</i>. I haven't heard him sing since he +was a lad going to Paul Gerome's singing class. +It's uncanny! It frightens me! And what is he +singing, Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">And Maria lifting a calm face answered—<i>"The +name of the song is Love."</i></p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">LOVE'S SWEET DREAM.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">It</span> is not truth, but falsehood which requires explanation, +and Maria was sensible of this fact as she +sat at her tambour frame thinking of Agnes and of +Harry and of her uncle Neil. There was something +not straightforward in the life of Agnes, and she +resolved every day to make inquiry into it, and every +day she made, instead, some deferring excuse. But +one morning, while eating breakfast, they were all +sensitive to unusual movements in the city, and the +air was tense with human emotion. The Elder and +Neil became restless and anticipative, and Maria +could not escape the feverish mental contagion. +When the men had left the house she hurried +through her few duties, and then went to her +friend. Agnes was standing at the garden gate, +watching and listening. "There is news of some +kind, Maria," she said; "I am anxious to know what +it is."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Grandmother says we need not run after news, it +will find us out, and I dare say it is only more Connecticut +ravaging."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Agnes turned into the house with Maria, for +she perceived something unusual in her voice and +manner—dissatisfaction, and perhaps a tone of injury. +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 104]</span> +There was no pretence of study about her, +she had not even brought her books, and Agnes became +silent, and lifted her sewing. At length +Maria spoke:</p> + +<p class="indent">"What is the matter with you, Agnes?" she +asked, and then added: "you are not like yourself +this morning."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Whatever the matter is, Maria, I caught it from +you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You are cross."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was only curious and anxious when you came. +You brought dissatisfaction and annoyance with +you. I think you had better tell me at once what +has displeased you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, you must know what displeases me, Agnes. +Do you think I can bear to see you playing with two +lovers at once? I am very fond of my uncle Neil, +and he adores you. And when Harry is away, +uncle Neil is everything; but as soon as Harry +comes, then Harry is everything. It is not fair to +uncle, and I do not approve of such ways. If I were +to act in that kind of fashion between Lord Medway +and Quentin Macpherson, who would be so shocked +as Agnes Bradley? I am so disappointed in you, +Agnes. I have not been able to come and see you +for days; this morning I felt that I must speak to +you about things."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria, I once asked you to defer judgment on +whatever you saw or heard or suspected, and to take +my word for it being all right. It seems that I +asked too much."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But how can it be all right, if you allow two men +to make love to you?—and you seem to like it from +both of them."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 105]</span> +"I do like it—from both of them. The two loves +are different."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Agnes! Agnes! I am shocked at you!" and +Maria hid her face on the sofa cushion and began +to cry.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Agnes knelt at her side, and lifted her face +and kissed it, and whispered four words in her ear; +and there was a look of wonder, and Maria asked +softly, "Why did you not tell me before?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I thought every time you saw him you would +surely guess the truth."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I did not."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You must have seen also that Harry is deeply +in love with you. Now, how could he be in love +with me also?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Harry in love with me! O Agnes!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You know it. Love cannot be hid. Only lovers +look at a woman as I have seen Harry look at you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I do think Harry likes me, and I felt as if—I +don't know what I felt, Agnes. I am very unhappy."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Let me tell you what you felt. You said to +yourself: if Harry was not bound to Agnes he would +be my lover; and Agnes does not care for him, she +does not treat him well, and yet she treats him too +well to be doing right to uncle Neil. You would include +your uncle, because you would feel it selfish +to be wounded and disappointed only on your own +account."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You ought not to speak in that way, Agnes. +Suppose I had such feelings, it is not nice of you to +put them into words so plain and rude."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I do not blame you, Maria. Your attitude is +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 106]</span> +natural, and specially womanly. It is I who have +been wrong. I must now excuse myself to you; +once you said you could believe in me without explanations."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Forgive me, Agnes. I do not want explanations +now."</p> + +<p class="indent">"For I have told you that Harry is my brother, +not my lover. That is the main fact, and accounts +for all that specially troubles you. Now you must +know the whole truth. Harry was sent to England +out of the way of the war, for my father lives and +moves in his being and welfare. But Harry wanted +to be in the thick of the war; he wanted the post of +most danger for his country's sake. He said he was +ashamed to be in England; that every American +who could be in active service ought to be there, because +it might be, God intended to use just him. I +gave in to all he proposed; I had no heart to resist +him. I only stipulated that come what would, our +father should not know he was in the country."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Why did you not tell me at first that he was your +brother?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Harry is handsome, and I was afraid you might +be attracted by him; and the secrecy and romance of +the situation and the danger he was constantly facing—these +are things that capture a woman's imagination. +And marriage is such an important affair, +I could not think it right to run the risk of engaging +you to Harry unknown to your father or +friends. I told Harry that you believed him to be +my lover, and I was sure that this belief would save +you from thinking of him in any light but that of +a friend or brother."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 107]</span> +"It ought to have done, dear Agnes; it did do—but +Harry."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know, at Harry's second visit, if not at his +first, he was your lover; and I knew that this explanation +must come. Now, I can only beg you to +keep the knowledge of Harry Bradley's presence in +America absolutely to yourself. I assure you, if +father knew he was here and in constant danger, he +would be distracted."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But does he not suspect? He must wonder that +Harry does not write to him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Harry does write. He sends letters to a friend +in London, who re-mails them to father. About +three times a year father gets a London letter, and +that satisfies him. And he so little suspects Harry's +presence in America that the boy has passed his father +on the street without the slightest recognition +on father's part; for he has more disguises than you +could believe possible. I have seen him as a poor +country doctor, buying medicines for his settlement; +as an old schoolmaster, after a few books and slates +at Rivington's; and a week ago, I met him one day +shouting to the horses which were pulling a load of +wood up Golden Hill. And he has no more transitions +than a score of other young men who serve +their country in this secret and dangerous manner. +I can assure you General Washington's agents go +in and out of New York constantly, and it is beyond +the power of England to prevent them."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Suppose in some evil hour he should be suspected! +Oh, Agnes!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"There are houses in every street in the city where +a window or a door is always left open. Harry told +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 108]</span> +me he knew of sixteen, and that he could pass from +one to the other in safety."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Suppose he should be noticed on the river, at +your landing or any other."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He can swim like a fish and dive like a seal and +run like a deer. The river banks that look like a +tangle to you and me, are clear as a highway to +Harry. And you know it is the East river that is +watched; no one thinks much about the water on +this side; especially so near the fort. I do not think +Harry is in any great danger; and he will be mainly +on the river now for some months."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I wish I had not said a word, Agnes, I am so +sorry! So sorry!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"We are always sorry when we doubt. I felt that +you were mistrusting me, and I promised Harry, on +his last visit, to tell you the truth before he came +again. I have been waiting for you all week. I +should have told you to-day, even if you had not said +a word."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I shall never forgive myself."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was wrong also, Maria. I ought, at the first, +to have trusted you fully."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Or not trusted me at all, Agnes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You are right, Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">A great chagrin made Maria miserable. A little +faith, a little patience, and the information she had +demanded in spirit unlovely and unloving, would +have come to her by Harry's desire, and with the +affectionate confidence of Agnes. But neither of +the girls were fully satisfied or happy, and the topic +was dropped. Both felt that the matter would have +to rest, in order to clear itself, and Agnes was not +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 109]</span> +unconscious of those mute powers within, which, if +left to themselves, clear noiselessly away the débris +of our disputes and disappointments. She proposed +a walk in the afternoon; she said she had shopping +to do, and if there was any news, they would likely +hear it from some one.</p> + +<p class="indent">There was evidently news, and Agnes at once +judged it unfavorable for the royalists. The military +were moving with sullen port; the houses were +generally closed, and the people on the streets not inclined +to linger or to talk. "We had better ask my +father," she said, and they turned aside to Bradley's +store to make the inquiry. The saddler was standing +at the door talking to Lord Medway; and his +eyes flashed an instant's triumphant signal as they +caught his daughter's glance of inquiry. But he +kept his stolid air, and when he found Lord Medway +and Maria so familiarly pleased to meet each +other, he introduced Agnes and gave a ready acquiescence +to Lord Medway's proposal to walk with +the ladies home.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then, Maria, suddenly brilliant with a sense of +her power, asked, "What is the matter with the city +this afternoon? Every one seems so depressed and +ill-humored."</p> + +<p class="indent">"We have lost Stony Point," answered Medway. +"There was a midnight attack by twelve hundred +picked men. It was an incomparable deed of daring. +I would like to have been present. I said to +General Clinton when I heard the story, 'Such men +are born to rule, and coming from the stock they +do, you will never subdue them!'"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Who led the attack?" asked Agnes.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 110]</span> +"Anthony Wayne, a brave daring man, they tell +me. The Frenchman, De Fleury, was first in, and +he hauled down our flags. <i>Dash it!</i> If it had been +an American, I would not have cared so much. +Now, perhaps, Generals Clinton and Tryon will understand +the kind of men they have to fight. When +Americans fight Englishmen, it is Greek meeting +Greek. Clinton tells me the rebels have taken four +thousand pounds' worth of ordnance and stores and +nearly seven hundred prisoners. Oh, you know a +deed like this makes even an enemy proud of the +men who could do it!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Was it a very difficult deed?" asked Maria.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am told that Stony Point is a rock two hundred +feet high, surrounded by the Hudson River on three +sides, and almost isolated from the land on the +fourth side by a marsh, which at high tide is two +feet under water. They reached the fort about midnight, +and while one column drew the defenders to +the front by a rapid continuous fire, two other columns, +armed only with the bayonet, broke into the +fort from opposite points. In five minutes the +rebels were rushing through every embrasure, and a +thousand tongues crying 'Victory'! There is no use +belittling such an affair. It was as brave a thing as +ever men did, and I wish I had seen the doing of it."</p> + +<p class="indent">In such conversation they passed up Maiden Lane, +and by the ruins of Trinity Church to the river side; +all of them influenced by the tense feeling which +found no vocal outlet for its passion. Men and +women would appear for a moment at a window, +and then disappear. They were American patriots +on the look-out to spread the good news. A flash +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 111]</span> +from the lifted eyes of Agnes was sufficient. Again +they would meet two or three royalists talking in a +dejected, disparaging way of the victory; or else +blustering in anger over the supineness or inefficiency +of their generals.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I hope General Clinton will now find his soldiers +some tougher work than hay-making," sneered an +irate old man who stopped Lord Medway. "If he +goes out hay-making, he ought to leave fighting men +in the forts. Why the commander at Stony Point—Colonel +Johnson—I know him, had a wine party, +and the officers from Verplanck's Point were drinking +with him, when Wayne walked into their midst +and made them all prisoners. I am told the sentinels +had been secured, the abatis removed, and the +rebels in the works before our fine soldiers knew an +enemy was near. And it was that tanner from +Pennsylvania—that Dandy Wayne, that stole the +march on them! It makes me ashamed of our English +troops, my lord!</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, Mr. Smith, General Clinton will be in New +York in a few days. There will be many to call +him to account, I have no doubt."</p> + +<p class="indent">In this electric atmosphere heart spoke to heart +very readily, for in the midst of great realities conventionalities +are of so little consequence, and genuine +feeling, of any kind, forgets, or puts aside, flatteries +or compliments. So when they reached the +Bradley house, Agnes asked Lord Medway if he +would enter and rest awhile? And he said he +would, and so sat talking about the war until it was +tea-time for the simple maidens, who ate their dinner +at twelve o'clock. Then he saw Agnes bring in the +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 112]</span> +tray, and take out the china, and lay the round table +with a spotless nicety; and it delighted him to watch +the homely scene. Maria was knitting, and he +turned her ball of pink yarn in his hands and +watched her face glow and smile and pout and +change with every fresh sentiment. Or, if he lifted +his eyes from this picture, he could look at Agnes, +who had pinned a clean napkin across her breast, +and was cutting bread and butter in the wafer slices +he approved. He wondered if she would ask him +to take tea with them; if she did not he was resolved +to ask himself. Then he noticed she had +placed three cups on the tray, and he was sure of her +hospitality.</p> + +<p class="indent">It made him very happy, and he never once fell +into the affectation of talk and manner appropriate +to a fashionable tea-table. He seemed to enjoy both +the rebel sentiments of Agnes, and the royalist temper +of Maria; and he treated both girls with such +hearty deference and respect as he did not always +show to much more famous dames. And it was +while sitting at this tea-table he gave his heart without +reserve to Maria Semple. If he had any doubts +or withdrawals, he abandoned them in that happy +hour, and said frankly to himself:</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will make her my wife. That is my desire +and my resolve; and I will not turn aside from it +for anything, nor for any man living; Maria Semple +is the woman I love, no one else shall have her."</p> + +<p class="indent">In following out this resolve he understood the +value of Agnes; and he did all he could to gain her +good-will. She was well disposed to give it; her +father's approval bespoke hers. A feeling of good +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 113]</span> +comradeship and confidence grew rapidly as they ate, +and drank their tea, and talked freely and without +many reservations, for the sake of their political +feelings. So much so, that when Lord Medway +rose to go, there came to Agnes a sudden fear and +chill. She looked at him apprehensively, and while +he held her hand, she said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Lord Medway, Maria and I have been very sincere +with you, but I am sure our sincerity cannot +wrong us, in your keeping."</p> + +<p class="indent">This was not very explicit, but he understood her +meaning. He laid his hand upon the table at which +they had eaten, and said: "It is an altar to faith and +friendship. When I am capable of repeating anything +said at the table where I sit as guest, I shall be +lost to truth and honor, and be too vile to remember." +He spoke with force, and with a certain eloquence, +very different from his usual familiar manner, +and both Agnes and Maria showed him in their +shining eyes and confiding air how surely they believed +in him.</p> + +<p class="indent">After this event there was continual excitement in +the city, and General Clinton returned to it at once. +He called in the little army he had cutting grass for +winter fodder, and with twenty thousand troops shut +himself up in New York.</p> + +<p class="indent">"For once the man has been employing himself +well and wiselike," said Madame Semple. "He has +cut all the grass, and cured all the grass round about +Rye, and White Plains, and New Rochelle, and East +Chester, and a few other places; and he has left it all +ahint him. What a wiselike wonderfu' man is General +Sir Henry Clinton!"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 114]</span> +"And the rebels have carried off the last wisp o' +hay he made," said the Elder angrily. "They were +on the vera heels o' our soldiers. It's beyond believing! +It's just the maist mortifying thing that +ever happened us."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame looked pityingly at her husband, raised +her shoulders to emphasize the look, and then in a +thin voice, quavering a little with her weakness and +emotion, began to sing to herself from that old translation +of the Psalms so dear to every Scottish heart:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Kings of great armies foiled were</span><br /> +<span class="i2">And forced to flee away;</span><br /> +<span class="i0">And women who remained at home</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Did distribute the prey.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">God's chariots twenty thousand are,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Thousands of angels strong."</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="indent">"Janet! Janet! Will you sing some kind o' calming +verse? The Lord is naething but a <i>man of war</i> +in your thoughts. Do you believe He goes through +the earth wi' a bare, lifted sword in His hand?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Whiles He does, Alexander. And the light +from that lifted sword lightens the earth. I hae +tasted o' the goodness of the Lord; I know of old +His tender mercy, and His loving kindness, but in +these awfu' days, I am right glad to think o' Him as +<i>The Lord of Hosts!</i> He is sure to be on the right +side, and He can make of one man a thousand, and +of a handful, a great multitude."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's a weary warld."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But just yet there's nae better one, my dear auld +man! So we may as well tak' cheerfully what good +comes to-day, there will be mair to-morrow, or I'm +far wrang."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 115]</span> +If Janet's "to-morrow" be taken as she meant it to +be taken, her set time was long enough for other +startling events. Tryon's expedition was ordered +back to New York, and Quentin Macpherson +brought the news of his own return. He did not +meet with as warm a welcome as he hoped for. +Madame was contemptuous and indignant over the +ravaging character of the expedition. The Elder +said they had "alienated royalists without intimidating +rebels"; and Maria looked critically at the +young soldier, and thought him less handsome than +she had supposed: the expedition, so cowardly and +cruel, had been demoralizing and had left its mark on +the young man. He was disappointed, jealous, offended; +he had an overweening opinion of the nobility +of his family and not a very modest one as to +his own deserts. He was also tenacious, and the +thing he desired grew in value as it receded from +his grasp; so, although angry at Maria, he had no +idea of relinquishing his suit for her hand.</p> + +<p class="indent">She kept as much as possible out of his company, +and this was not difficult. The troops were constantly +on the alert, for one piece of bad news, for +the royalists, followed another. A month after the +capture of Stony Point, the rebels took Paulus Hook +in a midnight attack. This fort had been most tenaciously +held by the English from the earliest days of +the war, it being the only safe landing-place in Jersey +for their foraging parties. It was within sight +of New York, and almost within reach of its guns. +The shame and anger of the royalist burghers was +unspeakable; they would have openly insulted the +military, if they had dared to do so.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 116]</span> +About two weeks later came the news of Sullivan's +sweeping victory over the Six Nations of Indians +under Sir John Johnson and the Indian Chief, +Brandt. The Americans turned their country into +a desert, and drove the whole people in headlong +flight as far as Niagara. This Autumn also was +rendered remarkable by the astonishing success of +the American privateers; never had they been at +once so troublesome and so fortunate. So that there +was plenty for every one to talk about, if there had +been neither lovers nor love-making in the land. +But it seemed as if Love regarded the movement of +great armies and the diplomacies of great nations, +as the proper background and vehicles for his expression. +While Medway was talking, or fishing, +or hunting with Clinton, he was thinking of Maria. +While Macpherson was inspecting his company, he +was thinking of Maria. While Harry was traversing +the woods and the waters, he was thinking of +Maria. And while Neil Semple was drawing out +titles, and making arguments in Court, he was always +conscious of the fact that his happiness was +bound up in the love of Agnes Bradley. On every +side also, other lovers were wooing and wedding. +The sound of trumpets did not sadden the music of +the marriage feast, nor did the bridal dance tarry a +moment for the tramp of marching soldiers. All the +chances and changes of war were but ministers of +Love, and did his pleasure.</p> + +<p class="indent">In the meantime John Bradley was stitching his +saddles, and praying and working for Washington, +the idol of his hopes, quite unconscious of how completely +his home had been confiscated to the service +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 117]</span> +of love and lovers. No house in all the restless city +seemed less likely to be the rendezvous of meeting +hearts; and yet quite naturally, and by the force of +the simplest circumstances, it had assumed this character. +It began with Maria. Her beauty and +charm had given her three lovers, who were, all of +them, men with sufficient character to find, or to +make a way to her presence. But every movement, +whether of the body or the soul, takes, by a certain +law, the direction in which there is the least resistance; +and the road of least resistance to Maria, was +by way of Agnes Bradley.</p> + +<p class="indent">At the Semple house, Madame was a barrier Medway +could not pass. She told Maria plainly, "no +English lord should cross her doorstep." She could +not believe in his good heart, or his good sense, and +she asked scornfully, "how a close friend of General +Clinton's could be fit company for an American girl? +He has nae charm for touching pitch without being +defiled," she said, "and I'll not hae him sitting on +my chairs, and putting his feet on my hearth, and +fleching and flattering you in my house while my +name is Janet Semple. And you may tell him I +said so."</p> + +<p class="indent">And in order to prevent Madame giving her own +message, Maria was compelled to confess to Lord +Medway, her grandmother's antagonism. He was +politely sorry for her dislike to Englishmen—for he +preferred to accept it as a national, rather than a +personal feeling; but it did not interfere with his +intentions. There was Miss Bradley. She had a +kind feeling toward him, and Maria spent a large +part of every day with her friend. By calling on +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 118]</span> +Miss Bradley he could see Miss Semple. As the +best means toward this end he cultivated Agnes +through her father. He talked with him, listened to +his experiences, and gave him subscriptions for +Wesley Chapel, and for the prisoners he could find +means to help. He made such a good impression on +John Bradley, that he told his daughter he felt sure +the good seed he had sown would bring forth good +fruit in its season.</p> + +<p class="indent">Macpherson had a certain welcome at the Semples, +but he could not strain it. Madame was not +well, company fatigued her, and, though he did not +suspect this reason, she was feeling bitterly that she +must give up her life-long hospitality—she could not +afford to be hospitable any longer. She did not tell +Maria this, she said rather, "the laddie wearied her +mair than once a week. She wasna strong, and she +didna approve o' his excuses for General Clinton. I +could tear them all to ravlins," she said, angrily, +"but I wad tear mysel' to pieces doing it. He has +the reiving, reiving Highland spirit, and nae wonder! +The Macphersons have carried fire and sword +for centuries."</p> + +<p class="indent">As for Harry Deane, he, of course, could not come +at all, though Madame might have borne him more +than once a week, if she had been trusted. But +Harry was as uncertain as the wind. He came when +no one looked for him, and when he was expected, +he was miles away. So there was no possible neutral +ground for Love but such as Agnes in her good-nature +and wisdom would allow. But Agnes was +not difficult. Neil Semple had taught her the sweetness +and clemency of love, and she would not deprive +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 119]</span> +Maria of those pleasant hours, with which so +many days were brightened that would otherwise +have been dull and monotonous. For, during the +summer's heat the royalist families, who could afford +to do so, left the city, and the little tea parties at +Agnes Bradley's were nearly the only entertainment +at Maria's command.</p> + +<p class="indent">These were informal and often delightful. Lord +Medway knew that about five o'clock Agnes would +be setting the tea-tray, and he liked to sit beside +Maria and watch her do it. And sometimes Maria +made the tea, and poured his out, and put in the +sugar and cream with such enchanting smiles and +ways that he vowed never tea in this world tasted so +refreshing and delicious. And not infrequently +Quentin Macpherson would come clattering in when +the meal had begun, take a chair at the round table, +and drinking his tea a little awkwardly, soothe his +self-esteem by an aggressive self-importance. For +Lord Medway's nonchalant manner provoked him +to such personal assertion as always mortified when +the occasion was over. About half-past seven was +Neil's hour, and then the conversation became general, +and love found all sorts of tender occasions; +every glance of meeting eyes, and every clasp of +meeting hands, bearing the one sweet message, "I +love you, dear!"</p> + +<p class="indent">It was usually in the morning that Harry came +springing up the garden path. There was neither +work nor lessons that day, nor any pretense of them. +Harry had too much to tell, and both Agnes and +Maria hung upon his words as if they held the secret +of life and happiness. Now, granted two beautiful +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 120]</span> +girls with a moderate amount of freedom, and four +lovers in that pleasantly painful condition between +hope and fear that people in love make, if it is not +made for them, and put all in a position where they +have the accessories of sunlight and moonlight, a +shady garden, a noble river, the scent of flowers, the +goodness of fine fruit, the pleasures of the tea-table, +and if these young people do not advance in the +sweet study their hearts set them, they must be either +coldly indifferent, or stupidly selfish.</p> + +<p class="indent">This company of lovers was however neither stupid +nor selfish. In the midst of war's alarms, while +fleets and armies were gathering for battle, they +were attending very faithfully to their own little +drama. Quentin Macpherson had one advantage +over both his rivals: he went to the Semple house +every Sunday evening, and then he had Maria +wholly under his influence. He walked in the garden +with her, she made his tea for him, he sat by her +side during the evening exercise, sung the psalm +from the same Bible, and then, rising with the family, +stood, as one of them, while the Elder offered his +anxious yet trustful prayer. It was Madame who +had thought of connecting this service with the +young soldier. "It is little good he can get from +thae Episcopals," she said, "and it's your duty, Alexander, +to gie him a word in season," and though +Macpherson was mainly occupied in watching +Maria, and listening to her voice, he had been too +well grounded in his faith not to be sensible of the +sacredness of those few minutes, and to be insensibly +influenced by their spirit.</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil was never present. When the tea-table was +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 121]</span> +cleared, he went quietly out, and those who cared to +follow him would have been led to the little Wesleyan +Chapel on John Street. He always took the same +seat in a pew near the door, and there he worshipped +for an hour or two the beautiful daughter of John +Bradley. He was present to watch them enter. +Sometimes the father went to the pulpit, sometimes +he went with Agnes to the singing-pew. And to +hear these two translating into triumphant song the +holy aspirations and longings of Watts and Wesley, +was reason enough for any one who loved music +to be in Wesley Chapel when they were singing together.</p> + +<p class="indent">All who have ever loved, all who yet dream of +love, can tell the further story of those summer days +for themselves. They have only to keep in mind +that it had a constant obligato of trumpets and +drums and marching men, and a constant refrain, +made up of all the rumors of war, victory, and defeat; +good news and bad news, fear, and hope, and +sighing despair. At length the warm weather gave +place to the dreamy hours of the Indian summer. A +heavenly veil of silvery haze lay over the river and +the city; a veil which seemed to deaden every sound +but the shrill chirping of the crickets; and a certain +sense of peace calmed for a short time the most restless +hearts. The families who had been at various +places during the hot months returned to their homes +in New York, with fresh dreams of conquest and +pleasure, for as yet the terrors of the coming winter +were not taken into thought or account. The war +was always going to be "over very soon," and General +Clinton assured the butterflies of his military +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 122]</span> +court they might eat, drink, and be merry, for he +intended at once to "strike such a blow as would put +an end to confederated rebellion for ever." And +they gladly believed him.</p> + +<p class="indent">In less than a week Maria received half-a-dozen +invitations to dinners, dances, card parties, and +musical recitations. She began at once to look over +her gowns, and Agnes came every day to the Semple +house to assist in remodeling and retrimming +them. They were delightful days long to be remembered. +Both the Elder and Madame enjoyed +them quite as much as the girls; and even Neil entered +into the discussions about colors, and the suitability +of guimpes and fringes, with a smiling gravity +that was very attractive.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Uncle Neil thinks he is taking depositions and +weighing evidence; see how the claims of pink and +amber perplex him!" and then Neil would laugh a +little, and decide in such haste that he generally contradicted +his first opinion.</p> + +<p class="indent">The Sunday in this happy week was made memorable +by the news which Quentin Macpherson +brought. "Some one," he said, "had whispered to +General Clinton that it was the intention of Washington +to unite with the French army and besiege +New York, and Clinton had immediately ordered +the troops garrisoning Rhode Island to return to the +city with all possible speed. And would you believe +it, Elder?" said the young soldier, "they came +so hastily that they left behind them all the wood +they had cut for winter, and all the forage and stores +provided for six thousand men. No sooner were +they out of sight than the American army slipped in +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 123]</span> +and took possession of everything; and now it appears +that it was a false report—the general is furious, +and is looking for the author of it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He needna look very far," answered Semple. +"There is a man that dips his sop in the dish wi' him, +and that coils him round his finger wi' a mouthful +o' words, wha could maist likely give him the whole +history o' the matter, for he'll be at the vera beginning +o' it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you mean to say, sir, that our Commander-in-Chief +has a traitor for his friend and confidant +and adviser?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I mean to say all o' that. But where will you +go and not find Washington's emissaries beguiling +thae stupid English?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You cannot call the English stupid, sir."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I can and I will. They are sae sure o' their ain +power and wisdom that they are mair than stupid. +They are ridic'lus. It makes them the easy tools of +every clever American that is willing to take a risk—and +they maist o' them are willing."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But when the English realize——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Aye, <i>when</i> they realize!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, sir, they came to realization last month +splendidly in that encounter with the privateer, Paul +Jones. It was the grandest seafight ever made between +seadogs of the same breed. Why, the muzzles +of their guns touched each other; the ships were +nearly torn to pieces, and three-fourths of the men +killed or wounded. Gentlemen, too, as well as +fighters though but lowborn men, for I am told they +began the combat with a courtesy worthy of the +days of chivalry. Both captains bowed and remained +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 124]</span> +uncovered until the foremost guns of the +English ship bore on the starboard quarter of the +American. Then Captain Paul Jones put on his +hat, as a sign that formalities were over, and the +battle began, and raged until the English ship was +sinking; then she surrendered."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mair's the pity!" said the Elder, "she ought to +have gone down fighting."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She saved the great fleet of merchantmen she +was convoying from the Baltic; while she was fighting +the American every one of them got safe away +and into port, and the American ship went down two +days afterward—literally died of her wounds and +went down to her grave. And by the bye, Mr. Semple, +this Paul Jones is a countryman of ours—a +Scotchman."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Aye, is he!—from Kirkcudbright. I was told +he had an intention o' sacking Edinburgh. Fair, +perfect nonsense!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"An old friend of the Macphersons—Stuart of +Invernalyle—was sought out to defend the town. I +had a letter from the family."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Weel, Stuart could tak' that job easy. The +west wind is a vera reliable one in the Firth o' +Edinburgh, and it is weel able, and extremely likely, +to defend its ain city. In fact, it did do so, for Paul +couldna win near, and so he went 'north about' and +found the Baltic fleet with the <i>Serapis</i> guarding it. +Weel, then, he had his fight, though he lost the plunder. +But it was a ridic'lus thing in any mortal, menacing +the capital o' Scotland wi' three brigs that +couldna have sacked a Fife fishing village! And +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 125]</span> +what is mair," added the old man with a tear glistening +in his eyes, "he wouldna have hurt Leith or Edinburgh. +Not he! Scots may love America, but +they never hate their ain dear Scotland; they wouldna +hurt the old land, not even in thought. If put +to the question, all o' them would say, as David o' +Israel and David o' Scotland baith said, 'let my right +hand forget its cunning——' you ken the rest, and +if you don't, it will do you good to look up the 137th +Psalm."</p> + +<p class="indent">The stir of admiration concerning these and other +events—all favorable to the Americans—irritated +General Clinton and made him much less courteous +in his manner to both friends and foes. And, moreover, +it was not pleasant for him to know that General +Washington was entertaining the first French +Minister to the United States at Newburgh, and that +John Jay was then on his way to Madrid to complete +with the Spanish government terms of recognition +and alliance. So that even through the calmness +of these Indian summer days there were definite +echoes of defeat and triumph, whether expressed +publicly or discussed so privately that the +bird of the air found no whisper to carry.</p> + +<p class="indent">One day at the end of October, Agnes did not +come until the afternoon, and Maria rightly judged +that Harry was in New York. There was no need +to tell her so, the knowledge was an intuition, and +when Agnes said to Madame, "she had a friend, and +would like Maria to bring the pelerine they were retrimming +to her house, and spend the evening with +her," no objection was made. "I shall miss you +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 126]</span> +baith; so will the Elder," she answered, "but I dare +say that English lord is feeling I have had mair than +my share o' your company."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, Madame!" said Agnes, "it is not the English +lord, it is a true American boy from—up the +river," and Agnes opened her eyes wide as she lifted +them to Madame's, and there was some sort of instantaneous +and satisfactory understanding. Then +she added, "Will you ask Mr. Neil Semple to come +for Maria about eight o'clock?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"There will be nae necessity to ask him. His feet +o' their ain accord will find their way to your house, +Agnes," said Madame. "Before he has told himsel' +where he is going he will be at your doorstep. He +must be very fond o' his niece Maria—or of somebody +else," and the old lady smiled pleasantly at +the blushing girl. Then both girls kissed Madame +and stopped at the garden gate to speak to the Elder, +and so down the road together full of happy expectation, +divining nothing of <i>One</i> who went forth with +them. How should they? Neither had ever seen +the face of sorrow or broke with her the ashen crust. +They were not aware of her presence and they heard +not the stir of her black mantle trailing upon the dust +and the dead leaves as she walked at their side.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Harry will be here for tea," said Agnes, when +they reached the house, and a soft, delightful sense +of pleasure to come pervaded the room as they sat +sewing and talking until it was time to set the table. +And as soon as Agnes began this duty there was a +peculiar whistle, and Maria glanced at Agnes, threw +aside her work, and went down the garden to meet +her lover. He was tying his boat to the little jetty, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 127]</span> +and when the duty was done they sat down on the +wooden steps and talked of this, and that, and of +everything but love, and yet everything they said +was a confession of their interest in each other. But +the truest love has often the least to say, and those +lovers are to be doubted and pitied who must always +be seeking assurances, for thus they sow the path of +love with thorns. Far happier are they who leave +something unsaid, who dare to enter into that living +silence which clasps hearts like a book of songs unsung. +They will sing them all, but not all at once. +One by one, as their hour comes, they will learn them +together.</p> + +<p class="indent">That calm, sweet afternoon was provocative of +this very mood. Maria and Harry sat watching +the river rocking the boat, and listening to the chirruping +of the crickets, and both were satisfied with +their own silence. It was a heavenly hour, hushed +and halcyon, full of that lazy happiness which is the +most complete expression of perfect love. When +Agnes called, they walked hand in hand up the garden, +and at the tea-table came back again into the +world. Harry had much to tell them, and was full +of confidence in the early triumph of the Americans.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then I hope we shall have peace, and all be +friends again," said Maria. She spoke a little wearily, +as if she had no faith in her words, and Harry +answered her doubt rather than her hope.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There will not be much friendship this generation," +he said; "things have happened between England +and America which men will remember until +they forget themselves."</p> + +<p class="indent">After tea, Harry said, "Maria is going with me +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 128]</span> +to the river to see if the boat is safe," and Agnes, +smiling, watched them a little way; then turned +again to her china, and without any conscious application +began to sing softly the aria of an old English +anthem by King:</p> + +<p class="indent">"I went down into the garden of nuts, to see +whether the pomegranates budded—to see whether +the pomegranates—the pomegranates budded,"<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> but +suddenly, even as her voice rose and fell sweetly to +her thoughts, a strange chill arrested the flow of the +melody; and she was angry at herself because she +had inadvertently wondered, "if the buds would ever +open full and flowerwise?"</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="indent"><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> "Solomon's Song," 6:11.</p></div> +</div> + +<p class="indent">In about half an hour Agnes, having finished her +house duties, went to the door opening into the garden +and called Harry and Maria. They turned toward +the house when they heard her voice, and she +remained in the open door to watch them come +through the tall box-shrubs and the many-colored +asters. And as she did so, Quentin Macpherson +reached the front door—which also stood open—and +perceiving Agnes, he did not knock, but waited for +her to turn inward. Consequently he saw Harry +and Maria, and did not fail to notice the terms of +affectionate familiarity between them. The fire of +jealousy was kindled in a moment; he strode forward +to meet the company, and was received with +the usual friendly welcome; for such a situation had +often been spoken of as possible, and Agnes was not +in the least disconcerted.</p> + +<p class="indent">"My friend, Mr. Harry Deane, Captain Macpherson," +she said, without hesitation, and the Captain +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 129]</span> +received the introduction with his most military air. +Then Agnes set herself to keep the conversation +away from the war, but that was an impossible +thing; every incident of life somehow or other +touched it, and before she realized the fact, Harry +was deprecating Tryon's outrages in Connecticut, +and Macpherson defending them on the ground that +"the towns destroyed had fitted out most of the +privateers which had so seriously interfered with +English commerce. Both the building of the ships +and the destruction of the towns for building them +are natural incidents of war," he said, and then +pointedly, "perhaps you are a native of Connecticut?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No," answered Harry, "I am a native of New +York."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah! I have not met you before."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am a great deal away——" then receiving +from Agnes a look of anxious warning, he thought +it best to take his leave. Agnes rose and went to +the door with him, and Maria wished Captain Macpherson +anywhere but in her society; especially as +he began to ask her questions she did not wish to +answer.</p> + +<p class="indent">"So Miss Bradley has a lover?" he said, looking +pointedly at the couple as they left the room.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I used to think so once," answered Maria.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But not now?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"But not now. Mr. Deane is an old friend, a +playmate even."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I suppose he is a King's man?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ask him; he is still standing at the gate. I talk +to him on much pleasanter subjects."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 130]</span> +"Love, for instance?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Perhaps."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How can you be so cruel, Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is <i>Miss Semple's</i> nature to be cruel."</p> + +<p class="indent">The reproof snubbed him, and both were silent +for some minutes; then the same kind of desultory +fencing was renewed, and Maria felt the time to be +long and the tension unendurable. She could have +cried out with anger. Why had not Agnes let her +go to the door with Harry? She had had no opportunity +to bid him "good-bye"; and yet, even after +Harry had gone, there Agnes stood at the gate, +"watching for Uncle Neil, of course," thought +Maria, "and no doubt she has a message for me; she +might come and give it to me—very likely Harry is +at the boat waiting for me—oh, dear! Why does +she not come?"</p> + +<p class="indent">With such thoughts urging her, the very attitude +of Agnes was beyond endurance. She stood at the +gate as still as if she was a part of it, and at length +Maria could bear the delay no longer.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I wish to speak to Agnes," she said, "will you +permit me a moment?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Certainly," he answered with an air of offense. +"I fear I am in the way of some one or something."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, no, no!" cried Maria, decisively. "I only +want to make her come in. She says the night air +is so unhealthy, and yet there she stands in it—bareheaded, +too."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is an unusually warm evening."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, but you know there is the malaria. I shall +bring her in a moment, you shall see how quickly I +am obeyed."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 131]</span> +In unison with these words, she rose in a hurry, +and as she did so there came through the open window +a little stone wrapped in white paper. If she +had not moved, it would have fallen into her lap; +as it was, it fell on the floor and almost at the feet +of Macpherson. He lifted it, and went to the candle. +It was a message, as he expected, and read +thus:</p> + +<p class="indent"><i>"Keep that Scot amused for an hour, and meet me +at Semple's landing at nine o'clock. Harry."</i></p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh! Oh!" he said with an intense inward passion. +"I am to be amused! I am to be cajoled! +deceived! <i>that Scot</i> is to be used for some purpose, +and by St. Andrew, I'll wager it is treason. This +affair must be looked into—quick, too." With this +thought he put the paper in his pocket, and followed +Maria to the gate where she stood talking with +Agnes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will bid you good-night," he said with a purposed +air of offense. "I am sure that I am an intruder +on more welcome company."</p> + +<p class="indent">He would listen to no explanations or requests. +Maria became suddenly kind, and assumed the prettiest +of her coaxing ways, but he knew she was +only "amusing" him, and he would not respond to +what he considered her base, alluring treachery.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There, now, Maria! You have been very foolish," +said Agnes. "Captain Macpherson is angry. +You ought to have been particularly kind to him to-night—after +Harry."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You were so selfish, Agnes—so unreasonably +selfish! You might have let me go to the gate with +Harry. I never had a chance to say 'good-bye' to +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 132]</span> +him; there you stood, watching for Uncle Neil, and +I was on pins and needles of anxiety. Why didn't +you stay with the man, and let me go to the gate?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you must know why; I had some money to +give Harry. Could I do that before Captain Macpherson?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I hate the man! I am glad he has gone! I hope +he will never come again!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I do not think he will, Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">They went into the house thoroughly vexed with +each other, and Maria said in a tone of pique or offense, +"I wonder what delays my uncle! I wish he +would come!"</p> + +<p class="indent">In reality Neil was no later than usual, but Maria +was quivering with disappointment and annoyance, +and when he did arrive it was not possible for any +one to escape the influence of an atmosphere charged +with the miserable elements of frustrated happiness. +Maria was not a girl to bear disagreeable things +alone or in silence. She would talk only of Macpherson +and his unwelcome visit; "but he always +did come when he was not wanted," she said angrily. +"Last Sunday when grandmother was sick, and I +was writing a long letter to father, and nobody cared +to see him at all, enter Captain Macpherson with his +satisfied smile, and his clattering sword, and his provoking +air of conferring a favor on us by his company. +I hate the creature! And I think it is a +dreadful thing to make set days for people's visits; +we have all got to dislike Sunday afternoons, just +for his sake!" and so on, with constant variations.</p> + +<p class="indent">Fortunately Mr. Bradley came home soon after +eight o'clock, and Maria would not make any further +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 133]</span> +delay. She had many reasons for her hurry, +but undoubtedly the chief one, was a feeling that +Agnes ought not to have the pleasure of a conversation +between her father and her lover, and probably +a walk home with her, and then a walk back with +Neil alone. She would go at once, and she would +not ask Agnes to go with her. If she was disappointed, +it was only a just retribution for her selfishness +about Harry. And though she noticed Agnes +was depressed and cast down, she was not appeased; +"However, I will come in the morning and make all +right," she thought; "to-night Agnes may suffer a +little. I will come in the morning and make all +right."</p> + +<p class="indent">Yes, she would come in the morning, but little she +dreamed on what errand she would come. Still, +Maria is not to be blamed over much; there is some +truth in every reproach that is made.</p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">THE INTERCEPTED MESSAGE.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">While</span> this unhappy interlude was passing, a far +greater sorrow was preparing. Captain Macpherson +went at once to his colonel with the pebble-sent +note. He told himself that his duty to his King +and his colors demanded it, and that no harm could +come to the two women except such as was reflected +from the trouble that saucy young man might be +entitled to. He had no objections to giving him +trouble; he felt that he ought to be made to understand +a little better what was due to an officer of +the King. <i>"That Scot!"</i> He flung his plaid passionately +over his shoulder and stamped his foot +with the offended temper of centuries of Macphersons. +As for Maria, he would not think of her. +He could not know what the consequences of the +interrupted tryst would be, but let her take them! +A girl who could prefer quite a common-looking +young man to himself needed a lesson. He said +over and over that he had only done a duty he would +have performed under any circumstances; and he +kept reiterating the word "duty,"—still he knew +right well that duty in this case had been powerfully +seconded by jealousy and by his personal offense.</p> + +<p class="indent">What action his colonel would take he knew not. +He desired to be excused from any part in it, because +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 135]</span> +of the Semple's hospitality to him. His request +was granted; and then he went to his rooms hot +with uncertain excitement. The colonel had no +sentimental reasons for ignoring what might prove +a valuable arrest. Nothing had provoked General +Clinton more than the ubiquitous nature of Washington's +spies. They were everywhere; they were +untiring, unceasing and undaunted. The late reverses, +which had mortified every English soldier, +had been undoubtedly brought about by the false +reports they spread,—no one knew by whose assistance,—and +this night might be a turning-point in +affairs.</p> + +<p class="indent">He ordered ten picked men to wait for the boat +at Semple's landing. The place was easily reached; +they had but to walk to the bottom of the fence, +climb over it, and secrete themselves in the little boathouse, +or among the shrubbery, if it had yet foliage +enough to screen them. He looked over his roll +of suspects and found Madame Semple's name +among them. Likely enough, her family sympathized +with her. It would at least be prudent to +secure the husband and son. If they were good +royalists, they could easily prove it. Then he sat +down to smoke and to drink brandy; he, too, had +done his duty, and was not troubled at all about +results. The Semples, to him, were only two or +three out of sixty thousand reputed royalists in the +city. If they were honest, they had little to fear; +if they were traitors, they deserved all they would +certainly get from Clinton in his present surly mood.</p> + +<p class="indent">Quite unconscious of what was transpiring, John +Bradley was eating a frugal supper of oatmeal and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 136]</span> +bread and cheese, and telling his daughter about a +handsome saddle that was going up the river to +"the man in all the world most worthy of it." Elder +Semple was asleep, and Madame, lying in the darkness, +was softly praying away her physical pain and +her mental anxieties. Suddenly she heard an unusual +stir and the prompt, harsh voices of men either +quarreling or giving orders.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is on our ain place!" and a sick terror assailing +her, she cried: "Wake up! Wake up, Alexander! +There's men at the door, and angry men, and +they're calling you!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil, who was sitting dressed in his room, instantly +answered the summons, and was instantly +under arrest; and as no effort was made to prevent +noise or confusion, the tumult and panic soon +reached Maria. She was combing her hair to fretful +thoughts, and a keen sense of disappointment; +but when Madame entered the room wringing her +hands and lamenting loudly, she let the comb fall +and stood up trembling with apprehension.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria! Maria! They are taking your grandfather +and uncle to prison! Oh, God, my dear auld +man! My dear auld man!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Grandmother! What are you saying? You +must be mistaken—you must be!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Come, and see for yoursel';" and Madame flung +open the window and with a shriek of futile distress +cried, "Alexander, look at me! Speak to me."</p> + +<p class="indent">At these words the Elder, who was standing with +a soldier, lifted his face to the distracted woman, +in her white gown at the open window, and cried to +her:</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 137]</span> +"Janet, my dearie, you'll get your death o' cold. +It is a' a mistake. Go to your bed, dear woman. +I'll be hame in the morning."</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil repeated this advice, and then there was a +sharp order and a small body of men marched forward, +and in their midst Harry walked bareheaded +and manacled. He tried to look up, for he had +heard the colloquy between the Elder and his wife, +and understood Maria might be also at the +window; but as he turned his head a gigantic Highlander +struck him with the flat of his sword, and as +the blow fell rattling on the youth's shoulder Maria +threw up her hands with a shriek and fell into a +chair sobbing.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Dinna cry that way, Maria, my dearie; they'll +be hame in the morning."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, yes, grandmother! It was the blow on +that last prisoner. Did you see it? Did you hear it? +Oh, what a shame!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Poor lad! I know naething about him; but he +is in a terrible sair strait."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What is he doing here in our house? Surely +you know, grandmother?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know naething about him. He is doubtless +one o' Washington's messengers—there's plenty o' +them round. Why he came near us is mair than +I can say." Then a sudden fear made her look intently +at Maria, and she asked, "Do you think your +Uncle Neil has turned to the American cause?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, grandmother, how can you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He has been so much wi' that Agnes Bradley. +My heart misgave me at the first about her. Neil +is in love, and men in love do anything."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 138]</span> +"Uncle Neil is as true a royalist as grandfather."</p> + +<p class="indent">"See, then, what they have, baith o' them, got +for standing by King George. It serves them +right! It serves them right! O dear, dear me! +What shall we do?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Two weary hours were spent in such useless conversation; +then Madame, being perfectly exhausted, +was compelled to go to bed. "We can do naething +till morning," she said; "and Neil will hae his plans +laid by that time. They will be to bail, doubtless; +and God knows where the friends and the money are +to come from. But there's plenty o' time for grief +to-morrow; go and sleep an hour or two now."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And you, grandmother? What will you do?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He who never fails will strengthen me. When +the morn comes I shall be able for all it can bring. +This was such a sudden blow I lost my grip."</p> + +<p class="indent">Alone in her room, Maria felt the full force of the +sudden blow. Although Harry's note had missed +her, she understood that he had been waiting for +a few words with her. Twice before she had been +in the garden when he passed up the river, and he +had landed and spent a delicious half-hour with +her. She was sure now that he had been as much +disappointed as herself, and had hoped she would +come and say good-bye as soon as she reached home. +But who had betrayed him? And why was her +grandfather and uncle included in his arrest?</p> + +<p class="indent">For some time she could think of nothing but her +lover walking so proudly in the midst of his enemies; +reviled by them, struck by them, yet holding +his head as authoritatively as if he was their captain, +rather than their prisoner. Then she remembered +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 139]</span> +Agnes, and at first it was with anger. "If +she had not been so selfish, Harry would not have +needed to take such a risk!" she cried. "It is dreadful! +dreadful! And just as soon as it is light I +must go and tell her. Her father must now know +all; he ought to have been told long ago. I +shall insist on her telling now, for Harry's life is +first of all, and his father has power some way or +other."</p> + +<p class="indent">Thus through the long hours she wept and complained +and blamed Agnes and even herself, and +perhaps most of all was angry with the intrusive +Macpherson, whose unwelcome presence had been +the cause of the trouble. And, oh! what arid torturing +vigils are those where God is not! Madame +lying on her bed with her hands folded over her +breast and thoughts heavenward, was at peace compared +with this tumultuous little heart in the midst +of doubt, darkness, and the terror of dreadful death +for one dear to her. She knew not what to abandon, +nor what to defend; her brain seemed stupefied by +calamity so inevitable. And yet, it was not inevitable; +it had depended for many minutes on herself. +A word, a look, and Agnes would have understood +her desire; and half a dozen times before she +had made the movement which was just <i>too late;</i> +her heart had urged her to call her friend. But she +had doubted, wavered, and delayed, and so given to +Destiny the very weapons that were used against +her.</p> + +<p class="indent">As soon as the morning dawned she dressed herself. +Before her grandmother came down stairs +it was imperative on her to see Agnes and tell her +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 140]</span> +what had happened. A dismal, anxious stillness +had succeeded the storm of her terror and grief; a +feeling of outrage, of resentment against events, +and an agony of love and pity, as she remembered +Harry smitten and helpless in the power of a merciless +foe. She had now one driving thought and +purpose—the release of her lover. She must save +the life he had risked for her sake, though she gave +her own for it.</p> + +<p class="indent">As she went through the gray dawning she was +sensitive to some antagonism, even in Nature. The +unseasonable warmth of the previous evening had +been followed by a frost. The faded grass snapped +under her fleet steps, the last foliage had withered +during the night, and was black and yellow as +death, and everything seemed to shiver in the pale +light. And though the waning moon yet hung low +in the west, and all the mystery and majesty of +earth was round her, Maria was only conscious of +the chill terror in her heart, and of the chill, damp +mist from the river which enfolded her like a cloak, +and was the very atmosphere of sorrow.</p> + +<p class="indent">When she reached the Bradley home all was shut +and still; the very house seemed to be asleep, but +why did its closed door affect her so painfully? +She went round to the kitchen and found the slave +woman Mosella bending over a few blazing chips, +making herself a cup of tea. The woman looked +at her wonderingly, and when Maria said, "Mosella, +I must see Miss Agnes at once," she rose without +a word and opened the garden door of the house. +The shutters were all closed, the stairway dim, and +the creaking of the steps under her feet made her +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 141]</span> +quiver. It was an hour too early for light and +life, and a noiseless noise around her seemed to +protest against this premature invasion of the day.</p> + +<p class="indent">She entered the room of her friend very softly. +It was breathless, shadowy, and on the white bed +Agnes was lying, asleep. For a moment Maria +stood looking at the orderly place and the unconscious +woman. The pure pallor of her cheeks had +the flush of healthy sleep; her brown hair, braided, +lay loose upon her pillow, her white hands upon +the white coverlet. She was the image of deep, +dreamless, peaceful oblivion. It seemed a kind of +wrong to awaken her; but though the eyes of Agnes +were closed, Maria's gaze called to the soul on guard +behind them, and without one premonitory movement +she opened them wide and saw Maria at her +bedside. A quick fear leaped into her heart. She +was momentarily speechless. She laid her hand on +Maria's arm, and looked at her with apprehending +inquiry.</p> + +<p class="indent"><i>"Harry!"</i> said Maria, and then she sat down and +covered her face and began to cry softly. There +was no necessity to say more. Agnes understood. +She rose and began to dress herself, and in a few +minutes asked, though almost in a whisper:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is he taken?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Where?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"At our landing."</p> + +<p class="indent">"When?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Last night."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Why did you not send me word last night? +Neil would have come."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 142]</span> +"Neil was arrested, and also my dear old grandfather. +It is shameful! shameful!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"What was Harry doing at your landing?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't know. I was in my room. I was half-undressed, +combing my hair out, when grandmother +rushed to me with the news. It is not my fault, +Agnes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Did you ever meet Harry at your landing, +Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Only twice, both times in the daylight. He +was passing and happened to see me. There was +no tryst between us; and I know nothing about last +night, except——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Except what?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"That if you had given him a chance to say +'Good-bye' to me here, he would not have thought +of stopping at our landing; but," she added in a +weary voice, "you were watching for Uncle Neil, +and so, of course, you forgot other people."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Don't be cruel, Maria, as well as unjust."</p> + +<p class="indent">"All the same, it is the truth."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How was he discovered? You surely know +that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, I do not. There were at least ten or +twelve soldiers—Highlanders. One of them struck +Harry."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, why do you tell me? Who could have betrayed +him? Macpherson? You know you offended +him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It could not be Macpherson. He never saw +Harry before. He knew nothing about him. He +thought his name was Deane. If it had been Macpherson, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 143]</span> +your landing, not ours, would have been +watched."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No; for he saw you and Harry coming through +the garden hand-in-hand. I am sure he did. He +went away in a fit of jealousy, and he would think +of your landing as well as ours. But all that is +nothing. We have but a few hours in which to +try and save his life. I must awake father and tell +him. It will break his heart."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You ought to have told him——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What can I do?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Women can do nothing but suffer. I am sorry +with all my soul for you, Maria, and I will let you +know what father does. Go home to your poor +grandmother; she will need all the comfort you can +give her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am sorry for you, Agnes; yes, I am! I will do +anything I can. There is Lord Medway, he loves +me; and General Clinton loves him, I know he does; +I have seen them together."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Father is first. I must awaken him. Leave +me now, Maria, dear. None but God can stand by +me in this hour."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Maria kissed her, and Agnes fell upon her +knees, her arms spread out on her bed and her face +buried in them. There were no words given her; +she could not pray; but when the Gate of Prayer is +closed the Gate of Tears is still open. She wept +and was somewhat helped, though it was only by +that intense longing after God which made her cry +out, "O that I knew where to find Him, that I +might come into His presence!"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 144]</span> +When she went to her father's door he was already +awake. She heard him moving about his +room, washing and dressing, and humming to himself +in strong snatches a favorite hymn tune; no +words seemed to have come to him, for the melody +was kept by a single syllable that served to connect +the notes. Nevertheless, the tone was triumphant +and the singer full of energy. It made Agnes shiver +and sicken to listen to him. She sat down on the topmost +stair and waited. It could not be many minutes, +and nothing for or against Harry could be done till +the world awoke and went to business. Very soon +the hymn tune ceased, and there was a few minutes +of a silence that could be felt, for it was threaded +through by a low, solemn murmur easy to translate,—the +man was praying. When he came out of +his room he saw Agnes sitting on the stair, and as +soon as she lifted her face to him he was frightened +and asked sharply:</p> + +<p class="indent">"What are you doing there, Agnes? What has +happened?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She spoke one word only, but that word went like +a sword to the father's heart,—<i>"Harry!"</i></p> + +<p class="indent">He repeated the word after her: "Harry! Is he +ill? Let me see the letter, where is he? With +Doctor Brudenel? Can't you speak, girl?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Harry is here, in New York, in prison?"</p> + +<p class="indent">The words fell shivering from her lips; she raised +herself, watching her father's face the while, for +she thought he was going to fall. He shook like +a great tree in a storm, and then retreated to the +door of his room and stood with his back against +it. He could not speak, and Agnes was afraid.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 145]</span> +"Father," she said in a low, passionate voice of +entreaty, "we have the boy to save. Do not lose +yourself. You have <i>your Father</i> to lean upon."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know! I feel! Go and make me a cup of +coffee. I will be ready when you call me."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then he went back into his room and shut the +door, and Agnes, with a sick, heavy heart, prepared +the necessary meal. For though danger, sorrow +and death press on every side, the body must have +sustenance; and every-day meals, that look so tragically +common and out of place must go on as usual. +But it was a little respite and she was grateful, because +in it her father would talk the trouble over +with God before she had to explain it to him. The +interval was a short one, but during it John Bradley +found Him who is "a very present help in every +hour of need." He came down to his coffee in full +possession of himself and ready for the fight before +him. But he had also realized the disobedience +which had brought on this sorrow, and the deception +which had sanctioned the boy in his disobedience. +Therefore Agnes was afraid when she +saw his severe eyes, and shrank from them as from +a blow, and large tears filled her own and rolled +down her white cheeks unchecked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Agnes," he said, "tell me the whole truth. I +must know everything, or you may add your brother's +murder to the other wrongdoing. When did +he come back to America?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Six months after you sent him to England. He +said he could not, durst not, stay there. He thought +that God might have some work that needed <i>just +him</i> to do it. I think Harry found that work."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 146]</span> +"Why did you not tell me at the time?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was in Boston, at school, when Harry first +came to me, and we talked together then about telling +you. But at that time both of us supposed you +to be a King's man, and the party feeling was then +riotously cruel. Harry had been three months with +Washington, and his peculiar fitness for the New +York Secret Service had been found out. Still, +Washington took no unfair advantage of his youth +and enthusiasm. He told him he would be one of +a band of young men who lived with their lives +in their hands. And when Harry answered, 'General, +if I can bring you information that will help +Freedom forward one step, my life gladly for it,' +Washington's eyes shone, and he gave Harry his +hand and said, 'Brave boy! Your father must be +a happy man.'"</p> + +<p class="indent">She paused here and looked at the father, and +saw that his face was lifted and that a noble pride +strove with a noble pain for the mastery. So she +continued: "Harry <i>has</i> helped Freedom forward. +He found out, while pretending to fish for the garrison +at Stony Point, the best way across the marsh +and up the rocks. He helped to set afloat the reports +that brought Tryon back from Connecticut, +and the garrison from Rhode Island. He has prepared +the way for many a brave deed, taken all +the danger and the labor, getting no fame and +wanting none, his only aim to serve his country and +to be loved and trusted by Washington. If we erred +in keeping these things from you, it has been an +error of love. And when we knew you also were +serving your country in your own way, Harry was +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 147]</span> +sure you would do it better and safer if you were +not always looking for him—fearing for him. Oh, +father! surely you see how his presence would have +embarrassed you and led to suspicion."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I would like to have seen the boy," he said, +softly, as if he were thinking the words to himself.</p> + +<p class="indent">"He saw you often, never came to the city without +passing the shop to see you; and it made both +of us happy to believe that very soon now he would +dare to speak to you and to say, 'Father, forgive +me.'"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I must go to him, Agnes. Harry's life must be +saved, or I, John Bradley, will know the reason why. +Yes, and if he has to die there are some big +men here, playing double-face, that will die with +him. I know them——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, father! father! What are you saying? +Vengeance is not ours. Would it bring Harry back +to us?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is more than I can bear. Who was the informer? +Tell me that. And where was he taken?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I cannot tell who informed. He was taken with +his little boat at Elder Semple's landing by a party +of Scotch Highlanders."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What on earth was he doing at Semple's? Do +you think the Elder, or that fine gentleman Neil, +gave information?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"They were both arrested with Harry. They also +are in prison."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Am I losing my senses? The Semples! They +are royalists, known royalists, bitter as gall. What +was Harry doing at their place? Tell me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I do not certainly know, father. I think he may +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 148]</span> +have gone there hoping that Maria would come +down to the river to say a good-bye to him."</p> + +<p class="indent"><i>"Maria!</i> That is it, of course. If a man is to +be led to destruction and death, it is some woman +who will do the business for him. I warned you +about that Maria. My heart misgave me about +the whole family. So Harry is in love with her! +That is your doing, girl. What business had you +to let them meet at all? If Harry perishes, I shall +find it hard to forgive you; hard to ever see you +again. All this sorrow for your sentimental nonsense +about Maria. If she had been kept out of +Harry's life, he would have gone safely and triumphantly +on to victory with the rest of us. But +you must have your friend and your friend's +brother, and your own brother must pay the price +of it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, father, be just! Even if you cannot pity +me, be just. I am suffering as much as I can bear."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then he rose and put on his hat and coat. "Stay +where you are," he said. "I will not have women +meddling with what I have now to do. Don't leave +the house for anyone or anything."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You will send me some word, father. I shall +be in an agony of suspense."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If there is any word to send, I will send it." +Then he went away without kissing her, without +one of his ordinary tender words; he left her alone +with her crushing sorrow, and the consciousness +that upon her he would lay the blame of whatever +disaster came to Harry. She had no heart for her +household duties, and she left the unwashed china +and went back to her room. She was yet in a state +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 149]</span> +of pitiful bewilderment; her grief was so certain, +its need was so urgent, and at that hour Heaven +seemed so far off; and yet she questioned her soul +so eagerly for the watchword that should give her +that stress of spirit which would connect her with +the Unseen World and permit her to claim its invincible +help.</p> + +<p class="indent">Agnes had told her father that it was Highlanders +who arrested Harry, and Bradley went first to their +quarters. There he learned that the young man +had disclaimed connection with any regiment whatever; +and, being in citizen's clothes and wearing +no arms, his claim had been allowed and his case +turned over to the Military Court of Police. So +far it was favorable; the cruel haste of a court martial +shut the door of hope; but John Bradley knew +the Court of Police was composed of men who put +financial arguments before all others. He was, +however, too early, an hour too early, to see any +one; and the prisoner was under watch in one of +the guard-houses and could not be approached.</p> + +<p class="indent">He wandered back to his shop utterly miserable +and restless and wrote a letter to Thomas Curtis, +a clever lawyer, and a partner of Neil Semple, +explaining the position of his son and begging +him to be at the Court of Police when it opened. +This letter he carried to the lawyer's office and paid +the boy in attendance to deliver it immediately on +the arrival of his master. Then he went back to +his shop for money, and as he was slowly leaving +the place Lord Medway spoke to him. He had his +rifle over his shoulder and was going with a friend +to Long Island to shoot birds. The sight of the +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 150]</span> +man made John Bradley's heart leap and burn. He +had been waiting for some leading as to the way he +ought to take, and he felt that it had been given +him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Good morning, Mr. Bradley," said the nobleman.</p> + +<p class="indent">"My lord, turn back with me to my shop. I have +something of the greatest importance to tell you."</p> + +<p class="indent">Medway smiled: "My hunting is of the greatest +importance at present, Mr. Bradley, for my friend, +Colonel Pennington, is waiting for me; but if I can +be of service——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think you can; at least, listen to me."</p> + +<p class="indent">Medway bent his head in acquiescence, and Bradley +led the way to the small room behind his shop, +which had been his sitting and dining room while +his daughter was at school. He plunged at once into +the subject of his anxieties.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There was a prisoner taken last night."</p> + +<p class="indent">"A young man in a boat; I heard of it. General +Clinton thinks they may have made an important +arrest."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is my son—my only son! I did not know +until an hour ago that he was in America. I sent +him to England at the beginning of the war—to a +fine school there—and I thought he was safe; and +he has been here, one of Washington's scouts, carrying +messages from camp to camp, in and out of +New York in all kinds of disguises, spreading reports +and gathering reports, buying medicines, and +clothing, and what not; doing, in short, duties +which in every case were life and death matters. +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 151]</span> +For three years or more he has done these things +safely; last night he was discovered."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And you thought he was in England, safe and +comfortable, and learning his lessons?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I did, and thanked God for it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Now, I would offer thanks for the other things. +If I were an American it would gladden my heart to +have a son like that. The young man thinks he +has been doing his duty; be a little proud of him. +I'll be bound he deserves it. Who arrested him?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Some soldiers from the Highland regiment."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How did they happen to know? Could Macpherson +have informed? Oh, impossible! What +am I saying? Where was he taken?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"At Elder Semple's landing."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You confound me, Bradley. I will stake my +honor on the Semples's loyalty—father and son +both. What was he doing there?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He had the old reason for calamity—a woman. +He is in love with the Elder's granddaughter, and +Agnes thinks he must have landed hoping to see +her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You mean, he had a tryst with her?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I only surmise. I can tell nothing surely."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will go with you to court, Bradley. Can you +send a man with a message to Colonel Pennington?"</p> + +<p class="indent">This done they went out together, and many +looked curiously at the lord and the saddler walking +the streets of New York in company. For in +those days the lines of caste were severely drawn. +When they entered the courtroom the case of the +Semples was being heard; but Harry sat a little +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 152]</span> +apart, on either side of him a soldier. The father +fixed his eyes upon him, and a proud flush warmed +his white face at the sight of the lad's dauntless +bearing and calm, almost cheerful, aspect.</p> + +<p class="indent">Lord Medway looked first toward the Semples, +and conspicuously bowed to both of them. The +Elder was evidently sick, fretful, and suffering. +Neil was wounded in every fiber of his proud nature. +The loyalty, the honor, the good name of the Semples +had been, he believed, irrevocably injured; for +he was lawyer enough to know that it is nearly as +bad to be suspected as to be guilty. And, small +as the matter seemed in comparison, he was intensely +mortified at the personal disarray of his +father and himself. The men who arrested them +had given them no time to arrange their clothing, +and Neil knew they looked more suspiciously guilty +for want of their clean laces and the renovating +influences of water and brushes.</p> + +<p class="indent">The assistant magistrate, Peter DuBois, was +just questioning Elder Semple.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Look at the prisoner taken on your premises, +Mr. Semple. Do you know him?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I never saw him in a' my life before his arrest."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Did you know he was using your landing?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not I. I was fast asleep in my bed."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mr. Neil Semple, what have you to say?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was sitting partially dressed, reading in my +room. I have no knowledge whatever of the young +man, nor can I give you any reason why our landing +should have been used by him."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mr. Curtis then spoke eloquently of the unstained +loyalty of the Semples, and of their honorable life +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 153]</span> +for half a century in the city of New York. But +Peter DuBois held that they were not innocent, inasmuch +as they had been so careless of His Majesty's +interests as to permit their premises to be used for +treasonable purposes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The Court must first prove the treasonable purposes," +said Mr. Curtis.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The Court proposes to do so," answered DuBois. +"Henry Deane, stand up!" and as he did so Bradley +uttered a sharp cry and rose to his feet also. In +this hour Harry looked indeed a son to be proud +of. He showed no fear, and was equally free from +that bluster that often cloaks fear, but raised a face +calm and cheerful—the face of a man who knows +that he has done nothing worthy of blame.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Henry Deane," said DuBois, "is there anyone +in New York who knows you?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><i>"I do!"</i> shouted John Bradley. "He is my son! +My dear son, Henry Deane Bradley;" and with the +words he marched to his son's side and threw his +arms about his neck.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, father! father, forgive me!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, Harry! Harry! I have nothing to forgive!" +and he kissed him in the sight of the whole court, +and wept over him like a mother.</p> + +<p class="indent">The whole affair had been so sudden, so startling +and affecting, that it was not at once interrupted. +But in a few moments the examination proceeded, +DuBois asking, "Do you know the Semples?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have seen them often. I have never spoken to +either of them in all my life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What took you to their landing, then?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know it so well. When I was a little boy I +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 154]</span> +used to borrow Elder Semple's boat if I wished to +fish or row, because I knew they were busy in the +city and would not miss it. So I got used to their +landing years ago."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Had you any special reason for going there last +night?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. It was a good place to wait until the moon +rose."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No other reason?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Habit."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nothing to get there?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nothing at all."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No one to see there?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No one."</p> + +<p class="indent">Lord Medway sighed heavily. The words were +a tremendous relief. If the young man had named +Maria it would have been shameful and unbearable. +He began now to take more interest in him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You refused to tell last night," said DuBois, "to +whom you were carrying the clothing and <i>the saddle</i> +that was in your boat. Will you now name the +person or persons?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No. I refuse to name them."</p> + +<p class="indent">"From whom did you receive or purchase these +articles?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I refuse to say."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Perhaps from the Semples?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Certainly not. I never received and never +bought a pin's worth from the Semples."</p> + +<p class="indent">In fact, no evidence of complicity could either be +found or manufactured against the Semples, and +Mr. Curtis demanded their honorable acquittal. +But they were good subjects for plunder, and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 155]</span> +DuBois had already intimated to Judge Matthews +how their purses could be reached. In pursuance +of this advice, Judge Matthews said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"The loyalty of Alexander Semple and of his son, +Neil Semple, cannot be questioned; but they have +been unfortunately careless of His Majesty's rights +in permitting their premises to be of aid and comfort +to rebels; and therefore, as an acknowledgment +of this fault, and as a preventative to its recurrence, +Alexander Semple is fined two hundred pounds and +Neil Semple one hundred pounds. The prisoners +are free upon their own recognizances until the fifteenth +day of November, when they must appear in +this court and pay the fines as decided."</p> + +<p class="indent">The Elder heard the decision in a kind of stupefaction. +Neil, neither by himself or his lawyer, +made any protest. What use was there in doing +so? They had been sentenced by a court accountable +to no tribunal whatever: a court arbitrary and +illegal, that troubled itself neither with juries nor +oaths, and from which there was no appeal. Lord +Medway watched the proceedings with indignation, +and the feeling in the room was full of sympathy +for the two men. Neil's haughty manner and +stern face betrayed nothing of the anger he felt, but +the Elder was hardly prevented from speaking +words which would have brought him still greater +loss. As it was, it taxed Neil's strength and composure +to the uttermost to get his father with dignity +away from the scene. He gave him his arm, and +whispered authoritatively, "Do not give way, +father! Do not open your lips!" So the old gentleman +straightened himself, and, leaning heavily +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 156]</span> +on his son, reached the lobby before he fell into a +state bordering on collapse.</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil placed him in a chair, got him water, and +was wondering where he could most easily procure +a carriage, when the sound of wheels coming at a +furious rate arrested his attention. They stopped +at the court house, and as Neil went to the door +the lovely Madame Jacobus sprang out of the vehicle.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Neil!" she cried. "Neil Semple! I only heard +an hour ago, I came as soon as the horses were +ready, it is disgraceful. Where is the Elder? Can +I take him home?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madame, it will be the greatest kindness. He +is ready to faint."</p> + +<p class="indent">The Elder looked at her with eyes full of tears.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madame," he said, "they have fined me in my +auld age for a misdemeanor"—and then he laughed +hysterically. "I hae lived fifty years in New York, +and I am fined—I hae——"</p> + +<p class="indent">She stopped the quavering voice with a kiss, and +with Neil's help led him gently to her carriage; and +as soon as he reached its friendly shelter he closed +his eyes and looked like one dead. Madame was in +a tempest of rage. "It is just like the ravening +wolves," she said. "They saw an opportunity to +rob you,—you need not tell me, I know Matthews! +He has the winter's routs and dances for his luxurious +wife and daughters to provide for, as well as +what he calls his own 'damned good dinners.' How +much did he mulct you in? Never mind telling me +now, Neil, but come and lunch with me to-morrow; +I shall have something to say to you then."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 157]</span> +She had the Elder's hand in her's as she spoke, +and she did not loosen her clasp until she saw him +safely at his own home and in the care of his wife. +She remained a few moments to comfort Madame +Semple, then, divining they would be best alone +with their sorrow, she went away with a reminder +to Neil that she wished to speak to him privately on +the following day.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is as if God sent her," said Madame gratefully.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Get me to my bed, Janet, dearie," said the Elder. +"I'll just awa' out o' this warld o' sorrows and +wrongs and robbery."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You'll just stop havering and talking nonsense, +Alexander. Are you going to die and leave me my +lane for a bit o' siller? I'm ashamed o' you. Twa +or three hundred pounds! Is that what you count +your life worth? Help your father to his bed, Neil, +and I'll bring him some gude mutton broth. He's +hungry and faint and out o' his sleep—it tak's little +to make men talk o' dying. Parfect nonsense!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You don't know, Janet Semple——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, I do know, Alexander. Quit whining, and +put a stout heart to a steep hill. You hae a wife and +sons and friends yet about you, and you talk o' +dying! I'll not hear tell o' such things, not I!"</p> + +<p class="indent">But when the Elder had taken a good meal and +fallen asleep, Janet spoke with less spirit to her son. +And Neil was in a still fury; he found it difficult to +answer his mother's questions.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The money is to be found, and that at once," he +said. "Father will not rest until it is paid; and I +have not the least idea where I can procure it."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 158]</span> +"You must sell some o' that confiscated property +you and your father wared all your ready money +on," said Janet bitterly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"At the present time it is worth nothing, mother; +and houses and lands are not sold at an hour's notice. +I suppose if I ask Batavius DeVries he will +help father. I think Curtis can manage my share +of the blackmail."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That poor lad wha has made a' the mischief, +what of him?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is John Bradley's son." Then Neil described +the scene in the courtroom, and Madame's eyes +filled with tears as she said, "I never thought so +well o' the Bradleys before. Poor Agnes!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Yes, "poor Agnes!" Neil was feeling a consuming +impatience to be with her, to comfort her and +help her to bear whatever might be appointed.</p> + +<p class="indent">"So the lad is to be tried in the Military Police +Court. Is not that a good thing?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. John Bradley has money. It is all the +'law' there is to satisfy in that court."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Are they trying him to-day?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. I heard his case called as we left the +room. Where is Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"She has cried herself blind, deaf and dumb. She +is asleep now. I went to tell her you were hame, +and she was sobbing like a bairn that has been +whipped ere it shut its eyes. I dinna waken her."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Neil went to his room to dress himself. He +felt as if no care and no nicety of apparel could ever +atone for the crumpled disorder of his toilet in the +courtroom, which had added itself so keenly to +his sense of disgrace. Then he must go to Agnes; +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 159]</span> +her brother was his brother, and, though he had +brought such shame and loss on the Semples, still +he must do all he could for him, for the sake of +Agnes. And there was the money to find, and Madame +Jacobus to see! A sense of necessary haste +pressed him like a goad. Not a moment must be +lost, for he felt through every sense of his mortal +and spiritual being that Agnes was calling him.</p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">THE PRICE OF HARRY'S LIFE.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">He</span> heard Agnes calling him, and he resolved to +go at once to her. And never had he looked handsomer +than at this hour, for he had clothed himself +with that rich and rigid propriety he understood so +well while the sense of injustice under which he so +inwardly burned gave to him a haughty dignity, +suiting his grave face and lofty stature to admiration. +He went very softly along the upper corridor +of his home, but Madame heard his step, and opening +her door, said in a whisper:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Your father has fallen asleep, Neil, and much +he needed sleep. Where are you going?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am going back to the court. I wish to know +what has been done in Bradley's case."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Why trouble yourself with other people's business? +The lad has surely given us sorrow enough."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is her brother—I mean——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know who you mean; weel, then, go your way; +neither love nor wisdom will win a hearing from +you on that road."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There is money to be found somewhere, mother. +Until his fine is paid, father will be miserable. I +want to borrow the amount as soon as possible."</p> + +<p class="indent"><i>"Borrow!</i> Has it come to that?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 161]</span> +"It has, for a short time. I think Captain +DeVries will let me have it. He ought to."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He'll do naething o' the kind. I would ask any +other body but him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There are few to ask. I must get it where I +can. Curtis will advance one hundred pounds for +me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"They who go borrowing go sorrowing. I'm +vexed for you, my dear lad. It is the first time I +ever heard tell o' a Semple seeking money not their +ain."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is our own fault, mother. If father and I had +taken your advice and let confiscated property alone +we should have had money to lend to-day; certainly, +we should have been able to help ourselves +out of all difficulties without asking the assistance +of strangers."</p> + +<p class="indent">The confession pleased her. "What you say is +the truth," she answered; "but everybody has a fool +up their sleeve some time in their life. May God +send you help, Neil, for I'm thinking it will hae to +come by His hand; and somehow, I dinna believe +He'll call on Batavius DeVries to gie you it."</p> + +<p class="indent">With these words she retreated into her room, +closing the door noiselessly, and Neil left the house. +As soon as he was in the public road he saw Batavius +standing at his garden gate, smoking and talking +with Cornelius Haring and Adrian Rutgers. They +were discussing Bradley's trouble and the Semples's +connection with it, and Neil felt the spirit of their +conversation. It was not kindly, and as he approached +them Haring and Rutgers walked away. +For a moment Batavius seemed inclined to do the +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 162]</span> +same, but Neil was too near to be avoided without +intentional offense, and he said to himself, "I will +stand still. Out of my own way I will not move, +because Neil Semple comes." So he stolidly continued +to smoke, staring idly before him with a gaze +fixed and ruminating.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Good afternoon, Captain. Are you at liberty +for a few minutes?" asked Neil.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. What then, Mr. Semple? I heard tell, +from my friends, that you are in trouble."</p> + +<p class="indent">"We have been fined because Mr. Bradley's son +used our landing. It is a great injustice, for in this +matter we were as innocent as yourself."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is not the truth, sir. If, like me, you had +boarded in your house a few soldiers, then the care +and the watch would have been their business, not +yours. Those who don't act prudently must feel +the chastisement of the government; but so! I will +have nothing to do with the matter. It is a steady +principle of mine never to interfere in other people's +affairs."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There is no necessity for interference. The case +is settled. My father is fined two hundred pounds, +a most outrageous wrong."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Whoever is good and respectable is not fined by +the government."</p> + +<p class="indent">"In our case there was neither law nor justice. +It was simple robbery."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know not what you mean. The government is +the King, and I do not talk against either King or +government. The Van Emerlies, who are always +sneering at the King, have had to take twenty-seven +per cent. out of the estate of a bankrupt cousin; and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 163]</span> +the Remsens, who are discontented and always full +of complaints, have spoiled their business. God +directs things so that contentment leads to wealth."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was speaking of neither the King nor his government, +but of the Military Police Court."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh! Well, then, I think all the stories I hear +about its greediness and tyranny are downright +lies."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I must, however, assert that this court has been +unjust and tyrannical both to my father and myself."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is your business, not mine."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was in hopes that you would feel differently. +My father has often helped you out of tight places. +I thought at this time you would remember that. +There was that cargo at Perth Amboy, but for my +father, it had gone badly with you!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, yes! I give good for good, but not to my +own cost. People who go against the government +and are in trouble are not my friends. I do not +meddle with affairs that are against the government. +It is dangerous, and I am a husband and a +father, not a fool."</p> + +<p class="indent">"To assist my father for a few days, till I can turn +property into money, is not going against the government."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You will not turn property into money these +days; it is too late. I, who am noted for my prudence, +got rid of all my property at the beginning +of the war; you and your father bought other people's +houses, while I sold mine. So! I was right, +as I always am."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you had no faith in the King's cause, even +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 164]</span> +at the beginning; and I have heard it said you are +not unfriendly now to the rebels."</p> + +<p class="indent"><i>"Ja!</i> I give the Americans a little, quietly. One +must sail as the wind serves; and who can tell which +way it will blow to-morrow? I am a good sailor; +never shall I row against wind and tide. Who am +I, Batavius DeVries, to oppose the government? It +is one of my most sacred principles to obey the government."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then if the Americans succeed, you will obey +their government? Your principles are changeable, +Captain."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is a bad principle not to be able to change your +principles. The world is always changing. I +change with it. That is prudent, for I will not stand +alone, or be left behind. That is my way; your +ways do not suit me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"This talk comes to nothing. To be plain with +you, I want to borrow two hundred pounds for a +month. I hope you will lend it. In the Perth +Amboy matter my father stood for you in a thousand +pounds."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is eaten bread, and your father knew I +could secure the money. I wish I could help Elder +Semple, but it would not be prudent."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Good gracious, sir!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, then, you must keep such words to yourself! +I say it would not be prudent. He has +swamped himself with other men's houses, his business +is decayed, he is old; and you are also in a bad +way and cannot help him, or why do you come +to me?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I can give you good security, good land——"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 165]</span> +"Land! What is good land to me? It will not +be useful in my business. And there is another +thing, you are not particular in your company. I +have heard about your Methodist friends; there is +Vestryman William Ustick, he was a Methodist +servant, and he has become bankrupt; so, then——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You will not repay my father's frequent loans to +you. If your father-in-law, Joris Van Heemskirk, +was here——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am not Joris Van Heemskirk. He is a rebel. I, +who have always been loyal, have made twelve thousand +dollars this last year. Is not that a hint for +me to go on in the right way?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Without waiting for the end of this self-complacent +tirade, Neil went forward. Batavius was only a +broken reed in his hand. Never before in all his +life had he felt such humiliating anxiety. Even +the slipping away of Haring and Rutgers, and the +uncivil refusal of Batavius, were distinctly new and +painful experiences. He felt, through Haring and +Rutgers, the public withdrawal of sympathy and +respect; and through Batavius, the coming bitterness +of the want of ready money. The Semples had +been fined; they were suspects; their names would +now be on the roll of the doubtful, and it would be +bad policy for the generality of citizens to be +friendly with them. And the necessity for borrowing +money revealed poverty, which otherwise they +would have been able to conceal. He knew, also, +that he would have to meet many such rebuffs, and +he was well aware that his own proud temper would +make them a pleasant payment to many whom he +had offended by his exclusiveness.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 166]</span> +As he approached the Bradley house he put all +these bitter thoughts aside. What were they in +comparison with the sorrow Agnes was compelled +to endure? His whole soul went out to the suffering +girl, and he blamed himself for allowing any +hope of Batavius to delay him. The very house +had taken on an air of loneliness and calamity. The +door was closed, the blinds down, and the wintry +frost that had blackened the garden seemed in some +inscrutable way to have touched the dwelling also. +He saw the slave woman belonging to the Bradleys +talking to a group of negroes down the road, and +he did not call her. If Agnes was within, he would +see her; and if her father had returned, they would +probably be together.</p> + +<p class="indent">Thinking thus, he knocked loudly, and then entered +the little hall. All was silent as the grave. +"Agnes! Agnes!" he cried; and the next moment +she appeared at the head of the stairs. "Agnes!" +he cried again, and the word was full of love and +sorrow, as he stretched out his arms to the descending +girl. She was whiter than snow, her eyes were +heavy and dark with weeping, her hair had fallen +down, and she still wore the plain, blue gingham +dress she had put on while Maria was telling her +tragical tale. Yet in spite of these tokens of mental +disturbance, she was encompassed by the serene +stillness of a spirit which had reached the height of +"Thy will be done."</p> + +<p class="indent">When her father left her, smitten afresh by his +anger she had fled to her room, and locking the +door of this sanctuary, she had sat for two hours +astonished, stupefied by the inevitable, speechless +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 167]</span> +and prayerless. Yet while she was musing the +fire burned; she became conscious of that secret +voice in her soul which is the spirit that helpeth our +infirmities, and ere she was aware she began to +pray. It was as if she stood alone in some great +hall of the universe, with an infinite, invisible audience +of spirits watching her. Then the miracle of +the ladder between heaven and earth was renewed, +and angels of help and blessing once more ascended +and descended. An inward, deep, untroubled peace +calmed the struggle of her soul; one by one the +clouds departed and the light steadily grew until +fears were slain, and doubts had become a sure confidence +that</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">Naught should prevail against her or disturb</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Her cheerful faith that all which looked so dark</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Was full of blessing.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p class="indent">She was sitting waiting when she heard Neil's call, +and Oh! how sweet is the voice of love in the hour +of anxious sorrow! She never thought of her appearance +or her dress; she hasted to Neil, and he +folded her to his heart and for the first time touched +her white cheek with his lips. She made no resistance, +it was not an hour for coy withdrawals, and +they understood, amid their silent tears, far more +than any future words could explain.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Neil told her all that had happened, and +when he described John Bradley's open recognition +of his son she smiled proudly and said, "That was +like father. If I had been there I would have done +the same. It is a long time," she said, looking anxiously +at Neil. "Will father soon be home?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 168]</span> +"I expected to find him here. I will go to the +court now; the trial ought to be over."</p> + +<p class="indent">But complications had arisen in what at first +seemed to be a case that proved itself. Harry was +not easily managed. He admitted that he had been +in America for more than three years, but declared +that his father had been totally ignorant of his presence. +When asked where he had dwelt and how he +had employed himself during that time, he gave to +every question the same answer, "I refuse to tell."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then the saddle found in his boat was brought +forward, and he was asked from whom he received +it and to whom he was taking it. And to both these +questions there was the same reply, "I refuse to tell."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is indisputably a Bradley saddle," said the +assistant magistrate, DuBois. "Let John Bradley +identify it."</p> + +<p class="indent">Bradley came forward, looked at the saddle, and +answered, "I made it; every stitch of it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"For whom? Mr. Bradley?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should have few saddles to make if I talked +about my patrons in this place. I refuse to tell for +whom I made it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The court can fine you, sir, for contempt of its +requests."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I would rather pay the fine than bring my +patron's name in question and cause him annoyance."</p> + +<p class="indent">There was considerable legal fencing on this subject, +but nothing gained; a parcel also found in the +boat was opened and its contents spread out for +examination. They consisted of a piece of damasse +for a lady's gown, some lace, two pairs of silk +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 169]</span> +stockings, two pairs of gloves, some ribbon, and a +fan that had been mended. Everything in this parcel +was obviously intended for a woman, but Harry +was as obdurately noncommittal as he had been +about the saddle. Nothing could be gained by continuing +an examination so one-sided, and the next +witness called was Captain Quentin Macpherson. +He came forward with more than his usual haughty +clangor, and was first asked if he had ever seen the +prisoner before.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes," he answered, "for about half an hour yesterday +evening, say, between half-past seven and +eight o'clock."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Did you have any conversation with him?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Very little. When I began to question him +about his residence he rose and went away."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Who else was present?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Miss Bradley and Miss Semple."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Tell the court what occurred when the prisoner +left."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Miss Bradley went to the gate with him, Miss +Semple remained with me. I noticed that she was +anxious, and found my company disagreeable; and +suddenly she excused herself and left the room. As +she did so a pebble was thrown through the window, +it fell at my feet; a note was wrapped round +it, and I read the note."</p> + +<p class="indent">There was a low <i>hiss-s-s-s!</i> at these words, which +pervaded the whole room. Macpherson waited +until it had subsided, and then in a loud, defiant +voice repeated his last sentence, "I read the note, +and acted upon it."</p> + +<p class="indent">The note was then handed to him, and he positively +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 170]</span> +recognized it, and as it was not his note, nor +intended for him, he was unable to protest against +DuBois's reading it aloud. It made a pleasant impression. +Men looked at the boy prisoner sympathetically, +and a little scornful laugh pointed the +epithet <i>"that Scot!"</i> which infuriated Macpherson.</p> + +<p class="indent">In this favorable atmosphere Mr. Curtis rose, and +sarcastically advised Judge Matthews that it was +"evident the posse of Highland soldiers had been +called out to prevent a lovers' tryst and satisfy the +wounded vanity or jealousy of Captain Macpherson." +The soldier glared at the lawyer, and the +lawyer smiled and nodded at the audience, as if telling +them a secret; and it really seemed possible for +a minute or two that Harry might escape through +the never-failing sympathy that lovers draw to +themselves.</p> + +<p class="indent">Unfortunately, at this moment a man entered +with a shabby-looking little book, and Harry's face +showed an unmistakable anxiety.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What is the purport of this interruption?" asked +DuBois as the volume was handed to him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"This book fell from the prisoner's jacket last +night and John VanBrunt, the jailor, picked it up. +This morning he noticed that it had been freshly +bound, and he ripped open the leather and found +this letter between the boards."</p> + +<p class="indent">The letter was eagerly examined, but it was in +cipher and nothing could be made of it. One thing, +however, instantly struck Judge Matthews; it was +written on paper presumably only to be obtained in +the Commander-in-Chief's quarters. This discovery +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 171]</span> +caused the greatest sensation, and Harry was +angrily questioned as to how the letter got inside the +binding of a book he was carrying.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The book is one of my schoolbooks," said +Harry. "I am a poor counter, and it is, as you see, +a Ready Reckoner. I use its tables in my business +calculations constantly; it was falling to pieces, and +a friend offered to bind it afresh for me. As for +the letter, I did not put it there. I do not know +who put it there. I do not know a word of its meaning. +It may be an old puzzle, put there for want +of a better piece of paper. That is all I can tell."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You can tell the name of the friend who rebound +your book?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, I cannot."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Will not, you mean?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"As you say."</p> + +<p class="indent">A recess was taken at this point of the examination, +and the Judges retired to consider what ought +to be done. "The letter must, of course, be laid +before General Clinton at once," said DuBois; "and +as for the prisoner, there can now be no doubt of his +treason. I am in favor of hanging him at sunset +to-day."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think," answered Matthews, "we had better +give the young man a day to tell us what he knows. +This letter proves that there are worse traitors, and +more powerful ones, behind him. It is our duty to +at least try and reach them through their emissary."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He will never tell."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The shadow of the gallows is a great persuader. +This cipher message is a most important affair. I +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 172]</span> +propose to make the sentence of death to-morrow at +sunset, with the promise of life if he gives us the information +we want."</p> + +<p class="indent">Matthews carried his point, and Neil Semple +arrived at the court house just as the sentence in +accord with this opinion was pronounced. Harry +hardly appeared to notice it; his gaze was fixed upon +his father. The words had transfigured, not petrified him. +His soul was at his eyes, and that fiery +particle went through those on whom he looked and +infected them with fear or with sympathy. He had +risen to his feet when his son did, and every one +looked at him, rather than at the prisoner. For +mental, or spiritual, stature is as real a thing as +physical; and in the day of trial this large-souled +man, far from shrinking, appeared to grow more +imposing. He had a look about him of a mountain +among hills. The accepted son of a divine Father, +he knew himself to be of celestial race, and he +scorned the sentence of shameful death that had +fallen from the lips of man upon his only son.</p> + +<p class="indent">As he turned to the door he smiled bravely on +Harry, and his smile was full of promise. He declined +all help from both Medway and Semple, and +was almost the first to leave the room. The crowd +fell away from him as he passed; though he neither +spoke nor moved his hands, it fell away as if he +pushed it aside. Yet it was a pitiful, friendly +crowd; not a man in it but would have gladly helped +him to save his boy's life.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What will he do?" asked Medway of his companion.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I cannot tell," answered Semple. "He has some +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 173]</span> +purpose, for he walks like a man who knows what +he intends and is in a hurry to perform it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"This is a very bad case. I see not how, in any +ordinary way, the young man can be saved. You +are a lawyer, what think you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Unless there are extraordinary ways of helping +him; there are no ordinary ones. He is undoubtedly +a rebel spy. Any court, either police or court-martial, +would consider his life justifiably forfeit."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Have you any influence, secret or open?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"None whatever. If I had, we should not have +been fined. Bradley may have, but I doubt it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think he has. Men are not silent and observant +year after year for nothing. But we must not trust +to Bradley. Can I see Miss Semple at seven o'clock +this evening? I know, madame your mother is +averse to Englishmen, but in this case——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Miss Semple will certainly see you."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then the young men parted and Neil returned +to his home, for he did not dare to intrude his presence +at that hour between the distressed father and +daughter. It was hard enough to have Maria to +meet; and the moment she heard his step she came +weeping to him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Tell me, Uncle Neil," she cried, "what have they +done to Harry? I am sick with suspense. Are +they going to kill—to hang him?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Her voice had sunk to a terrified whisper, and he +looked pitifully at her and drew her within his embrace. +"My dear Maria!" then his lips refused +to say more, and he suffered his silence to confirm +her worst fears. After a few moments he +added:</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 174]</span> +"His only hope is in Lord Medway's influence. I +think Medway may do something."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh!" she sobbed "if he can only save his life! I +would be content never to see him again! Only ask +him to save his life. If Harry is killed I shall feel +like a murderer as long as I live. I shall not dare +to look at myself, no one will want to look at me. +I shall die of grief and shame! Uncle, pity me! pity +me!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"My dear Maria, it is not your fault."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is, it is! He took his life in his hand just to +see me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He was a selfish fool to do such a thing. See +what misery he has made. It is his own fault and +folly."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Every one will despise me. I cannot bear it. +People will say, 'She deserves it all. Why did she +meet the young man unknown to her friends? See +what she has done to her grandparents and her +uncle.' People like Captain DeVries will frown at +me and cross the street; and their wives and children +will go into their houses when I come near and +peep at me through the windows, and the mothers +will say, 'Look at her! look at her! She brought a +fine young man to the gallows, and her friends +to shame and poverty.' Uncle, how am I to +bear it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think, my poor child, Lord Medway has some +plan. Money unbars all doors but heaven's, and +Medway has plenty of money. Besides, General +Clinton is easily moved by him. I do not think Clinton +will refuse Medway anything; certainly not, if +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 175]</span> +Harry will tell who wrote the cipher message he was +carrying."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But Harry will not tell, will he?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I feel sure he will not."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If he did, he would deserve to die. I would not +shed a tear for him. As for Quentin Macpherson!—I +wish that I was a man. I would cut his tongue +out."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I would, truly. Then I would flog him to +death."</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil's dark face flushed crimson; his fingers +twitched; he looked with approval and admiration +at the passionate girl. "One hundred years ago—in +Scotland," he said, "I would have answered, 'Yes! +He deserves it! I will do it for you!'"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is so wretched to be a woman! You can go +out, see for yourself, hear for yourself; a girl can +only suffer. Hour after hour, all night long, all +day long, I have walked the floor in misery. How +does Agnes bear it? She was cross, and sent me +away this morning."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She looks very ill; but she is calm, and not without +hope. She has spoken to God and been comforted. +Can you not do so?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No. I am not Agnes. I cannot pray. I want +to <i>do</i> something. Oh, dear me! all this shame and +sorrow because I had a little love-making with her +brother and we did not tell the whole town about it. +It is too great a punishment! It is not just +nor kind. What wrong have I done? Yet how +I have to suffer! No, I cannot pray, but if I can +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 176]</span> +<i>do</i> anything, see any one, be of any earthly help or +use——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think Medway has some scheme, if Clinton +should fail, and that this scheme requires a woman's +help."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I hope it does! I hope it does! I will run any +risk."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Medway is coming here at seven o'clock. He +wishes distinctly to see you. Run what risk you +choose. I am not afraid of you. Nothing will +make you forget you are Maria Semple."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Thank you, Uncle Neil. Lord Medway and I +have always been good friends. He will not ask +me to do anything wrong; and if he did, I would +not do it."</p> + +<p class="indent">The prospect of his visit somewhat soothed +Maria. Though Medway had never said a word +of love to her, she knew she was adorable in his +eyes as well as she knew the fact of her own existence. +Women need no formal declarations; they +have considered a lover's case and decided it many +a time before he comes to actual confession. In her +great trouble she hoped to find this love sufficient +in some way for the alleviation of Harry's desperate +position. But though she really was in the greatest +sorrow, she was not oblivious to her beauty. She +knew if she had a favor to ask, it was the best reason +she had to offer. So, as the hour approached, she +bathed her face and put on the <i>negligée</i> of scarlet +silk, which was one of her most becoming house +costumes. She thought her intentional, pleasing +carelessness of dress would only be noticed in +its effect; but Lord Medway was much in love, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 177]</span> +and love is an occult teacher. He noticed at once +the studied effort to make grief attractive—the +glowing silk of her gown, the bronze slippers, the +bewitching abandon of her dark, curling hair +against the amber cushion of the chair on which +she sat. And though he had an astonishing plan +for Harry's life to propose, Maria's careful negligence +gave him hope and courage. For if he +had been quite indifferent to her, she would have +been more indifferent to the dress she was to meet +him in.</p> + +<p class="indent">Nothing else in her surroundings spoke of love +or happiness. The best parlor had been opened for +his reception; but the few sticks of wood sobbed and +sung wearily on the cold hearth, and the room was +chill and half-lighted and full of shadows. He noticed, +nothing, however, but the lovely girl who came +to meet him as he entered it, and who, even in the +gloom, showed signs of the violent grief which she +soon ceased to restrain. For his tenderness loosed +afresh all her complaining; and he encouraged her +to open her heart, and to weep with that passionate +abandon youth finds comfort in. But when she +was weary and had sobbed herself into silence he +said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Miss Semple—may I call you Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, if you will be my friend, if you will help +me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am your friend, and if there is help in man I +will get it for you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I want Harry's life; he risked it for me. If +they kill him, all my days I shall see that sight and +feel that horror. I shall go mad, or die."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 178]</span> +"Would you be content if I saved his life? He +may be sent to prison."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There is hope in that. I could bear it better."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He will certainly be forbidden to come near New +York, for——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Only let him live."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is without doubt a rebel."</p> + +<p class="indent">"So am I, from this day forth."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And a spy."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I wish I could be one. There is nothing I would +not tell."</p> + +<p class="indent">He looked at her with the unreasoning adoration +of a lover; then taking her cold hands between his +own, he said in a slow, fervent voice:</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you will promise to marry me, I will save the +young man's life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You are taking advantage of my trouble."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know I am. A man who loves as I do must +make all events go to further his love."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I love Harry Bradley."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You think so. If you had met him under ordinary +circumstances you would not have looked twice +at him. It was the romance, the secrecy, the danger, +the stolen minutes—all that kind of thing. +There is no root in such love."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I shall never cease to love Harry."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will teach you to forget him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, no! How can you ask me in an hour like +this? It is cruel."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Love is cruel. Sooner or later love wounds; for +love is selfish. I want you for my wife, Maria. I +put aside so," and he swept his hand outward, +"everything that comes in the way."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 179]</span> +"You want to buy me! You say plainly, 'I will +give you your lover's life for yourself.' I cannot +listen to you!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Be sensible, Maria. This infatuation for a rebel +spy is infatuation. There is nothing real to it. If +the war were over, and you saw young Bradley helping +his father in his shop and going about in ordinary +clothes about ordinary business, you would +wonder what possessed you ever to have fancied +yourself in love with him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, but you are mistaken!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You would say to yourself, 'I wish I had listened +to Ernest Medway. He would have taken me all +over the happy, beautiful world, to every lovely +land, to every splendid court. He would have surrounded +me with a love that no trouble could put +aside; he would have given me all that wealth can +buy; he would have loved me more and more until +the very last moment of my life, and followed me +beyond life with longings that would soon have +brought us together again.' Yes, Maria, that is +how I love you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Harry loves me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not he! If he had loved you he would not, for +his own pleasure, have run any risk of giving you +this trouble. What did I say? Love is selfish, love +wounds——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You wound me. You are selfish."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am. I love you. You seemed to belong to +me that first hour I saw you. I will not give you +up."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you really loved me, if you were really noble, +you would save Harry without any conditions."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 180]</span> +"Perhaps. I am not really noble. I can't trust +such fine sentiments. They will lead, I know not +where, only away from you. I tell you plainly, I +will save the young fellow's life, if it be possible, +on condition that you promise to marry me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am not eighteen years old yet."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will wait any reasonable time."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Till the end of the war?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, provided it is over when you are twenty-one."</p> + +<p class="indent">She pondered this answer, looking up covertly a +moment at the handsome, determined face watching +her. Three years held innumerable possibilities. +It was a period very far away. Lord Medway +might have ceased to love her before it was over; +he might have fallen in love with some other girl. +He might die; she might die; the wide Atlantic +ocean might be between them. The chances were +many in her favor. She remained silent, considering +them, and Medway watched with a curious devotion +the expressions flitting across her face.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Think well, Maria," he said at last, letting her +hands drop gently from his own. "Remember that +I shall hold you to every letter of your promise. Do +not try to make yourself believe that if Bradley escapes +and you come weeping and entreating to me +I shall give way. <i>I shall not.</i> I want to be very +plain with you. I insist that you understand, Harry +Bradley is to be given up finally and forever. He +is to have no more to do with your life. I am planning +for <i>our</i> future; I do not think of him at all. +When he leaves New York to-morrow he must be +to you as if he had never been."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 181]</span> +"Suppose I do not promise to marry you, what +then?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nothing. I shall go away till you want me, +and send for me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And not even try to save Harry's life? Not +even try?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Why should I? Better men than Harry Bradley +have died in the same cause."</p> + +<p class="indent">She rose and walked across the room a few times, +and then, being cold, came back to the fire, knelt on +the rug and warmed her hands. He watched her +intently, but did not speak. She was trying to find +something which should atone to her better self for +such a contract. It came with the thought of Harry's +father and Agnes. For their sakes, she ought to do +all she could. Harry, for her sake, had taken his life +in his hand and forfeited it; surely, then, it was right +that she, having the power to do so, should redeem +it. Better that he should live for others than +die for her. Better that she should lose him in the +living world than in the silent grave. Through +Agnes she would hear of his comings and goings, +his prosperity, and his happiness; but there would +come no word to her from the dead whether at all +he lived and loved, or not. With a quick, decisive +motion she rose and looked at the man who was +waiting in such motionless, but eager, silence.</p> + +<p class="indent">"A life for a life!" she said simply, offering Medway +her hand.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You mean that you will be my wife?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. I will marry you when the war is over."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 182]</span> +"Or when you are twenty-one, even if it be not +over?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Now, then," he said, "you are my betrothed;" +and he drew her within his arm. "My honor, my +hopes, my happiness, are in your hands."</p> + +<p class="indent">"They are safe. Though I am only a girl, I know +what my promise means. I shall keep it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I believe you. And you will love me? You will +learn to love me, Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will do my best to make you happy, you ought +not to ask more."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Very well." He looked at her with a new and +delightful interest. She was his own, her promise +had been given. He could, indeed, tell by her eyes,—languid, +but obstinately masterful—that she +would not be easily won, but he did not dislike that; +he would conquer her by the strength of his own +love; he would make her understand what love really +meant. Still, he felt that for the present it would +be better to go away, so he said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"You shall hear from me as soon as possible. +Try and sleep, my dear one. You may tell yourself, +'Ernest is doing all that can be done.'" Then +he took her hands and kissed them, and in a moment +she was alone. Her heart was heavy as lead, +and she was cold and trembling, but she was no +longer in the shadow of Death. Medway's face, +turned to her in the semi-darkness of the open door, +was full of hope; and there was an atmosphere of +power about the man which assured her of success; +but she truly felt at that hour as if it was bought +with her life. She was in the dungeon of despair; +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 183]</span> +there seemed nothing to hope for, nothing to desire, +in all the to-morrows of the years before her. "And +I may have sixty years to live," she moaned; for +youth exaggerates every feeling, and would be +grieved to believe that its sorrows were not immortal.</p> + +<p class="indent">She pushed the dying fire safely together, looked +mournfully round the darksome room, closed and +locked the door. Then Neil came toward her and +asked if Lord Medway could do anything, and she +answered, "He can save Harry's life; he has promised +that. I suppose he will be imprisoned, but his +life is saved. What did grandmother say about +Lord Medway being here?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"She has never been down stairs. She does not +know he was here."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then we will not tell her. What is the use?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"None at all. Father and mother have their own +trouble. They are very anxious and almost broken-hearted +at the indignity put upon our family. I +heard my father crying as I passed his door and +mother trying to comfort him, but crying, too. It +made my heart stand still."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is my fault! It is my fault! Oh! what a +wicked, miserable girl I am! What can I do? What +can I do?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Try and sleep, and get a little strength for tomorrow. +Within the next twenty-four hours Harry +Bradley will be saved or dead."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think he is saved. I am sure of it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then try and sleep; will you try, Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="indent">She said the word with a hopeless indifference, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 184]</span> +half nullifying the promise. Then, lighting her +candle, she went slowly to her room. Oh, but the +joy that is dead weighs heavy! Maria could hardly +trail her body upstairs. Her life felt haggard and +thin, as if it was in its eleventh hour; and she was +too physically exhausted to stretch out her hand into +the dark and find the clasp of that Unseen Hand +always waiting the hour of need, strong to uphold, +and ready to comfort. No, she could not pray; +she had lost Harry: there was nothing else she desired. +In her room there was a picture of the crucifixion, +and she cast her eyes up to the Christ hanging +there, forsaken in the dark, and wondered if He +pitied her, but the pang of unpermitted prayer made +her dumb in her lonely grief.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">Alas, God Christ! along the weary lands,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">What lone, invisible Calvaries are set!</span><br /> +<span class="i0">What drooping brows with dews of anguish wet,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">What faint outspreading of unwilling hands</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Bound to a viewless cross, with viewless bands.</span><br /> +</div> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">THE HELP OF JACOB COHEN.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">On</span> leaving Maria, Lord Medway went straight +to his friend General Clinton. He had just dined, +and having taken much wine, was bland and good-tempered. +Medway's entrance delighted him. "I +have had my orderly riding about for a couple of +hours looking for you," he said. "Where have you +been Ernest? My dinner wanted flavor without +you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have been seeing some people about this son of +Bradley's that the Police Court has in its clutches. +By-the-bye, why don't you put a stop to its infamous +blackmailing? As a court, it is only a part of +Howe's treachery, formed for the very purpose of +extortion, and of bringing His Majesty's Government +into disrepute. Abolish the whole affair, +Henry. You are court sufficient, in a city under +martial law."</p> + +<p class="indent">"All you say is true, Ernest, and there is no doubt +that Matthews and DuBois and the rest of them are +the worst of oppressors. But I am expected to subjugate +the whole South this winter, and I must leave +New York in three or four weeks now."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The Government expects miracles of you, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 186]</span> +Henry; but if military miracles are possible, you +are the soldier to work them. I have found out to-day +why you are not more popular; it is this Police +Court, and they call it a <i>Military</i> Police Court, I believe; +and all its tyrannies are laid to you because +your predecessor instituted it. They might as well +lay Howe's love for rebels to you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Speaking of rebels, I hear most suspicious things +of Bradley's son. In fact, he is a spy. Matthews +tells me that he ought to have been hung to-day. +There is something unusual about the affair and I +wanted to talk to you concerning it. Bradley himself +has been here and said things that have made +me uncomfortable—you know how he brings the +next world into this one; Smith has been here, also, +asking me to pardon the fellow, because the feeling +in the city about Tryon's doings in Connecticut is +yet like smoldering fire in the hearts of the burghers. +Powell has been here asking me to pardon, +because the spy's father has a thousand bridles to +make for the troops going South, and he thinks +hanging the youth would kill his father, or at least +incapacitate him for work, and Rivington has just +left, vowing he will not answer for consequences if +his newspaper does not sympathize with the Bradleys. +If Bradley's son had been the arch-rebel's +son, there could hardly have been more petitions for +his life. I don't understand the case. What do +you say?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"That Matthews and DuBois have made a tremendous +blunder in fining the Semples for disloyalty +in the matter. I will warrant the Semples' loyalty +with my own."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 187]</span> +"So would I. It is indisputable."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yet the Elder has been fined two hundred +pounds, and Mr. Neil Semple one hundred pounds, +because Bradley's son tied his boat at their landing; +a fact they were as ignorant of as you or I. And +you get the blame and ill-will of such tyranny, +Henry. It is shameful!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is," answered Clinton in a tone of self-pity; +"the boat, however, was full of goods, about which +the young man would say nothing at all."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Women's bits of lace and ribbons; a mended +fan, and some gloves and stockings."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There was also a Bradley saddle."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, Bradley acknowledged it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then father or son ought to have given information +about it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was their business; and if either you or I +were brought before such an irresponsible court and +such autocratic judges, I dare say we should consider +silence our most practical weapon of defense. +In Harry Bradley's position, I should have acted +precisely as he did. The whole affair resolves itself +into a lovers' tryst; the lad would not give the lady +a disagreeable publicity; he would die first. You +yourself would shield any good woman with your +life, Henry, you know you would."</p> + +<p class="indent">And Clinton thought of the bewitching Mrs. +Badely and the lovely Miss Blundell, and answered +with an amazing air of chivalry, "Indeed I would!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Have you ever noticed a Captain Macpherson, +belonging to your own Highland regiment?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Who could help noticing him? He is always the +most prominent figure in every room."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 188]</span> +"He will be so no longer. He was almost hissed +out of court to-day, and I was told the demonstrations +on the street sent him stamping and swearing +to his quarters. Well, he is the villain of this pitiful +little drama. The heroine is that lovely granddaughter +of Semples."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know her; a little darling! and as good as she +is beautiful."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Medway, with an inimitable scornful mimicry +told the story of the pebble and the note, the +alarm of the Highland troops, the arrest of the +Elder and his son, the subsequent proceedings in +court, the sympathy of the people with the Semples, +and the contempt which no one tried to conceal for +the informer. Then, changing his voice and attitude, +he described Bradley's speechless grief, the +Semple's wounded loyalty and indignation, and finally +the passionate sorrow of the mistress and sister +of the doomed man.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is the most pitiful story of the age," he continued, +"and if I were you, Henry, I would not permit +civilians to usurp the power you ought to hold +in your own hand. You have to bear the blame of +all the crimes committed by this infamous court. +Pardon the prisoner with a stroke of your pen, if +only to put these fellows in their proper place."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But there was a cipher message in his possession—here +it is. It was in the binding of a book he carried +in his pocket."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He says he did not put it there. No one can +read it. If you found a letter in the Babylonish +speech, would you hang a man because you could not +read the message he carried!"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 189]</span> +"Special pleading, Ernest. And he ought to have +told who rebound the book, and to whom he was +carrying it. The paper on which the cipher is written +is my paper. Some one, not far from me, must +have taken it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Suppose you question Smith?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you intend to say that Smith is a traitor?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I say, ask Smith. I have no doubt he can read +the Babylonish for you—if he will."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You alarm me. Am I surrounded by enemies?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think you have many round you. I have +warned you often. My advice to you at this time is +to pardon young Bradley."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Why are you taking such an interest in young +Bradley?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have no secrets from you, he is my rival."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Preposterous! How could he rival you in anything?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yet he is my rival in the affections of Maria +Semple."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then let him hang! He will be out of your +way."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, he would be forever in my way. She would +idolize him, make him a hero and a saint, and worship +him in some secret shrine of memory as long as +she lives. I am going to marry her, and I want no +secret shrines. He is a very good-looking, ordinary +young man; only the circumstances of the time lifted +him out of the average and the commonplace. Let +him go scot free that he may find his level which is +far below the horizon of my peerless Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't think I can let him go 'scot free,' Ernest. +I should offend many if I did, and it would be made +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 190]</span> +a precedent; suppose I imprison him during the continuance +of the war!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is too romantic. Maria would haunt the +prison and contrive some way of communication. +He would still be her hero and her lover."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And you will marry this infatuated girl?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, a thousand times, yes! Her love for that +boy is mere sentiment. I will teach her what love +really means. She has promised to marry me—if I +save Harry Bradley's life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I never saw you taken so with any woman before."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I never cared for a woman before. The moment +I saw Maria Semple it was different. I knew +that she belonged to me. Henry, you are my best +friend, give me my wife; no one but you can do so."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ernest! Ernest! You ask a great thing."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not too great for you to grant. You have the +will and you have the power. Are you not going +to make me happy, Henry?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Privately, it would be a delight to humor you, +Ernest; but officially, what am I to say to Matthews, +DuBois and others."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Tell them, that as a matter of military policy, +you wish the prisoner released. Why should you +make explanations to them? Oh, they are such +courtiers, they will smile and do all you wish. You +are above their rascally court; reverse their decision +in this affair and show them your power. Believe me, +it will be, politically, a wise step."</p> + +<p class="indent">There was silence for a few moments, and then +Clinton said: "I am sorry for the Semples. I like +them both, and there is something about the saddler +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 191]</span> +that sets him above other men. But it would not be +right to let this young spy—for he is a spy—off, +without some punishment."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think that is right."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He must be told that he will be shot on sight if +he enters New York again."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He will deserve it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And I will have him drummed out of the city +as a rogue and a suspect. We will make no hero of +him—quite the contrary."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I oppose nothing of that kind. I ask for his life +and his freedom, because he stands between Maria +Semple and myself. If I wanted any other reason, +because I thoroughly respect his father, and am on +excellent terms with his sister, who has been very +hospitable to me and who is a remarkable girl. It +has troubled me to-day to remember her lonely sorrow +and anxiety."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You have given me three good reasons for granting +your request, and have omitted the strongest of +all, Ernest."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What is that, Henry?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"That I love you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And I love you. You have always been like a +big brother to me; always petted me and humored +my desires."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, then, I will see Matthews and DuBois +in the morning."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Send for them here to-night. If their court is +a Military Police Court, you are Commander-in-Chief."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Right! I will send for them. It is only about +nine o'clock."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 192]</span> +"And you will insist that the prisoner be given his +life and freedom—nothing less?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I give you my word for it. But I will have him +punished as I said. He must be prevented from +coming to New York again. This kind of thing +can not happen twice."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know. If words could thank you, Henry, I +would say them."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nonsense, Ernest; what are words between us? +We know each other's heart;" then he laid his arm +across his friend's shoulder and their hands clasped; +there was no need of words.</p> + +<p class="indent">Very early in the morning Maria and Agnes received +the good tidings. Maria was asleep when +Medway's letter, with a basket of hot-house fruit +was brought to her. Agnes was making her father's +coffee, and they both looked at the unexpected +letter with a fearful anticipation. But as soon as +Agnes glanced at it, she perceived that it brought +good news, and she gave it to her father. She could +not speak, and for a few minutes Bradley was +equally silent. Not that they were ungrateful, oh, +no! They were only inarticulate. They had a +gratitude so deep and holy that they had no words +with which to express it; and when the happy father +found speech, it was weak and tremulous as +that of a man in the last extremity. <i>"I was brought +low, and He helped me!"</i> That was all, but he +stood up, steadying himself by his chair, and uttered +the verse with a reverence and holy joy that no language +can describe.</p> + +<p class="indent">In a little while he began to talk to his daughter. +"I knew God would not fail me," he said. "Yesterday +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 193]</span> +afternoon I did all I could, and then I left the +rest with Him. I saw General Clinton and said a +few words which he could not gainsay. I saw +Smith, and told him plainly if Harry died, he +should translate that cypher message to the Commander-in-Chief. +I saw Powell, and many others, +whom <i>I hold at my mercy</i>, and they know <i>that</i> now, +if they never knew it before. Andrews left New +York an hour after I saw him; he is a fearful creature +and he believed I would speak, though Harry +had been silent; well, I must see the boy as soon as +possible, there is certain to be some difficulty that +only gold can overcome. I hope they will not imprison +him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Lord Medway says, he will be set free."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Thank God!"</p> + +<p class="indent">He rose with the words and Agnes brought him +his top-coat. Then, as they stood face to face, she +was shocked at the ravage thirty hours of travail in +the shadow of death had made on him. "Father," +she said, "oh, father, forgive me! I did wrong to +deceive you! I did wrong!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, my girl, you did wrong; and nothing right +can come from wrong; but Agnes, I have been +worse than you. I, also, have been living a deceitful +life, thinking that the end justified the means. +I set you the example. Your fault is my fault. We +have both been trying to do the right thing in <i>our +own way</i>. We have been patriots, as Nicodemus +was a Christian—by night. That is wrong. We +must do right first hand, not second hand. From +this hour that kind of thing will be sinning with our +eyes open; it will be looking God's Commandments +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 194]</span> +in the face, and then breaking them. Do you understand, +Agnes?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Then he went away, and Agnes tried to turn to +her household duties. She wondered if Maria +would come and see her or if she ought to go to +Maria, and while she was debating the question +Neil called. He was much depressed. The good +news about Harry only affected him through Agnes, +and he was very anxious about his father, who was +in a high fever and was constantly talking of his +fine and his inability to pay it. "Maybe I'll hae to +go to prison for the debt," was his constant cry, and +Neil felt that his father's fine must be satisfied, no +matter at what cost. So it was a troubled little +visit; the day before each was so uncertain, so full +of probabilities which the slightest momentum might +divert to either joy or sorrow. They could not feel +that their congratulations were full ripe; something +might yet happen to destroy their hopes.</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil went first to his office. He found Mr. Curtis +preparing for the court, and as yet unaware of +the decision in Harry's case; "but it is a great piece +of good luck for the young scamp," he said, when +Neil told him, "for he's a spy, if ever there was one. +I have no doubt he deserves death, fifty times over."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have no doubt there are fifty men in New York +who deserve it more than he does—men of power +and prominence."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I would keep such observations to myself, Neil. +Your father is far too outspoken and he is paying +for it now."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I hope my father will never be less outspoken."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, as I say, he has to pay for his opinions. +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 195]</span> +He has two hundred pounds to pay, but then he had +his two hundred pounds worth of fault-finding."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What do you mean, Curtis?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Don't you remember how imprudently he spoke +about Mr. Hulen's imprisonment?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He said nothing but the truth. Mr. Hulens is +the most loyal of gentlemen, but because he was not +sufficiently polite to a town major, he was imprisoned +with felons and vagabonds and afterward compelled +to publicly apologize. It was an infamous +wrong."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Precisely what the Elder said. It has not been +forgotten."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There were the two De Lanceys——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, to be sure! And why did he trouble himself +about them? There are enough of De Lanceys +to look after De Lanceys."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The injustice of the affair was every man's business. +These two De Lanceys were private gentlemen, +who, because they had some words with a German chasseur, +were seized in their homes and tried +by court-martial—though they had no connection +whatever with the army: at the worst it was a simple assault, +the most trifling offense the civil law +notices, yet the De Lanceys were degraded and imprisoned +for two months, and then compelled to beg +this German mercenary's pardon before all the +troops at Kingsbridge. Remember Mr. Hicks, +turned out of his hotel by General Patterson at the +request of that unmentionable creature Loring—because +Loring wanted it for one of his parasites. Remember +poor Amberman, the miller at Hempstead, +who, because he asked Major Stockton for payment +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 196]</span> +for the flour he had bought, was nearly flogged to +death, and then run through with Major Crew's +sword, and kicked out of the way—dead. Nothing +was done to Stockton; I met him on the street an +hour ago, still an officer in His Majesty's service. I +could add one hundred examples to these—but what +is the use? And why are we lawyers? There is no +law. The will of any military officer is the law."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Still we are lawyers, Neil; and special counselors +to three of the commissaries."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I shall not be counselor much longer. I am going +to write my resignation now."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Are you mad? These fees are about all the +ready money we make."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should deserve to be called mad, or worse, if I +continued to serve a government which had just +fined me for not being careful of its interests."</p> + +<p class="indent">"For Heaven's sake, don't throw hundreds a year +away for a figment!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Honor is something more than a figment. But +you had better go to court early this morning. +When you come back, I want you to let me have two +hundred pounds until I can sell some property."</p> + +<p class="indent">Curtis burst into a loud laugh: "I could not let +you have two hundred shillings," he said. "Good +gracious, Neil, how can you suppose I have money +to spare?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know you have money, but if you are averse +to lending it, that is a different thing. I thought +you might have some memory of all I have done for +you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have. Of course I have. You have put thousands +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 197]</span> +of pounds in my way; I don't deny or forget +it, but I have a family——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I understand. I wish you would hasten about +Bradley's case. His father will be expected to pay +for their service."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I suppose his case is settled. I am sorry he has +got off—deuced sorry! A saucy youth who looked +defiance at his betters all the time."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Were they his betters?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He ought to be hung!" And he went on talking +rapidly about Bradley's deserts. Neil knew the +bluster was affected in order to prevent recurrence to +the subject of money, and with a heart hot and +wounded he sat down to write his resignation of the +offices which were his principal support. Curtis was +disconcerted and uneasy, and his last words on leaving +the office were an entreaty to Neil to do "nothing +foolish and hasty." But the papers were written, +and then he took himself to the proper departments.</p> + +<p class="indent">He was woefully unhappy. His father's and +mother's condition made his strong heart tremble, +and though no one could have supposed from his appearance +that he had a single care, the sudden falling +away of his friends and acquaintances wounded him +like a sword.</p> + +<p class="indent">As he walked the streets, so gravely erect, so +haughtily apart, he was made to feel, in many ways, +that he had lost in public estimation. No one took +the trouble to ask him a favor or stopped to seek his +opinion, or told him bits of gossip about events transpiring. +He was classed with the Bradleys. The +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 198]</span> +Misses Robertson passed him with the most formal +of recognitions; Miss Smith did not notice him at +all, while Joris Van Emerslie, who had taken his +advice the previous week about the sale of his business, +crossed the street to avoid him.</p> + +<p class="indent">Friends were not far behind enemies. As he +stood a moment on the steps of the barracks commissary, +Judge Lawson, an old man and an intimate +acquaintance of the Semples, stopped and said, +"Good-morning, Neil. I am glad to see you here. +I heard Cornelius Bloch had asked for your position +and was likely to get it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I did not resign my position, Judge, until five +minutes ago. The commissioners have not yet received +it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Very true, but every one knew you must resign—the +servants of the King must be above suspicion, +eh?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Suspicion, sir!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Now, now, Neil! You must keep your temper +for younger men; I am too old to be bluffed."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Neil walked silently away, and the old +friend of the family watched him with a queer mingling +of pity and satisfaction. "Proud creatures, +them Semples, old and young," he muttered; "but +good, true hearts in them, I'm half sorry for Neil, +he was always ready to do me a kindness; but a little +pull-down won't hurt him, he carries his head too +high for anything."</p> + +<p class="indent">But high as Neil carried his head, his heart was +in the depths. It seemed to him that all the fair, +honorable life he had built was falling into ruin. +He needed now both help and sympathy, and his +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 199]</span> +friends looked coldly upon him, or took the same reproving +tone as the self-righteous comforters of the +man of Uz. Full of bitter thoughts he was walking +down Queen Street, when he heard a soft, familiar +voice, almost at his ear, say, "Mr. Semple! Honored +sir, will you speak to me for a few minutes?" +He looked up quickly, and saw that he was close to +the doorstep of Jacob Cohen, the Jewish dealer in +fine furniture, china, jewelry, etc.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Certainly, Mr. Cohen," he answered, as he +stepped inside the gloomy warehouse, crowded with +articles of great beauty and astonishing value.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Will you sit here, if you please, sir," and Cohen +drew a large stool forward for Neil; "I must +not detain you, your time is worth much money, +many people wish to buy it, but it is land I would +buy, if you will sell it to me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Land, Mr. Cohen! Perhaps a house——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, it is the land you own next to our synagogue. +If you will remember, I had it in my heart +to buy this plot of ground six years ago. I thought +then we could build a larger temple, one more +worthy for our worship; but we did not reach agreement +at that time and then came the war. I offered +you then, four hundred pounds for the land; to-day +I make you the same offer if you will take it."</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil's emotion was almost beyond his control. +For a few minutes he could not answer the proposition, +but Cohen had the patience of the Jew, and he +divined the young man's agitation and mental +tremor. Silent and motionless he waited for Neil's +reply. It came strained and hesitating, as if speech +was an effort.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 200]</span> +"Mr. Cohen—I will sell you the land—yes, indeed! +As you say, for four hundred pounds."</p> + +<p class="indent">"To-morrow? Can the sale be completed to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will prepare the papers to-day."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am well pleased."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mr. Cohen, this is a great surprise—a good surprise—you +do not understand how good. I believe +it is something more than business you intend; it is +sympathy, kindness, friendship."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is business, but it is kindness also, if you will +accept it. Your house have ever done me good, and +not evil. I and mine prayed for you—yes, the Jew +knows the pang of injustice that must be borne without +protest and without redress."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You have done my family and myself an unspeakable +kindness. I were the worst of ingrates +not to acknowledge it," and Neil rose and offered +his hand. And when Cohen took it, and held it for +a few moments within his own, a marvellous change +passed over the old man. The timid attitude, the +almost servile respect, vanished; his face beamed +with a lofty expression, his eyes met Neil's frankly; +in the prosaic surroundings of the dark, crowded +shop he looked, for a few moments, like an Eastern +prince.</p> + +<p class="indent">As they stood thus together, Neil longing to say +something that should show his deep gratitude +and friendship, and forgetting that Israel in America +at that day still preserved much of their Oriental +seclusion in household matters, asked after his +daughter, Mrs. Belasco. "I have not seen her since +her marriage," he said; "but I can never forget her. +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 201]</span> +It was her promptitude in the duel between Captain +Hyde and myself that saved my life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She has a good heart;" then suddenly, "come, +come into my home, yes, come in and see her."</p> + +<p class="indent">He walked toward the back of the shop and Neil +followed him into a large, low room, where there +was a table covered with a white cloth. Another +white cloth, folded lengthwise, shielded the bread +and the china laid ready for the noonday meal. +Cohen stood at the entrance and permitted Neil to +pass in. As he did so, a small, dark Jew rose and +bringing forward a chair, said, "Welcome be the +guest."</p> + +<p class="indent">"This is Mr. Belasco," said Cohen, and then Neil +knew the woman who was standing behind Mr. Belasco's +chair. It was the still beautiful Miriam. +The happiness of perfect love lighted the dusky +white of her complexion and filled her glorious eyes. +A brilliant silk kerchief was thrown over her black +hair, and she wore a rich, flowing garment of many +colors. There were gems in her ears and around +her neck, and her slim, brown fingers sparkled with +sapphires and diamonds. Behind her was the whitewashed +wall of a room on which was traced some +black Hebrew characters—wise or comforting passages +from the Psalms or the Prophets; and on +shelves of ordinary wood, a quantity of beautiful +china, some silver vessels, and a copper lamp with +seven beaks, brightly polished. Before her sat Belasco, +his swarthy face revealing both power and intellect, +purposely veiled beneath a manner of almost +obsequious deference. But his voice, like Cohen's, +was full of those vague tones of softness and melody, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 202]</span> +of which Orientals preserve the eternal poetry, with +the eternal secret. Outside, but within sight and +hearing, was the vibrant, noisy, military life of New +York—western turmoil—hurry of business—existence +without pause; but here, in this grave, unornamented +room, with its domestic simplicity and +biblical air, was the very atmosphere of the East.</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil, who really possessed the heart and the imagination +of a poet, felt the vibration of the far-off +life, and even while addressing Mr. Belasco, had +visions of palm-trees and of deserts and of long, +long journeys with the caravans of camels, from +oasis to oasis. He was standing amid the children +of the patriarchs. These souls were of older race +than himself; they had the noblest of kindreds, a +country that was the mother of nations.</p> + +<p class="indent">With the ideal respect born of such thoughts +he offered his hand to Mrs. Belasco. Then she +called her children and proudly exhibited them to +Neil, and in a few moments a slave brought in a +dish of lamb stewed with rice and herbs, some dates, +a plate of little cakes strewed with caraway seeds, +and some strong coffee. A roll of bread was at +each plate, and Cohen broke his with Neil. Miriam +did not eat with them; she waited silently on their +wants, her face beaming with pleasure and goodwill. +And Neil felt as if he had suddenly passed +through a little wooden door into the life of the far +East.</p> + +<p class="indent">He said something like this, and Cohen answered, +"God has said to us, as to His servant Abraham, +Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred. +We are the wayfarers of the Eternal, confessing +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 203]</span> +still, as Moses in the Law taught us—'a Syrian ready +to perish was my father.'" Deut. 26:5.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was an unlooked-for and wonderful hour, and +Neil left the shop of Jacob Cohen a very different +being from the depressed, anxious man who had entered +it an hour previously. His first thought was +his father and mother, and he went to his office, +wrote the following note, and sent a messenger with +it to them:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="nobmargin"><span class="smcap">My Honored and Beloved Parents</span>:</p> + +<p class="nobmargin">I have sold a plot of land in Mill Street for four +hundred pounds, and the fines will be paid to-morrow. +We shall not require to borrow a farthing +from any one. Be at ease. I will come to you as +soon as I have written the necessary transfer papers.</p> + +<p class="cnomargins">Your affectionate son,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Neil</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="indent">Then an unconquerable desire to see Agnes, or at +least to do something for her, took entire possession +of him; and he laid aside his business, and went as +rapidly as possible to the Bradley house. But Agnes +would not see him. She asked to be left alone, and +Neil understood her need of solitude, and respected +it. In Maiden Lane he met Lord Medway, who +said, "I have been at your office seeking you, Mr. +Semple. Young Bradley is to be put outside the +city at two o'clock to-day."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is pardoned then, on what conditions?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He will be shot on sight if he comes within five +miles of New York; and I fear he will not have a +pleasant escort to the barricade."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 204]</span> +"You mean that he will be drummed out by the +military and assaulted by the mob?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, the court said, as a vagabond and spy and +common rogue against His Majesty's government +and interests."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh! I suppose the court is right; there is nothing +to be done."</p> + +<p class="indent">"His father has sent a number of men with some +message to all the respectable burghers he can influence; +and I think Bradley can influence a great +many, either through their fear of him, or their respect +for him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What does he propose to do? He can not prevent +this public demonstration, and he ought not to +try to do so. His son has got off miraculously well. +It is his place to submit and be grateful."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He tells me the last man drummed out of town +was nearly killed by the missiles thrown at him, and +did lose the sight of one eye. He proposes to prevent +the mob's playfulness, if he can."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But how?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He has asked a number of the tradesmen and +merchants in the city to send their apprentices and +clerks, and thus, by influence and example, keep the +unruly element in check. No one can prevent their +presence. In fact, good citizens are expected to +countenance the rogue's punishment. I may show +myself at some point of the route," he added, with +a laugh; "I have a little friend who may ask me +about it," and he looked curiously at Neil, wondering +if Maria had told him how the miracle had been +performed which saved Harry's life.</p> + +<p class="indent">But Neil made no sign, and Medway continued: +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 205]</span> +"I wish you would dine with me this evening, Mr. +Semple. I have something of importance to tell +you. I dine at five, shall we say at The King's +Arms. Afterward I will walk home with you, if +I may."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will join you at five o'clock. What time does +the young man begin his march, and from what +point?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"From Whitehall Slip to Dock Street, Hanover +Square, Queen Street, Crown Street, William +Street, King George Street to the Boston Road, and +so to the eastern gate of the barrier. I rather think +the companions of the journey will be few in number +ere they reach the barrier. They start about two +o'clock I believe. You will not forget dinner at +five?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Then the young men parted and Neil went to his +office to consider his movements. Events had happened +with a celerity that made him nervous and uncertain. +He was used to method and plenty of time. +Hurry, under any circumstances, destroyed his balance. +Between his father and mother, Agnes, +Maria, John Bradley and his son, Jacob Cohen and +Lord Medway, he felt as if in a whirlwind. He +wanted an hour of solitude in which to collect himself. +But his office, that usually quiet, methodical +place, was this day full of unrest. His partner was +fuming at Harry Bradley's release, and wondering +"what on earth was the use of the law, or the necessity +for lawyers to interpret it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"There is now no necessity for either law or lawyers," +answered Neil; "we may pack our books and +lock our door."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 206]</span> +"Neil, I have been thinking how I could manage +to get two hundred for you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is not necessary. I am sorry I spoke to you +on the subject."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I hope you have reconsidered the question of +resignation."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I sent in my resignation this morning."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course the commissioners will include me +with you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not necessarily."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, necessarily; and I think you have been very +selfish and unkind."</p> + +<p class="indent">"My honor."</p> + +<p class="indent">"My wife and children! They are of as much account +as your honor."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Neil rose and went out again; there seemed +no peace anywhere, he had scarcely reached the +street when he heard in the distance the mocking +strains of the drums and the fifes. They sounded +so intolerable that he fled to his home to escape their +cruel clamor. His mother saw his approach and +was at the door to meet him. Her face looked +strangely grey and thin, but it had something too of +its old spirit and cheerfulness as she said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Neil, my dear lad, your letter set our old hearts +singing. How did you manage it? Who helped +you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"God and Jacob Cohen helped me," he answered. +"The Jew has bought my land in Mill Street, and the +strange thing is that he bought it out of respect and +sympathy for my father. I am as sure of that as I +am that Jacob Cohen is the only Christian in New +York who remembered us for past kindness or cared +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 207]</span> +for us in present trouble. I want to rest an hour, +mother; I have an appointment with Lord Medway +at five o'clock, and I feel like a leaf that has been +blown hither and thither by the wind for two days. +You might tell Maria that Agnes Bradley's brother +will be outside of New York, a free man, in an +hour."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am glad he is out o' our life, anyway. Much +sorrow and loss he has brought us, and you will see +that Maria's good name will be none the better for +being mixed up with the affair."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is Macpherson's fault. For her sake, and +for your sake, he might have held his tongue. I +will not forgive him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"His duty, Neil——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nonsense! He could have given the information +without bringing in Maria's name. He was +mad with wounded vanity, it was a miserable, cowardly +bit of revenge."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't think he is a coward."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is; any man is a coward who takes his spite +out on a woman, and you have been so kind, so +motherly to him. He is a disgrace to the tartan: +but I want an hour's rest, and tell father to be perfectly +easy about the money. I shall have it in the +morning. It rests on Cohen's word; I know no +better human security."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Are you not hungry?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I had dinner with the Cohens, a simple, excellent +meal."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The world is tapsalterie; I wonder at nothing +that happens. Did you see the young man? I +mean Bradley's son?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 208]</span> +"Not I. I did not want to see him. I heard the +drums and got out of sight and hearing as quickly +as possible. I believe his father has managed the +affair very wisely; I should not wonder if the +rogue's march turns out more of a triumph than an +ignominy."</p> + +<p class="indent">In a measure Neil's judgment proved to be correct. +Respectable young men, charged to discountenance +riotous abuse, began to join the procession at +its outset, and this element was continually augmented. +As they passed Bradley's shop, Bradley +himself stepped out of it and walking at the head of +the line, took his place at Harry's right hand. No +one interfered. The drummers and fifers in front +did not see him, and the stupid Waldeckers, ignorant +of English and of everything but the routine of their +regiment, took him as a part of the event. He was +dressed in black cloth, with a white lawn band +around his neck, and if they speculated about him at +all, they thought he was a clergyman, and concluded +the prisoner was to be hung at the barrier.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a><img src="images/illus-208gs.png" alt="THE DRUMMERS AND FIFERS IN FRONT DID NOT SEE HIM." +title="THE DRUMMERS AND FIFERS IN FRONT DID NOT SEE HIM." /><br /> +<span class="caption">THE DRUMMERS AND FIFERS IN FRONT DID NOT SEE HIM.</span> +</div> + +<p class="indent">But Harry turned to his father a face full of love +and gratitude. The youth's self-control was complete, +for his disdain of the whole proceeding was +both breastplate and weapon to him. He was bare-headed +and with the wind in his hair and the sunlight +in his eyes he went swinging onward to the +song of victory he heard in his own heart. By the +side of his father's massive contour and stern countenance, +Harry looked like some young Michael, +bright-faced and fearless.</p> + +<p class="indent">Now and then a taunt was hurled at the lad, and +occasionally a jibe far more tangible, but of neither +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 209]</span> +missile did he show the least consciousness. The +presence of his father touched the rudest heart. He +removed his hat when he saw his son's uncovered +head, and his grey hairs evoked far more pity than +contempt. When they passed through the fashionable +residence streets, the sympathy was even remarkable; +windows were thrown up, handkerchiefs +fluttered, and now and then a shrill little <i>"bravo!"</i> +made Harry look up and catch the influences of pity +and admiration that women, young and lovely, and +women, old and wayworn, rained down on him. +As Medway predicted, the crowd melted away long +before the barrier was reached, for the mood of mischief +was not in it. The fifes screamed and the +drums beat, but could not summon the devilish spirit +of mob violence, and Harry Bradley's tramp to the +Rogue's March was a much more quiet and orderly +affair than the Police Court intended it to be.</p> + +<p class="indent">At the barrier the gate was flung open, and, in the +midst of a fanfaronade of discordant sounds and +scornful shouts Harry was hustled outside. But +his father had found opportunity to give him gold +and to tell him a negro was waiting with a swift +horse behind the gates; and just at the last moment, +amid the scoffing and jeering of the soldiers, he +put his arms about his son's neck and kissed and +blessed him. He had drunk the shameful cup to the +dregs with the lad, and he turned to the little gathering +a face that awed them. As one man they moved +aside to let him pass, and for a few moments +watched him, as, with a mighty stride he took the +road homeward. For he looked beyond his nature +large and commanding, and he walked as if moved +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 210]</span> +by some interior force that was beyond his control. +Men gazed at him with awe and pity, but no one +ventured to speak to him.</p> + +<p class="indent">As he approached his home the inner momentum +that had carried him without let or hinderance at a +marvelous speed seemed to fail; he faltered, looked +round wearily, and then stumbled forward, as if he +had charged his spirit for the last mile of life. +When he reached his gate he could not open it, and +Agnes ran out to help him; speech was impossible, +but with a pitiful glance he let her lead him into +the house. Leaning on her, he stumbled forward +until he reached the sofa, then, with a great cry he +fell backward.</p> + +<p class="indent">Fortunately, Neil Semple at that moment entered +the house, and he was instantly at Bradley's side, +rendering, with Agnes, the help at once necessary, +and soothing the afflicted man with words of such +sympathy and affection as few mortals had ever +heard pass the lips of Neil Semple. "Mr. Bradley," +he entreated, "do not fail yourself at this hour! We +are all so sorry for you—all ready to weep with you—think +of Agnes—are you suffering?—Shall I go +for a physician? What is the matter? Speak to +me, Mr. Bradley."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Sir," he answered, stretching out his trembling +arms, "sir, I can neither see nor hear."</p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">THE TURN OF THE TIDE.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">Every</span> misfortune has its horizon, but as yet +Maria was not able to lift up her eyes and see any +comfort coming from afar. It seemed to her that +all the joy and glory of living was over. It was not +only that Harry was taken out of her schemes of +happiness for the future; the present, also, was denuded +of every hope and clouded by very real +annoyances. She felt bitterly the publicity given +to her name, and she knew that this publicity would +supply those who disliked her with continual opportunities +for her humiliation.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I shall have to stop at home," she thought; "and +grandmother is sick and grandfather fretful, and +Neil's whole care is given to Agnes Bradley. I +think he might consider me a little; but nobody +does; I am only Maria. Yet my life is ruined, +quite ruined;" and the unhappy child wept over herself +and wondered how she was to live through the +long, long years before her.</p> + +<p class="indent">Very frequently, however, this tearful mood gave +place to indignation against her friends in general, +and Agnes in particular. For she still held steadily +to the opinion that all the trouble had arisen from +her selfishness and inability to remember any one's +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 212]</span> +desires but her own. And so, in plaintive or passionate +wandering from one wrong to another, she +passed some very miserable days. Finally, Neil persuaded +her to go and see Agnes. He said, "Even +the walk may do you good; and Agnes is certain to +have some comforting words to say."</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria doubted both assertions. She could not +see what good it could do her to go from one +wretched house to another even more wretched, +and Neil's assurances that John Bradley was better +and able to go to his shop did not give her any more +eager desire to try the suggested change. Yet to +please Neil she went, though very reluctantly; and +Madame sympathized with this reluctance. She +thought it was Agnes Bradley's place to come and +make some acknowledgment of the sorrow and loss +her family had brought upon the Semples; and she +recalled the innate aversion the Elder had always +felt for the Bradley family.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The soul kens which way trouble can come," she +said. "But what is the good o' its warnings? Nobody +heeds them."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I never heard any warning, grandmother."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There's nane so deaf as those who won't hear; +but go your ways to your friend Agnes! I'll warrant +she would rather you would bide at hame."</p> + +<p class="indent">The morning was cold and damp and inexpressibly +depressing, but Maria was in that mood +which defies anything to be of consequence. She +put on her hat and cloak and walked silently by her +uncle's side until they came to the Bradley cottage. +All the prettiness of its summer and autumn surroundings +was blighted or dead; the door shut, the +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 213]</span> +window covered, the whole place infected by the +sorrow which had visited it. Agnes opened the +door. She was wan and looked physically ill and +weary, but she smiled brightly at her visitor, and +kissed her as she crossed the threshold.</p> + +<p class="indent">"My father has been very ill, Maria, or I should +have been to see you before this," she said; "but he +has gone to the shop this morning. I fear he ought +not."</p> + +<p class="indent">"My grandfather has been very ill and is still unable +to leave his room," replied Maria. "My dear +grandmother also! As for myself—but that is of +little importance, only I must say that it has been a +dreadful thing to happen to us, a cruel thing!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was a wrong thing to begin with. That is +where all the trouble sprang from. I see it now +Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course! You ought not to have deceived +your father, Agnes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was to blame in that, very much to blame. I +have nearly broken my heart over the sin and its +consequences."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Consequences! Yes, for they fell upon the innocent—that +is what you ought to be sorry for—my +grandfather and grandmother, my Uncle Neil, and +even myself."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But as for yourself, Maria, you also were to +blame. If you would have been content with seeing +Harry here——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, indeed! You did not permit me to see Harry +here, or even to bid him good-bye that night. If +you had——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It would have made no difference. Harry as +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 214]</span> +well as you seemed willing to run all risks to meet—elsewhere."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I never thought of meeting Harry elsewhere. +I have told you this fact before."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you had not done so, if Harry had not +known you would do so again, he would not have +asked you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"This is the last time I will condescend to tell you, +Agnes, that I never once met Harry by appointment; +much less, at nine o'clock at night. Please +remember this!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is, then, very strange, that Harry should have +asked you that night."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not only very strange, but very impertinent. +Why should he suppose Maria Semple would obey +such a command? For it was a command. And it +was a further impertinence to send me this command +on a bit of common paper, wrapped around +a stone and thrown at me through a window. It +was a vulgar thing to do, also, and I never gave +Harry Bradley the smallest right to order me to +meet him anywhere."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, if you look at things that way! But why +did he ask you? That is a question hard to answer."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not at all. He was jealous of Macpherson and +wished to show off his familiarity with me and make +Macpherson jealous. Under this distracting passion +he forgot, or he did not care, for the risk. It +was your selfishness put the idea into his head, and +it was his selfishness that carried it out, regardless +of the consequences."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And your selfishness, Maria, what of it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was not selfish at all. I knew nothing about +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 215]</span> +it. If I had received the note, I should not have +answered it in any way."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Are you sure of that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Absolutely sure. It angered me, humiliated me, +wronged me beyond words. And to have it read in +the Police Court! How would you feel, Agnes? It +has ruined my life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Poor Harry!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, but poor Maria! All this misery was +brought to me without my knowledge and without +any desert on my part. And don't you suppose I love +my grandparents and Uncle Neil? Think what I +have suffered when I saw them dragged to prison, +tried, fined and disgraced, and all for a scribble of +presumptuous words that Harry Bradley ought to +have been ashamed to write. It was very thoughtless, +it was very cruel."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Harry suffered for his presumption; and as for +the fine, my father will repay it to your grandfather. +He said so this morning; said it would only be just; +and I think so, too."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The fine is the least part of the wrong. Who +can repay grandfather and uncle for the loss of their +good name and their honorable record? Who can +give uncle his business back again? These are +wrongs that cannot be put right with money. You +know that, Agnes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do not quarrel with me, Maria. I am not able +to bear your reproaches. Let us at least be thankful +that Harry's life is spared. When the war is over +you may yet be happy together."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Maria burst into passionate weeping. "You +know nothing Agnes! You know nothing!" she +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 216]</span> +cried. "I can never see Harry again! Never, +never! Not even if he was in this house, <i>now</i>. +How do you suppose he was saved?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Father has a great deal of influence, and he used +it." Her calm, sad face, with its settled conviction +of her father's power, irritated Maria almost beyond +endurance. For a moment she thought she would +tell her the truth, and then that proud, "not-caring," +never far away from a noble nature stayed such a +petty retaliation. She dried her eyes, wrapped her +cloak around her, and said she "must not stop +longer; there was trouble and sorrow at home and +she was needed."</p> + +<p class="indent">Agnes did not urge her to remain, yet she could +not bear her to leave in a mood so unfriendly, and so +despairing. "Forgive me, dear Maria," she whispered. +"I have been wrong and perhaps unkind. +I fear you are right in blaming me. Forgive me! +I cannot part in such misunderstanding. If you +knew all——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, yes! And if you knew all."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But forgive me! God knows I have suffered +for my fault."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And I also."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Put your arms around my neck and kiss me. I +cannot let you go feeling so unkindly to me. Do +you hear, little one? I am sorry, indeed I am. +Maria! Maria!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Then they wept a little in each other's arms, and +Maria, tear stained and heavy hearted, left her +friend. Was she happier? More satisfied? More +hopeful, for the interview? No. There had been +no real confidence. And what is forgiveness under +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 217]</span> +any circumstances? Only incomplete understanding; +a resolution to be satisfied with the wrong acknowledged +and the pain suffered, and to let +things go.</p> + +<p class="indent">Certainly, nothing was changed by the apparent +reconciliation; for as Maria sat by the fire that +night she said to herself, "It is her fault. If she +had given Harry five minutes, only five minutes, +that night he never would have written that shameful +note. It came of her delay and his hurry. I +do not forgive her, and I will not forgive her! Besides, +in her heart I know she blames me; I, who +am perfectly innocent! She has ruined my life, and +she looked as injured as if it was I who had ruined +her life. I was not to blame at all, and I will not +take any blame, and I will not forgive her!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria's divination in the matter was clearly right. +Agnes did blame her. She was sure Harry would +not have written the note he did write unless he had +received previous encouragement. "There must +have been meetings in the Semples's garden before," +she mused. "Oh, there must have been, or else +Harry's note was inexcusable, it was impertinence, +it was vulgarity. All the same, she need not have +said these words to me."</p> + +<p class="indent">So the reconciliation was only a truce; the heart-wound +in both girls was unhealed; and if it were +healed would not the scar remain forever?</p> + +<p class="indent">Three or four days after this unsatisfactory meeting +Neil came home in the afternoon just as the family +were sitting down to the tea-table. "It is cruelly +cold, mother," he said. "I will be grateful for a +cup. I am shivering at my very heart." Then he +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 218]</span> +gave his father a business-like paper, saying, "I +found it at my office this morning, sir."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What is it Neil? What is it? More trouble?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, sir. It is a deed making over to you the +property in which Mr. Bradley has his shop and +workrooms. He says in a letter to me that 'he +feels this deed to be your right and his duty.' You +are to hold the property as security until he pays +you three hundred pounds with interest; and if you +are not paid within three years you are to sell the +property and satisfy yourself."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You can give Mr. Bradley his deed back again, +my lad. I can pay my own fines; or if I can't, I can +go to prison. I'll not be indebted to him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You mistake, sir. This is a moral obligation, +and quite as binding as a legal one to Mr. Bradley."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Take the paper, Alexander," said Madame, "and +be thankfu' to save so much out o' the wreck o' +things. We havena the means nor the right, these +days, to fling awa' siller in order to flatter our pride. +In my opinion, it was as little as Bradley could do."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I went at once to his shop to see him," continued +Neil, "but he was not there. In the afternoon I +called again, and found he had been absent all day. +Fearing he was sick, I stopped at his house on my +way home. A strange woman opened the door. +She said Mr. Bradley and his daughter had gone +away."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Gone away!" cried Maria. "Where have they +gone? Agnes said nothing to me about going +away."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The woman, Mrs. Hurd, she called herself, told +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 219]</span> +me Agnes did not know she was to leave New York +until fifteen minutes before she started."</p> + +<p class="indent">"When will they return?" asked Madame.</p> + +<p class="indent">"God knows," answered Neil, going to the fire +and stooping over it. "I am cold and sick, mother," +he said. "It was such a shock. No one at the shop +expected such an event; everything was as busy as +possible there, but the house! the house is desolate."</p> + +<p class="indent">"When did they go, Neil?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Last night, mother, at eleven o'clock. Mr. Bradley +came in about twenty minutes before eleven, put +Mr. and Mrs. Hurd in possession, and told Agnes +to pack a change of clothing for herself in a leather +saddlebag he gave her. There was a boat waiting +for them, and they went away in the darkness without +a word. <i>O Agnes!"</i></p> + +<p class="indent">"What did the Hurds say?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"They know nothing."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Did Agnes leave no letter?" asked Maria, looking +with pitying eyes at her uncle.</p> + +<p class="indent">"How could she? The poor child, how could +she? She had no time. Some one had taken away +her pens and pencils. She left a message with Mrs. +Hurd. That was all."</p> + +<p class="indent">That was all. The next day New York City +knew that John Bradley had left his business and +his home and disappeared as completely as a stone +dropped into the river. No one had suspected his intention; +not his foreman, nor any of the fifteen men +working in his shop; not his most intimate friends, +not even his daughter. But it was at once surmised +that he had gone to the rebel army. People +began to murmur at the clemency shown to his son, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 220]</span> +and to comment on the almost offensive sympathy +of the father for him. For a few days John Bradley +was the absorbing topic of conversation; then +he was forgotten by every one but Neil. His shop, +indeed, was kept open by the foreman, under control +of the government, but the name of Bradley +was removed from above its entrance and the royal +cipher G. R. put in its place. And in a few weeks +his home was known as Hurd's place, and had lost +all its little characteristics. Neil passed it every day +with a heavy heart. There was no sweet face at the +window to smile him a greeting; no beautiful +woman to stand with him at the gate, or, hand in +his hand, lead him into the little parlor and with +ten minutes' conversation make the whole day bright +and possible. The house looked forlorn; fire or +candlelight were never visible, and he could only +think of Agnes as driven away in the dark night by +Destiny and wandering, he knew not where.</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria, too, was unhappy. Her last visit to +Agnes had been such a mockery of their once loving +companionship. Her last visit! That word "last" +took hold of her, reproached her, hurt her, made +her sorry and anxious. She felt also for her uncle, +who looked old and gray in his silent sorrow. Poor +Neil! he had suffered so many losses lately; loss of +money, loss of business, loss of friends, and to +crown all these bereavements, the loss of the woman +on whom he had fixed the love and light and hopes +of his life. No wonder he was so mournful and so +quiet; he, who had just begun to be really happy, to +smile and be gracious and pleasant to every one, yes, +and even to sing! Madame could not help noticing +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 221]</span> +the change. "He is worse than ever he was before," +she said with a weary pity. "Dear me! what lots +of sorrow women do manage to make!"</p> + +<p class="indent">This remark Maria did not approve of, and she +answered it with some temper. "All this sorrow +came from a man's hand, grandmother," she said, +"and no woman is to blame."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not even yoursel', Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I, least of all. Do you think that I would have +met any man by the river side at nine o'clock at +night?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'll confess I have had my doubts."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you ought to say, 'Maria, I am sorry I +have had one doubt of you.' When you were Janet +Gordon, would you have done a thing like that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not a man in Scotland could have trysted me at +an hour when all my folk were in their rooms and +maybe sleeping."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not a man in America could make such a tryst +with me. I am your granddaughter."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But that letter, Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was a shame! A wrong I cannot forgive. I +called it an impertinence to Agnes, and I feel it so. +He had no reason to suppose I would answer such a +request, such an order, I may say. I am telling you +the truth, grandmother."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I believe you, Maria; but the pity of it is that +you canna advertise that fact."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know that. I know that everyone will doubt +me or shun me. I shall be made to suffer, of course. +Well, I can suffer and smile as well as any woman,—we +all have that experience at some time or +other."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 222]</span> +"Men have it, too. Look at your uncle."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Men don't smile when they suffer; they don't +even try to. Uncle suffers, any one can see that, +but he does not dress up in velvet and silk, and +laugh, and dance, and talk nonsense merrily over +the grave where all his hopes are buried. No, indeed! +He looks as if he had lost the world. And +he shuts himself in his room and swears at something +or somebody; he does not cry like a woman +and get a headache, as well as a heartache; he +swears at his trouble and at everything connected +with it. That is the way with men, grandmother, +you know it is. I have heard both my grandfather +and my uncle comforting themselves after this fashion. +Grandfather, I thought, even seemed to +enjoy it."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame smiled and then admitted "men had +their ain ways, and so couldna be judged by +woman's ways." Moreover, she told Maria in +regard to Agnes that a friendship which had begun +to decay was best cut off at once. And Maria, in +spite of certain regrets, felt this to be a truth. +Things were not the same between Agnes and herself; +it was, then, more comfortable that they should +not be at all.</p> + +<p class="indent">Only, as day after day went by and no one took +the place of Agnes or showed the slightest desire to +do so, her life became very monotonous. This was +specially remarkable, because New York was at a +feverish point of excitement. General Clinton was +hurrying his preparations for the reduction of the +South. Any hour the troops might get marching +orders, and every entertainment had the gaiety and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 223]</span> +the melancholy of a farewell feast. All day long +troops were moving hither and thither, and orderlies +galloping in every direction. There was a constant +rumble of army wagons in motion; trumpets +were calling men together, drums beating them to +their stations; and through all the blare and movement +of a great military town in motion there was +the tinkling of sleigh-bells and the glancing of +splendidly caparisoned sleighs, full of women brilliantly +dressed.</p> + +<p class="indent">Now, although the Semple house was beyond the +actual throng and tumult of these things, Maria +heard the confused murmur of their activity; and +Neil told her bare facts, which she easily clothed +with all the accessories of their existence and movement. +But although there were dinner parties and +sleighing parties, nightly dances, and the promise +of a fine theatrical season, with the officers of the +army as actors, no one remembered her. She was +shocked when she realized that she had been cut off +from all social recognition. Setting aside the fact +that Harry Bradley was a rebel, she had done nothing +to deserve such ostracism; but, though conscious +of her innocence, she did not find this inner +approval as satisfying a compensation for outward +respect and pleasant company as it is supposed +to be.</p> + +<p class="indent">As the days went on, she began to wonder at Lord +Medway's absence. At least, if she was to be his +wife he ought to show her some care and attention. +She remembered that in their last important +interview she had told him not to trouble her; but +he ought to have understood that a woman's words, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 224]</span> +in such trying circumstances, meant much less or +much more than their face value.</p> + +<p class="indent">Household anxieties of all kinds were added to +these personal ones. Madame Semple was sick and +full of domestic cares. Never had there been known +in New York such bitter frost, such paralyzing cold. +Snow lay four to six feet deep; loaded teams or galloping +cavalry crossed the river safely on its solid ice. +Neil had made arrangements for wood in the summer +months, but only part of it had been delivered; +the rest, though felled, could not be extricated from +the frozen snowdrifts. The sale of the Mill Street +property had left them a margin of ready money, +but provisions had risen to fabulous prices and were +not always procurable at any price. New York +was experiencing, this cruel winter, all the calamities +of a great city beleaguered both by its enemies +and the elements.</p> + +<p class="indent">Yet the incessant social gaiety never ceased. +Thousands were preparing for the battlefield; thousands +were dying in a virulent smallpox epidemic; +thousands were half-frozen and half-fed; the prisons +were crowded hells of unspeakable agonies; yet +the officers in command of the city, and the citizens +in office, the rich, the young and the beautiful, made +themselves merry in the midst of all this death and +famine, and found very good recreation in driving +their jingling sleighs over the solid waters of the +river and the bay.</p> + +<p class="indent">In these bad times Neil was the stay and comfort +of the Semple household. He catered for their +necessities cheerfully, but his heart was heavy with +anxious fear; and when he saw those he loved deprived +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 225]</span> +of any comfort, he reproached himself for +the pride which had made him resign offices so necessary +for their welfare. This pinch of poverty, +which he must conceal, made his whole being shrink +with suffering he never named to any one. And +besides, there was always that desolate house to pass +and repass. How was it that its shut door affected +him so painfully? He could only feel this question; +he could not answer it. But, though he was +not conscious of the fact, never had Neil Semple in +all his life been at once so great and so wretched: +great because he was able to put his own misery +under the feet of those he loved; to forget it in noble +smiles that might cheer them and in hopeful words, +often invented for their comfort.</p> + +<p class="indent">One day as he was walking down Broadway he +saw a sleigh coming toward him. It was drawn by +four black horses blanketed in scarlet, glittering +with silver harness and tossing their plumed heads +to the music of a thousand bells. As it drew nearer +a faint smile came to his lips. He saw the fantastically-dressed +driver and footman, and the brilliant +mass of color surrounded by minever furs, and he +knew it was Madame Jacobus, out to defy any other +sleigh to approach her.</p> + +<p class="indent">He expected only a swift, bright smile in passing, +but she stopped, called him imperatively, and +then insisted that he should take a seat beside her. +"I have caught you at last," she said with a laugh. +"It is high time. I asked you to come soon and see +me, and you said you would. You have broken your +word, sir. But nothing is binding where a woman +is concerned; we have to live on broken scraps of +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 226]</span> +all kinds, or perish. You are going to dine with +me. I shall take it very ill if you refuse;" then, +more soberly, "I have some important things to say +to you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It will be a great pleasure to dine with you," +answered Neil.</p> + +<p class="indent">"First, however, we will gallop a mile or two, +just to show ourselves and get an appetite;" and +the grave smile of pleasurable assent which accepted +this proposition delighted her. In and out of the +city ways they flew, until they reached the Bowery +road; there they met the sleighs of generals and +governors, dandy officers and wealthy commissioners, +and passed them all. And Neil shared the thrill +of her triumph and the physical delight of a pace +no one could approach. Something like his old +expression of satisfied consideration came into his +face, and he was alive from head to feet when he +reached Madame's fine house in lower Broadway,—a +handsome, luxurious house, filled with treasures +from every part of the world; no shadow of limitation +in anything within it. The lunch, elaborately +laid for Madame, was instantly extended for the +guest, and Neil marvelled at the dainty liberality +of all its arrangements. It was, indeed, well known +that the Jacobus wealth was enormous, but here was +a room warmed as if wood was of no great value; +broiled birds, the finest of wheat bread, the oldest +and best of wines.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You see, I take good care of myself, Neil," said +Madame. "I don't wish to die till the war is over. +I am resolved to see Troy taken."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You mean New York."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 227]</span> +"I mean New York, of course."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you really think the rebels will take New +York?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"The Greeks got into Troy by trying. I think +others can do the same."</p> + +<p class="indent">This was the only allusion made to public events +during the meal; but when it was over and the +servants had disappeared she set her chair before the +roaring fire, spread out her splendid scarlet skirt, +and, holding a gemmed fan between her face and +the blaze, said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Now we will talk. You must tell me everything, +Neil, without holdbacks. You are a lawyer +and know that everything must be told or nothing. +Do you feel that you can trust me?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Neil looked into the dark, speaking face, +bending slightly toward him. Kindness lighted +its eyes and parted its lips, but, above all, it was +a countenance whose truth was beyond question. +"Madame," he answered, "I believe you are my +friend."</p> + +<p class="indent">"In plain truth, I am your friend. I am also your +mother's friend. She is the best of women. I love +her, and there's an end of it. When I came to New +York first I was a stranger and people looked curiously, +even doubtfully, at me. Janet Semple stood +by me like a mother just as long as I needed her +care. Do I forget? That is far from Angelica +Jacobus. I never forget a kindness. Now, Neil, I +have known you more than twenty years. What +can I do for you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"O Madame, what can you not do? Your +sympathy has put new life into me. I feel as if, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 228]</span> +perhaps, even yet there may be happy days in +store."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Plenty of them. I hear you paid the fines immediately. +Did they pinch you much?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No. Jacob Cohen bought a piece of land from +me. I do believe he bought it out of pure kindness."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Pure kindness and good business. He knows +how to mingle things. But that Jew has a great +soul. Jacobus has said so often, and no one can +deceive Jacobus. But what are these stories I hear +about your lovely niece? Is there any truth in +them?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"None, I'll warrant," answered Neil warmly. +"But I will tell you the exact truth, and then you +may judge if little Maria deserves to be treated as +people are now treating her."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Neil succinctly, and with clearness and feeling, +told the story of Maria's entanglement with +Harry Bradley, laying particular stress on the fact +that she never had met him clandestinely, and that +his note had been a great offense and astonishment +to her. "I was present," he said, "when my father +told her of the note, and of its being read in the +Police Court, and I shall never forget her face. It +is an easy thing to say that a person was shocked, +but Maria's very soul was so dismayed and shocked +that I seemed to see it fly from her face. She would +have fallen had I not caught her. Why was that +note written? I cannot understand it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was never intended for Maria. It was written +to wound the vanity and fire the jealousy of that +Scot. As soon as Maria left the room the opportunity +was seized. Can you not see that? And +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 229]</span> +Harry Bradley never dreamed that the kilted fool +would turn an apparent love-tryst into a political +event. He wished to make trouble between Macpherson +and Maria, but he had no intention of +making the trouble he did make. He also was jealous, +and when two jealous men are playing with +fire the consequences are sure to be calamitous. But +Macpherson is sorry enough now for his zeal in His +Majesty's affairs. He is thoroughly despised by +both men and women of the first class. I, myself, +have made a few drawing-rooms places of extreme +humiliation to him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Still, others think the man simply did his duty. +A Scotsman has very strong ideas about military +honor and duty."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Fiddlesticks! Honor and duty! Nothing of the +kind. It was a dirty deed, and he is a dirty fellow +to have done it. There was some decent way out +of the dilemma without going through the Police +Court to find it. Grant me patience with such +bouncing, swaggering, selfish patriotism! A penny's +worth of common-sense and good feeling would have +been better; but it was his humor to be revengeful +and ill-natured, and he is, of course, swayed by his +inclinations. Let us forget the creature."</p> + +<p class="indent">"With all my soul."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The stories are various about Maria going to +General Clinton and begging her lover's life with +such distraction that he could not refuse it to her. +Which story is the true one?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"They are all lies, I assure you, Madame. It was +Lord Medway who begged Harry Bradley's life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But why?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 230]</span> +Neil paused a minute, and then answered softly, +"For Maria's sake."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, I begin to understand."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She has promised to marry him when she is of +age—then, or before."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am very glad. Medway is a man full of queer +kinds of goodness. When the Robinsons and Blundells, +when Joan Attwood and Kitty Errol and all +the rest of the beauties, hear the news, may I be +there to see? Is it talkable yet?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, not yet. Maria has told no one but me, +and I have told no one but you. Medway is to see +my father and mother; after that—perhaps. He +has not called since the arrangement; he told me 'he +was doing the best thing under the circumstances.'"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course he is. Medway understands women. +He knows that he is making more progress absent +than he would present. Come, now, things are not +so bad, socially. Mrs. Gordon and Angelica Jacobus +will look after Maria; and, though women can +always be abominable enough to their own sex, I +think Maria will soon be beyond their shafts. Now, +it is business I must speak of. Patrick Huges, my +agent, is robbing me without rhyme or reason. I +had just sent him packing when I met you. The +position is vacant. Will you manage my affairs for +me? The salary is two hundred pounds a year."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madame, the offer is a great piece of good fortune. +From this hour, if you wish it, I will do your +business as if it were my own."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Thank you, Neil. In plain truth, it will be a +great kindness to me. We will go over the rascal's +accounts to-morrow, and he will cross the river to-night +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 231]</span> +if he hears that Neil Semple is to prosecute the +examination."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Neil rose to leave. Madame's sympathy +and help had made a new man of him; he felt able +to meet and master his fate, whatever it might be. +At the last moment she laid her hand upon his arm. +"Neil," she asked, "Has not this great outrage +opened your eyes a little. Do you still believe in +the justice or clemency of the King?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was not the King."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was the King's representatives. If such indignity +is possible when we are still fighting, what +kind of justice should we get if we were conquered?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know, I know. But there is my father. It +would break his heart if I deserted the royal party +now. They do not know in England——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then they ought to know; but for many years +I have been saying, 'England was mad'; and she +grows no wiser."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Englishmen move so slowly."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course. All the able Englishmen are on this +side of the Atlantic. Lord! how many from the +other side could be changed for the one Great One +on this side. What do you think? It was my silk, +lace, ribbons and fallals Harry Bradley was taking +across the river. The little vanities were for my +old friend Martha. I am sorry she missed them."</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil looked at her with an admiring smile. "How +do you manage?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have arranged my politics long since, and quite +to my satisfaction. So has Jacobus. He left New +York flying the English flag, but the ocean has a +wonderful influence on him; his political ideas grow +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 232]</span> +large and free there; he becomes—a different man. +Society has the same effect on me. When I see +American women put below that vulgar Mrs. +Reidesel——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, no, Madame!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, yes, sir. In the fashionable world we are +all naught unless Mrs. General Reidesel figures before +us; then, perhaps, we may acquire a kind of +value. See how she is queening it in General Tryron's +fine mansion. And then, this foreign mercenary, +Knyphausen, put over American officers and +American citizens! It is monstrous! Not to be +endured! I only bear it by casting my heart and +eyes to the Jersey Highlands. There our natural +ruler waits and watches; here, we wait and watch, +and some hour, it must be, our hopes shall touch +God's purposes for us. For that hour we secretly +pray. It is not far off." And Neil understood, as +he met her shining eyes and radiant smile, that there +are times when faith may indeed have all the dignity +of works.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then the young man, inexpressibly cheered and +strengthened, went rapidly home; and when Madame +heard her son's steps on the garden walk +she knew that something pleasant had happened to +him. And it is so often that fortune, as well as misfortune, +goes where there is more of it that Neil was +hardly surprised to see an extraordinarily cheerful +group around an unusually cheerful fireside when +he opened the parlor door. The Elder, smiling and +serene, sat in his arm-chair, with his finger-tips +placidly touching each other. Madame's voice had +something of its old confident ring in it, and Maria, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 233]</span> +with heightened color and visible excitement, sat +between her grandparents, an unmistakable air of +triumph on her face.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Come to the fire, Neil," said his mother, making +a place for his chair. "Come and warm yoursel'; +and we'll hae a cup o' tea in ten or fifteen minutes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How cheerful the blazing logs are," he answered. +"Is it some festival? You are as delightfully +extravagant as Madame Jacobus. Oh, if the old days +were back again, mother!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"They will come, Neil. But wha or what will +bring us back the good days we hae lost forever out +o' our little lives while we tholed this weary war? +However, there is good news, or at least your father +thinks so. Maria has had an offer o' marriage, +and her not long turned eighteen years auld, and +from an English lord, and your father has made +a bonfire o'er the matter, and I've nae doubt he +would have likit to illuminate the house as weel."</p> + +<p class="indent">The Elder smiled tolerantly. "Janet," he answered, +"a handsome young man, without mair than +his share o' faults and forty thousand pounds a year, +is what I call a godsend to any girl. And I'm glad +it has come to our little Maria. I like the lad. I +like him weel. He spoke out like a man. He told +me o' his castle and estate in Lancashire, and o' the +great coal mines on it; the lands he owned in Cumberland +and Kent, his town house in Belgrave +Square, and forbye showed me his last year's rental, +and stated in so many words what settlement he +would make on Maria. And I'm proud and pleased +wi' my new English grandson that is to be. I shall +hold my head higher than ever before; and as for +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 234]</span> +Matthews and Peter DuBois, they and their dirty +Police Court may go to——, where they ought to +have been years syne, but for God Almighty's patience; +and I'll say nae worse o' them than that. +It's a great day for the Semples, Neil, and I am +wonderfully happy o'er it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's a great day for the Medways," answered +Madame. "I could see fine how pleased he was at +the Gordon connection, for when I told him Colonel +William Gordon, son o' the Earl o' Aberdeen—him +wha raised the Gordon Highlanders a matter o' +three years syne—was my ain first cousin, he rose +and kissed my hand and said he was proud to call +Colonel Gordon his friend. And he knew a' about +the Gordons and the warlike Huntleys, and could +even tell me that the fighting force o' the clan was +a thousand claymores; a most intelligent young +man! And though I dinna like the thought o' an +Englishman among the Gordons, there's a differ +even in Englishmen; some are less almighty and +mair sensible than others."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He spoke very highly o' the Americans," answered +the Elder. "He said 'we were all o' one +race, the children o' the same grand old mother.'"</p> + +<p class="indent">"The Americans are obligated for his recognition," +replied Madame a trifle scornfully. "To be +sure, it's a big feather in our caps when Lord Medway +calls cousins with us."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What does Maria say?" asked Neil. And Maria +raised her eyes to his with a look in them of which +he only had the key. So to spare her talking on the +subject, he continued: "I also have had a piece of +good fortune to-day. I met Madame Jacobus, went +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 235]</span> +home with her to dinner, and she has offered me the +position of her business agent, with a salary of two +hundred pounds a year."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's a vera springtide o' good fortune," said the +Elder, "and I am a grateful auld man."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Weel, then," cried Madame, "here comes the tea +and the hot scones; and I ken they are as good as +a feast. It's a thanksgiving meal and no less; come +to the table wi' grateful hearts, children. I'm thinking +the tide has turned for the Semples; and when +the tide turns, wha is able to stop it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">The turn of the tide! How full of hope it is! +Not even Maria was inclined to shadow the cheerful +atmosphere. Indeed, she was grateful to Lord +Medway for the fresh, living element he had brought +into the house. Life had been gloomy and full of +small mortifications to her since the unfortunate +Bradley affair. Her friends appeared to have forgotten +her, and the dancing and feasting and sleighing +went on without her presence. Even her home +had been darkened by the same event; her grandfather +had not quite recovered the shock of his +arrest; her grandmother had made less effort to hide +her own failing health. Neil had a heartache about +Agnes that nothing eased, and the whole household +felt the fear and pinch of poverty and the miserable +uncertainty about the future.</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria bore her share in these conditions, and she +had also began to wonder and to worry a little over +Lord Medway's apparent indifference. If he really +loved her, why did he not give her the recognition +of his obvious friendship? His presence and attentions +would at least place her beyond the spite and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 236]</span> +envy of her feminine rivals. Why did he let them +have one opportunity after another to smile disdain +on her presence, or to pointedly relegate her to the +outer darkness of non-recognition? When she had +examined all her slights and sorrows, Lord Medway's +neglect was the most cutting thong in the +social scourge.</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Jacobus, however, was correct in her +opinion. Medway was making in these days of +lonely neglect a progress which would have been +impossible had he spent them at the girl's side. And +if he had been aware of every feeling and event in +the lives of the Semples, he could not have timed his +hour of reappearance more fortunately, for not only +was Maria in the depths of despondency, but the +Elder had also begun to believe his position and +credit much impaired. He had been passed, avoided, +curtly answered by men accustomed to defer to +him; and he did not take into consideration the personal +pressure on these very men from lack of +money, or work, or favor; nor yet those accidental +offenses which have no connection with the people +who receive them. In the days of his prosperity he +would have found or made excuses in every case, +but a failing or losing man is always suspicious, and +ready to anticipate wrong.</p> + +<p class="indent">But now! Now it would be different. As he +drank his tea and ate his buttered scone he thought +so. "It will be good-morning, Elder. How's all +with you? Have you heard the news? and the like +of that. It will be a different call now." And he +looked at Maria happily, and began to forgive her +for the calamity she had brought upon them. For +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 237]</span> +it was undeniable that even in her home she had +been made to feel her responsibility, although the +blame had never been voiced.</p> + +<p class="indent">She understood the change, and was both happy +and angry. She did not feel as if any one—grandfather, +grandmother, Lord Medway, or Uncle Neil—had +stood by her with the loyal faith they ought +to have shown. All of them had, more or less, suspected +her of imprudence and reckless disregard of +their welfare. All of them had thought her capable +of ruining her family for a flirtation. Even Agnes, +the beginning and end of all the trouble, had been +cold and indifferent, and blamed, and left her without +a word. And as she did not believe herself to +have done anything very wrong, the injustice of the +situation filled her with angry pain and dumb reproach.</p> + +<p class="indent">Lord Medway's straightforward proposal cleared +all the clouds away. It gave her a position at once +that even her grandfather respected. She was no +longer a selfish child, whose vanity and folly had +nearly ruined her family. She was the betrothed +wife of a rich and powerful nobleman, and she knew +that even socially reprisals of a satisfactory kind +would soon be open to her. The dejected, self-effacing +manner induced by her culpable position +dropped from her like a useless garment; she lifted +her handsome face with confident smiles; she was +going, not only to be exonerated, but to be set far +above the envy and jealousy of her enemies. For +Medway had asked her to go sleighing with him on +the following day, and she expected that ride to +atone for many small insults and offenses.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 238]</span> +Twice during the night she got up in the cruel +cold to peep at the stars and the skies. She wanted +a clear, sunny day, such a day as would bring out +every sleigh in the fashionable world; and she got +her desire. The sun rose brilliantly, and the cold +had abated to just the desirable point; the roads, +also, were in perfect condition for rapid sleighing, +and at half-past eleven Medway entered the parlor, +aglow with the frost and the rapid motion.</p> + +<p class="indent">His fine presence, his hearty laugh, his genial +manners, were irresistible. He bowed over Madame's +hand, and then drew Maria within his +embrace. "Is she not a darling? and may I take +her for an hour or two, grandmother?" he asked. +And Madame felt his address to be beyond opposition. +He had claimed her kinship; he had called +her "grandmother," and she gave him at once the +key of her heart.</p> + +<p class="indent">As they stood all three together before the fire, a +servant man entered and threw upon the sofa an +armful of furs. "I have had these made for you, +Maria," said Medway. "Look here, my little one! +Their equals do not exist outside of Russia." And +he wrapped her in a cloak of the finest black fox +lined with scarlet satin, and put on her head a hood +of scarlet satin and black fox, and slipped her hands +into a muff of the same fur lined with scarlet satin; +and when they reached the waiting sleigh he lifted +her as easily as a baby into it, and seating himself +beside her, off they went to the music in their hearts +and the music in the bells; and the pace of the four +horses was so great that Madame declared "all she +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 239]</span> +could see was a bundle of black fur and flying scarlet +ribbons."</p> + +<p class="indent">That day Maria's cup of triumph was full and +running over. Before they had reached the half-way +house they had met the entire fashionable world +of New York, and every member of it had understood +that Maria Semple and Lord Medway would +now have to be reckoned with together. For Medway +spoke to no one and returned no greeting that +did not include Maria in it. Indeed, his neglect of +those who made this omission was so pointed that +none could misconstrue it. Maria was, therefore, +very happy. She had found a friend and a defender +in her trouble, and she was, at least, warmly grateful +to him. He could see it in her shining eyes, and +feel it, oh, so delightfully! in her unconscious drawing +closer and closer to him, so that finally his hands +were clasping hers within the muff of black fox, and +his face was bending to her with that lover-like, protecting +poise there was no mistaking.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Are you satisfied, Maria? Are you happy?" he +asked, when the pace slackened and they could talk +a little.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, yes!" she answered. "But why did you wait +so long? I was suffering. I needed a friend; did +you not understand?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"But you had a sorrow I could not share. I did +not blame you for it. It was but natural you should +weep a little, for the young man had doubtless made +some impression. He was a gallant fellow, and between +life and death carried himself like a prince. +I am glad I was able to save his life; but I did not +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 240]</span> +wish to see you fretting about him; that was also +natural."</p> + +<p class="indent">She did not answer, nor did he seem to expect an +answer. But she was pleased he did not speak +slightingly of Harry. Had he done so, she felt that +she would have defended him; and yet, in her deepest +consciousness she knew this defense would have +been forced and uncertain. The circumstances were +too painful to be called from the abyss of past +calamity. It was better everything should be forgotten. +And with the unerring instinct of a lover, +Medway quickly put a stop to her painful reverie by +words that seldom miss a woman's appreciation. He +told her how much he had longed to be with her; +how tardily the weeks had flown; how happy it made +him to see her face again. He called her beautiful, +bewitching, the loveliest creature the sun shone on, +and he said these things with that air of devoted +respect which was doubly sweet to the girl, after the +social neglect of the past weeks. Finally he asked +her if she was cold, and she answered:</p> + +<p class="indent">"How can I be cold? These exquisite furs are +cold-proof. Where did you get them? I have never +seen any like them before."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I got them in St. Petersburg. I was there two +years ago on a political embassy, and while I was +waiting until you partly recovered yourself I had +my long coat cut up and made for you. I am +delighted I did it. You never looked so lovely in +anything I have seen you wear. Do you like them, +Maria, sweet Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She looked at him with a smile so ravishing that +he had there and then no words to answer it. He +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 241]</span> +spoke to the driver instead, and the horses bounded +forward, and so rapid was the pace that the city +was soon reached, and then her home. Neil was at +the gate to meet them, and Medway lifted Maria out +of the sleigh and gave her into his care. "I will not +keep the horses standing now;" he said, "but shall +I call to-morrow, Maria, at the same time?" And +she said, "Yes," and "I have had a happy drive." +So he bowed and went away in a dash of trampling +horses and jingling bells, and Maria watched him +a moment or two, being greatly impressed by his +languid, yet masterful, air and manner, the result of +wealth long inherited and of social station beyond +question.</p> + +<p class="indent">With a sigh—and she knew not why she sighed—Maria +went into the house. She was now quite +forgiven; she could feel that she was once more +loved without reservation, and also that she had become +a person of importance. It was a happy +change, and she did not inquire about it, or dampen +the pleasure by asking for reasons. She took off +her beautiful furs, showed them to her grandmother +and grandfather, and told at what personal sacrifice +Lord Medway had given them to her. And then, +drawing close to the hearth, she described the people +they had met, and the snubs and recognitions given +and received. It was all interesting to Madame, +and even to the Elder; the latter, indeed, was in extraordinary +high spirits, and added quite as much +salt and vinegar to the dish of gossip as either of the +women.</p> + +<p class="indent">In spite, therefore, of the bitter weather and the +scarcity of all the necessaries of life, the world went +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 242]</span> +very well again for the Semples; and though at the +end of December, Clinton sailed southward, Lord +Medway had a furlough for some weeks, so that in +this respect the military movement did not interfere +with Maria's social pleasures. Two days before the +embarkment of the troops Colonel DeLancey called +one morning on the Elder. He had sold a piece of +property to the government, and in making out the +title information was wanted that only Elder Semple, +who was the original proprietor, could give. +DeLancey asked him, therefore, to drive back with +him to the King's Arms and settle the matter, and +the Elder was pleased to do so. Anything that took +him among his old associates and gave him a little +importance was particularly agreeable, and in spite +of the cold he went off in the highest spirits.</p> + +<p class="indent">The King's Arms was soon reached, and he found +in its comfortable parlor General Ludlow, Recorder +John Watts, Jr., Treasurer Cruger, Commissioners +DeGeist and Housewert, and Lawyer Spiegel. +After Semple's arrival the business which had called +them together was soon settled, and it being near +noon, Ludlow called for a bottle of old port and +some beef sandwiches. The room was warm and +bright, the company friendly and well informed on +political matters, and a second bottle was drunk ere +they made a movement to break up the pleasant +meeting. Then Ludlow arose, and for a few minutes +they stood around the blazing fire, the Elder +very happy in the exercise of his old influence and +authority. But just as they were going to shake +hands the door was flung open and Captain Macpherson +appeared. For a moment he stood irresolute, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 243]</span> +then he suddenly made up his mind that he had +chanced upon a great opportunity for placing himself +right with the public, and so, advancing toward +Elder Semple, who had pointedly turned his back +upon him, he said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Elder, I am grateful for this fortunate occasion. +I wish before these gentlemen to assure you that I +did my duty with the most painful reluctance. I +beg you to forgive the loss and annoyance this duty +has caused you."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Semple turned to him. His eyes were flashing, +his face red and furious. He looked thirty years +younger than usual, as with withering scorn he +answered:</p> + +<p class="indent"><i>"Caitiff!</i> Out of my sight!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, sir," continued the foolish young man, "not +until you listen to me. As a soldier and a gentleman, +I had a duty to perform."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You hae covered the names o' 'soldier' and 'gentleman' +wi' infamy. Duty, indeed! What duty o' +yours was it to examine a letter that came to a house +where you were making an evening call? No matter +how the letter came—through the window or by +the door—you had nae duty in the matter. It was +your cursed, curious, spying impertinence. No gentleman +would hae opened it. The letter was not +directed to you,—you admitted that in court. God +in Heaven! What right had you to open it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Allow me to ask, Elder, what you would have +done if you had been an officer in His Majesty's +service and had been placed in the same circumstances?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Done? Why, you villain, there was only <i>one</i> +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 244]</span> +<i>thing to do</i>, and an officer, if he was a gentleman, +would have done it,—given the letter to Miss Bradley +unopened. She was the mistress of the house, +and entitled to see the letters coming to it. What +had you to do wi' her letters? If you had kept your +fingers frae picking and your e'en frae spying, you +would not have put yoursel' in an utterly shamefu' +dilemma."</p> + +<p class="indent">"In these times, sir——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"In this case the times are nae excuse. Mr. Bradley +was believed by everybody to be a friend of His +Majesty. You had nae reason whatever to suppose +a treasonable note would come to his house. You +did not suppose it. My God, sir! if our letters are +to be examined by His Majesty's officers, wha is +safe? An enemy might throw a note full o' treason +through a window, and if <i>you</i> happened to be calling +there——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mr. Semple, you are insulting."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I mean to be insulting. What right had you +to speak to me? You Judas! who could eat my +bread, and borrow my siller, and pretend to love my +granddaughter. You have smirched your colors +and dishonored your sword, and you deserve to be +drummed out o' your regiment; you do that, you +eternal scoundrel, you!"</p> + +<p class="indent">By this time the Elder's voice filled the room, and +he brought his cane down as if it were twenty. +"Out o' my sight," he shouted, "or I'll lay it o'er +your shoulders, you blackguard aboon ten thousand."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Your age, sir! your age!" screamed the enraged +young fellow; but his words almost choked him, and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 245]</span> +de Geist and Cruger took him forcibly out of the +room.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then DeLancey filled a glass with wine. "Sit +down and drink it, Elder," he said. "Afterward I +shall have the great honor and pleasure of driving +you home." And the approval of every one present +was too marked to be misunderstood. Semple felt +it in every handclasp, and saw it in every face.</p> + +<p class="indent">Also, Semple had his own approval, and the result +of it in his voice and manner troubled Janet. She +was ignorant of its cause, and the Elder was not +prepared to tell her. "The fool may think himself +bound to challenge me," he thought, "and I'll e'en +wait till he does it, or else till Clinton carries him +awa' to fight rebels."</p> + +<p class="indent">But he was nearly betrayed by Neil, who entered +the parlor in an almost buoyant manner for one so +naturally grave. "Why, father," he said, "what is +this I hear?" and then he suddenly stopped, having +caught his father's warning glance.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You hae heard many things doubtless, Neil," answered +the Elder, "and among them that I and +DeLancey were driving together. We had a rather +cheerful time at the King's Arms o'er a bit of transferring +business. The government must hae clear +titles, you ken, to the property it buys."</p> + +<p class="indent">"A clear title is beyond the government," interrupted +Madame, "and the government needna' fash +itsel' about titles. Nane that can be made will hold +good much longer for the government. Sit down, +Neil, and see if you can steady your father a bit; he's +as much excited about a ride wi' auld DeLancey as +if King George himsel' had gien him a ride in his +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 246]</span> +chariot;" and she flipped her dress scornfully to the +words as she left the room to give some household +order.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You vera near told tales on me, Neil," said the +old man gleefully; "and there's nae need to mention +the bit o' scrimmage till we see if it's finished. The +lad might send me a challenge," he added with a +little mirthful laugh.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not he, father! If he did, I should quickly answer +it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You would mind your ain business, sir. As +long as I bide in this warld I'll do my ain fighting, +if I die for it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There's none can do it better, father. Errol told +me your scorn overwhelmed Macpherson; and he +said, moreover, that if the quarrel had come to blows +he had no doubt you would have caned the scoundrel +consumedly. They are talking of the affair all over +town, and DeLancey is quite beyond himself about +it. I heard him say that, though your hands quivered +with passion, you stood firm as a rock, and +that there were a few minutes at the last when no +man could have tackled you safely." Then there +was a sudden pause, for Madame reëntered, and +the Elder looked at her in a way so full of triumph +and self-satisfaction that he troubled her. "To +think o' Alexander Semple being sae set up wi' +DeLancey's nod and smile," she thought.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Neil turned the conversation on the social +events of the day, and the topic allowed Madame +some scope for the relief of her annoyance. Yet +her anxiety about her husband continued, for the +Elder was in extraordinarily high spirits. His +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 247]</span> +piquant, pawkie humor finally alarmed Madame. +"Alexander," she said, "you had better go awa' to +your bed. I dinna like to hear you joking out o' +season, as it were. What has come o'er you, man?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Hear to your mother, Neil!" he answered. +"When I sit still and silent, she asks, 'Have you naething +to say, auld man?' and when I say something +she doesna' like my way o' joking, and is for sending +me awa' to bed for it, as if I was a bairn. However, +the day is o'er, and we hae had the glory o' it, +and may as weel get rested for the day to come."</p> + +<p class="indent">He left the room in his old sober fashion, with +a blessing and a "Good-night, children," and Madame +followed him. Maria rose with her; she was +anxious to carry her thoughts into solitude. But +Neil sat still by the fireside, dreaming of Agnes +Bradley, and yet finding the dream often invaded +by the thought of the retributive scene in the parlor +of the King's Arms. And perhaps never in all his +life had Neil loved and honored his father more sincerely.</p> + +<p class="indent">When Madame returned to the room he came suddenly +out of his reverie. He saw at once that his +mother was strangely troubled. She sat down and +covered her face with her thin, trembling hands, and +when Neil bent over her with a few soothing words +she sobbed:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, my dear lad, I'm feared your father is <i>fey</i>, +or else he has been drinking beyond his reason; and +goodness knows what nonsense he has been saying. +The men who brought sae much wine out may have +done it to set him talking; and anyway, it shames +me, it pains me, to think o' Alexander Semple being +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 248]</span> +the butt o' a lot o' fellows not worthy to latch his +shoe buckles. But he's getting auld, Neil, he's getting +auld; and he's always been at the top o' the tree +in every one's respect, and I canna bear it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Dear mother, never has father stood so high in +all good men's opinion as he stands this night. He +has a little secret from you, and, I dare say, it is the +first in his life, and it is more than wine to him. It +is the secret, not the wine."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What is it, Neil? What is it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Neil sat down by his mother's side, and +looking into her face with his own smiling and +beaming, he told her with dramatic power and passion +the story of "the bit scrimmage," as the Elder +defined the wordy battle, adding, "There is not +a man, young or old, in New York, that this night is +more praised and respected for his righteous wrath +than Alexander Semple. As for Quentin Macpherson, +he may go hang!"</p> + +<p class="indent">And long before the story was finished Madame +was bridling and blushing with pride and pleasure. +"The dear auld man! The brave auld man!" she +kept ejaculating; and her almost uncontrollable impulse +was to go to him and give him the kiss and the +few applauding words which she knew would crown +his satisfaction. But Neil persuaded her to dissemble +her delight, and then turned the conversation on +the condition of the city.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is bad enough," he said. "Famine and freezing +will soon be here, and the town is left under the +orders of a hired mercenary—a German, a foreigner, +who neither understands us nor our lives or +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 249]</span> +language. It is a shameful thing. Was there no +Englishman to defend New York? Every citizen, +no matter what his politics, is insulted and sulky, +and if Washington attacks the city in Clinton's absence, +which he will surely do, they won't fight +under Knyphausen as they would under a countryman. +Even DeLancey would have been better. I, +myself, would fight with a DeLancey leading, where +I would be cold as ice behind Knyphausen."</p> + +<p class="indent">"When men are left to themselves what fools they +are," said Madame.</p> + +<p class="indent">"They don't think so. You should hear the talk +about what Clinton is going to do in the South, and +he will find Cornwallis too much for him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How is that? Cornwallis?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Cornwallis hates Clinton passionately; he will +sacrifice everything rather than coöperate with him. +Clinton successful would be worse than his own disgrace. +Yet Clinton is sure he will succeed in subduing +the whole South."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And Knyphausen?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is sure he will capture General Washington, +though Clinton failed in his alert for that purpose. +The four hundred light horsemen he despatched +came back as they went twenty-four hours after they +started full of confidence."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What frightened them?" asked Madame with a +scornful laugh.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The guides. They lost the road,—rebels at +heart, doubtless,—the cold was intense, the snow +deep, and the four hundred came home all. +The wretched rebel army must have had a +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 250]</span> +hearty laugh at Clinton's 'alert'—the alert which +was to end the war by the capture of Washington."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How could they expect such a thing?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, Washington was living in a house at Morristown, +some distance from the huts occupied by the +army. The army were in the greatest distress, +nearly naked, hungry and cold, and the snow was +deep around them. There was every reason to hope +four hundred men on swift horses might be alert +enough to surprise and capture the man they +wanted."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nae! nae!" cried Madame. "The tree God +plants no wind hurts; and George Washington is set +for the defense and freedom o' these colonies. Cold +and hungry men, snow-strangled roads, and four +hundred alerts! What are they against the tree +God plants? Only a bit wind that shook the +branches and made the roots strike deeper and wider. +And sae Clinton's alert having failed, Knyphausen +is trying for another; is that it, Neil?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. He considers Washington's capture his +commission."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And if he should capture him, what then?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"If he is taken alive he will die the death of a +traitor."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And then?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then the war would be over, the idea of independence +would be buried, and we should be English +subjects forever."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And after that comes a cow to be shod. One +thing is as likely as the other. The idea of independence +will never be buried; we shall never again +be subjects of the King o' England. In spite of all +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 251]</span> +the elements can do, in spite of what seems to us +impossibilities, the tree God has planted no wind +shall hurt. Many a day, Neil, I have steadied my +soul and my heart as I went to and fro in my house +singing or saying this bit verse, and I wrote it my +ain sel':</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2">No wind that blows can ever kill</span><br /> +<span class="i4">The tree God plants;</span><br /> +<span class="i2">It bloweth east; it bloweth west;</span><br /> +<span class="i2">The tender leaves have little rest,</span><br /> +But any wind that blows is best.<br /> +<span class="i4">The tree God plants</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Strikes deeper root, grows higher still,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Spreads wider boughs for God's good will,</span><br /> +<span class="i4">Meets all its wants."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p class="indent">Neil sighed, and rising suddenly, said, "Let us go +upstairs; the room is growing very cold. And, +mother, do not let father know I have told you about +his 'bit scrimmage.' It would rob him of the triumph +of his own recital."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'll not say a word, Neil; you may be sure o' +that."</p> + +<p class="indent">And she did not say a word. Nevertheless, the +Elder looked queerly at Neil the following evening, +and when he found an opportunity, said, "You've +been telling tales on me, lad. Your mother hasna +petted me a' the day lang for naething. Some one +has whispered a word in her ear. I can see it in her +e'en and hear it in her voice, and feel it in the stroke +o' her hand. I wonder who it was."</p> + +<p class="indent">"A bird of the air often carries such matters, sir. +It would be but the generality; the particulars can +come from yourself only."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Aye, to be sure!" And he smiled and seated +himself comfortably in his chair before the blaze, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 252]</span> +adding, "It was a wonderfu' bit o' comfort, Neil, +and you'll stand by me if your mother thinks wrong +o' it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Shoulder to shoulder, sir. You did quite +right."</p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">MARIA GOES TO LONDON.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">As</span> the days lengthened, the cold strengthened, +and New York experienced a winter of unparallelled +severity. Food could only be procured with hard +money, and at exorbitant prices, and the scarcity of +fuel added greatly to the general distress. Wall +Street surrendered most of its beautiful century-old +shade trees, to warm the family of the German General +Riederel, and before Spring, the streets and +lanes of the city, the gardens and pleasure grounds +of the burghers, were shorn of their finest fruit and +shade trees. The aged, the very young, the men in +the prisons and hospitals perished in great numbers, +and the deathly cold of the atmosphere was full of +the unspeakable misery everywhere present.</p> + +<p class="indent">These distressing conditions were intensified by +the fear of an attack from Washington. The +waters around New York were for several weeks so +hard frozen that the heaviest artillery could easily +have crossed on them; and the city in losing its insular +position, lost its chief advantage for defense. +Knyphausen constantly expected Washington to +cross the ice, and refugees and citizens alike, were +formed into companies and subjected to garrison +duty. During the dark, bitter watches, men sometimes +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 254]</span> +froze at their posts, and women in their unheated +rooms, knelt listening to the children's +breathing, for the atmosphere was so deadly cold +that the babes shivered, even in the covert of their +mothers' breasts.</p> + +<p class="indent">Yet, in this city of frost, and famine, and suffering, +a hectic and most unnatural gaiety was kept up. +Maria would have little part in it. She could find +no pleasure in listening to comedies and songs, in a +freezing temperature, and the warmth induced by +dancing was generally followed by a most uncomfortable +and dangerous chill. Her status in society +also led her to feel more content in withdrawing +from it a little. She was not yet to be classed among +the married belles, nor was she quite at one with the +girlhood that surrounded her. Her engagement to +Lord Medway had set her a little apart; it was understood +that she could not be in perfect sympathy +with the plans and hopes of either maids or wives.</p> + +<p class="indent">Yet her life was far from unhappy. She visited +Mrs. Gordon and Mrs. Jacobus a great deal; and the +latter delighted in making little lunches and dinners, +where the three ladies were joined by Lord Medway, +and Neil Semple, and very often also by Major André, +whose versatile gifts and cheerful temperament +were the necessary and delightful antitheses to Neil's +natural gravity and Medway's cultivated restraint. +The splendid rooms of Madame Jacobus were warm, +her dinners well cooked, her wines of the finest quality, +her good nature never failing. She made a pet +of Maria, and Lord Medway—reclining with half-closed +eyes in some luxurious chair—watched his +betrothed managing this clever woman, so much +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 255]</span> +older than herself, with infinite satisfaction and +amusement. He foresaw that she would be equal +to any social position, and it never occurred to him +that it was likely she would manage Lord Medway +quite as thoroughly as she managed Madame Jacobus. +Occasionally, Medway gave return dinners, at +which Madame Semple presided, and then Maria sat +at his right hand, and he proved himself to be the +most charming of hosts, and the most devoted and +respectful of lovers.</p> + +<p class="indent">Conversation was never to make, every one spoke +as they listed, and as their prejudices or convictions +led them. There was no Quentin Macpherson present, +and opinions were as much individual property +as purses. One day, toward the end of January, +when the temperature was so low that the dining-table +had been drawn close to the hearth, the usual +party were sitting in the warmth and glow of its +roaring fire. The dinner was over, the servants had +left the room, Medway and Maria were picking their +walnuts out together, and Major André and Neil +Semple talking of a game of chess. Then Madame +Jacobus drawing her gay Indian shawl closer +around her, said suddenly, "Pray what is the news? +Has nobody a mouthful of intelligence? Are we to +wait for the Americans to make us something to +talk about?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Indeed Madame," answered Maria, "we have +not yet exhausted their night attack on the British +troops encamped on Staten Island."</p> + +<p class="indent">"They got nothing but five hundred sets of frozen +hands and ears," said Major André.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, yes, they did, sir; blankets and food count +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 256]</span> +for something these days," said Madame, "not to +speak of the nine vessels destroyed at Decker's Ferry—and +the prisoners."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was a dashing absurdity, Madame."</p> + +<p class="indent">"With all my soul; yet I am glad, it was an +American dashing absurdity."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You should have seen Knyphausen when he +heard of it," continued André. He pulled his whiskers +savagely and said 'Egad! Damn! These +Americans have the come-back-again, come-back-again, +of the flies; to drive them off—it is impossible—they +come-back-again.' We have, however, +had our turn. Four nights ago, our troops entered +Newark and Elizabeth and made a few reprisals, +and then he began to hum:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The New York rebs are fat,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">But the Jersey rebs are fatter;</span><br /> +<span class="i0">So we made an expedition,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">And carried off the latter."</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="indent">Medway laughed. "Madame," he said, "the +Major was desperately dull last night, and I wondered +at it. But, this morning, as you hear, he is +delivered of his verse, and he is cheerful."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, if the war is degenerating into midnight +robberies!" cried Madame, "why does not Washington +come? What hinders him from at least trying +to get into New York? I do believe if he simply +stood on Broadway, he would draw three-fourths +of the men in the city to him; why does he +not try? It might end this dreadful war one way +or the other, and people are beginning to be indifferent, +which way. Why, in the name of wonder, does +he not try?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 257]</span> +"It would be a desperate 'try,'" answered André.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, but when ordinary means fail, desperate +remedies should be tried."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I saw the exact copy of a letter written by General +Washington on the eighth of this month," said +Lord Medway, "and in it he declares that his troops, +both officers and men, are almost perishing for food; +that they have been alternately without bread and +meat for two weeks, a very scanty allowance of +either, and frequently destitute of both. Furthermore, +he describes his troops as almost naked, riotous, +and robbing the people from sheer necessity. +Can you expect a general to lead men in such a condition +to battle? He performs a miracle in simply +holding them together."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The poor fellows! And we are warm and comfortable. +It seems almost wrong."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, no!" said André. "It is the rebels who are +wrong; they are like runaway horses, and, as I said +to one who talked to me, 'my lad, a runaway horse +punishes himself.'"</p> + +<p class="indent">In such freedom of conversation, without a moment's +doubt of each other, they passed the hours, +and about four o'clock the party usually broke up, +and Lord Medway wrapped Maria in her furs, and +drove her home.</p> + +<p class="indent">However, the weariest road sometimes comes to +an end, and the long dreadful winter wore itself +away, the ice broke up, and the sun shone warmly +out of the blue skies, and the trees put forth their +young, tender, little leaves. Every one was ready +to cry with joy, the simple endurance of misery was +over, men could now work and fight, and some +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 258]</span> +movement and change would be possible. Coming +home from a delightful drive in the sweet Spring +evening, Medway told Maria this, and added that +his furlough, so long extended by General Clinton's +love, would probably terminate as soon as active hostilities +began. But it was not yet a present case, and +Maria did not take the supposition to heart. Besides, +there had been frequent talk of her lover's departure, +and somehow or other, he had never gone. +At the Semple gate they stood a while. There were +some lilies growing near it, and their fairy-like bells +shook in the fresh wind and scattered incense all +around. Maria stooped, gathered a handful, and +offered them to her lover.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Kiss them first, for me, Maria," he said, and she +buried her lovely face in the fragrant posy, and then +lifted it full of delight and perfume. He thought +he had never before seen her so purely exquisite, so +freshly adorable. His love was a great longing, he +could hardly bear to leave her. So he stood holding +her hands and the lilies, and looking into her face, +but saying nothing, till Maria herself spoke the parting +words: "I see grandmother at the door, Ernest, +she is calling me; now we must say good-bye!" He +could not answer her, he only kissed the lilies, leaped +into the carriage, and went speechlessly away.</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria watched him a few moments, and then hastened +into the house. Madame met her at the door. +"There is a letter from your father, Maria," she +said; "I thought you might want to tell Ernest what +news it contained, so I called you, but you didna answer +me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, I answered, 'coming, grandmother,' and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 259]</span> +here I am. What a thick letter! Have you one +also?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Aye, there was one for your grandfather. Better +take yours to your room. When you have read +it, and changed your dress, tea will be waiting."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is grandfather at home?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is; so do not stay up stairs too long."</p> + +<p class="indent">She nodded a bright assent, and holding the letter +in her hand went swiftly up the stairway. In half +an hour she came back to the parlor, but her face +was then troubled and even angry, and her eyes full +of tears. She held out the letter to her grandmother, +and asked, "Do you know what father has +written to me about?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have a very sure suspect," answered Madame; +but she went on setting out her china, and did not +lift her face, or offer any further opinion.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is a shame! I ought to have been told before."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then the Elder rose, and came toward the tea-table, +"Maria," he said, "you will not use such like +words, whatever your father pleases to do. I hae +nae doubt at all that he has chosen a good wife for +himsel' and a good mother for you. You had a +long letter; what does he say anent her?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"She is a nonesuch, of course. No woman in +England, or out of England like her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I expect as much; my son Alexander has my ain +perception concerning women-folk. He would hae +the best, or nane at a'. Wha was she? He said in +my letter you would gie us a' the particulars."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He has filled six pages about her. She was Miss +Elizabeth Spencer. Father says her family is one +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 260]</span> +of the best and oldest in England. The Reverend +Oswald Spencer married them; he is rector of St. +Margaret's Church in London, and a distant relative."</p> + +<p class="indent">"A very fashionable congregation, and nae doubt +the living is according."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Father has become a member of St. Margaret's, +and he has a large mansion in the wealthy Bloomsbury +district. He tells me that I must come home, +the first opportunity that gives me a respectable companion."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And it is just destiny, Maria, and not to be," +said her grandmother; "for Mrs. Gordon +was here this afternoon to bid me farewell. Colonel +Gordon has been exchanged, and has reached +New York, and they sail in Saturday's packet for +London. She will be delighted to hae your company, +and a mair proper person to travel wi' you +couldna find in America; for it isna only hersel', +you will hae the Colonel also, to watch o'er you +baith."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Destiny or not, I won't go, grandmother."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Dinna sow sorrow to yoursel'. They who cross +destiny, make a cross for themsel's."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will hear what Ernest says about it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You arena your ain mistress yet, and God and +man, baith, expect you to put your father's commands +before all others," said the Elder.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think grandmother and you wish to get rid of +me," and the tears sprang to her eyes, and she set +her cup down with a noisy petulance.</p> + +<p class="indent">There was a moment's silence and then the Elder +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 261]</span> +continued, "Your education isna finished yet, as +your father says; it was broken up by the war."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And the lessons at Bradley's house were worse +than nane at all," interrupted Madame.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You are to have masters of a' kinds; and your +stepmother is a grand musician, I hear, and willing +to teach you hersel'."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will not go to school again. I know all I want +to know."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You will hae to be schooled for the station you +are to fit; your father has turned his loyalty into +gold, for he has got it noticed by His Majesty, and +been appointed to a rich place in the government offices. +Forbye, he tells me, his new wife has a fortune +in her ain right, and sae the world stands +straight with him and his. You'll hae society o' the +best sort, and I hope you'll do your part, to show all +and sundry, that a little Colonial maid isna' behind +English girls, in any usefu' or ornamental particular."</p> + +<p class="indent">But Maria was indignant and unhappy, and the +thought of going to London and of being under authority +again was very distasteful to her. The +Elder went early upstairs, in order to escape her +complaining, and Madame after his departure, was +a little more sympathetic. She petted her grandchild, +and tried to make her see the bright side of +the new life before her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You'll be taken to Court, doubtless, Maria, and +there is the grand opera you have heard so much +about, and lords and ladies for company——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have had enough of lords and ladies, grandmother."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 262]</span> +"And fine houses, and nae cold rooms in them; +and plenty o' food and clothing at Christian prices, +and a rich, powerfu' father, and a musical mother——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Stepmother you mean. Nobody can have more +than one mother. My mother is dead, and no other +woman can take her place."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ay, weel, I suppose you are nearby right. And +I hae seen—mair than once or twice—that the bairn +who gets a stepmother gets a stepfather, also. +Sae mind your ways and your words, and give nae +occasion to friend, or foe, for complaint."</p> + +<p class="indent">As they were talking thus, they heard the garden +gate open, and Madame said, "That is your Uncle +Neil at last;" but Maria, with an eager, listening +face, knew better. "It is not Uncle Neil," she said, +"it is Ernest. Why does he come to-night? He +told me he was going to a military dinner, given in +honor of Colonel Gordon's return."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If it is Lord Medway, bring him in here," said +Madame. "Your grandfather is needing me, and +doubtless wondering and fretting already at my delaying." +She left the room with these words, and +Lord Medway immediately joined Maria. He appeared +hurried and annoyed, and without any preliminaries +said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"I must leave New York immediately, my dear +Maria; sit down here, close beside me, my sweet +one, and comfort me. I have worn out the patience +of Lord Clinton, and now I must obey orders, not +desires."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I, also, am in the same predicament, Ernest. I +am ordered to London, and must go by the first opportunity," +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 263]</span> +said Maria; and then she told her lover +the fear and trouble that was in her heart, and found +plenty of sympathy in all that either wounded or +angered her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But there is a remedy, my darling," said Medway. +"Marry me to-morrow morning. I will +make all the arrangements to-night—see the clergyman—see +Mrs. Gordon, and your uncle Neil——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Stop, Ernest. It is useless to talk of such a +thing as that. It is beyond our compact, too."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The compact is idle wind before our love—you +do love me, Maria?" and he slipped down to his +knees beside the little maid, and putting his arm +around her waist, drew her face within the shining +influence, the tender eagerness, of his entreating +eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then a strange, wilful contradictious spirit took +possession of her. This very outlet to her position +had been in her mind—though unacknowledged—from +the first presentment of the journey, and the +new mother, and the resumed lessons; but now, that +the gate was opened to her desire, something within +her obstinately refused to move a step. Half the +accidents in the hunting-field arise from arresting +the horse in the leap, and half the disappointments +of life may be laid to that hesitation, or stubbornness +of will, which permits happiness—coming without +notice, and demanding a confiding and instantaneous +decision—to go past, and be probably lost +for ever.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You do love me, Maria? Oh, yes! you must +have caught love from me. At this hour, say one +word to assure me—will you not? Maria! Queen +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 264]</span> +of my soul, say you love me—Speak—only yes——Maria!"</p> + +<p class="indent">He waited, he watched her lovely face for some +tender change, her eyes for some assuring glance, +her lips for the one little word that would make the +hour heaven to him, and she was still and speechless +as some exquisite picture.</p> + +<p class="indent">"After all these happy weeks, will you send me +away without one word? It is incredible—impossible! +Why are you so cold?—now—when we must +part—or be always together? Are you afraid to be +with me always? You have promised to marry +me——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes—when the time comes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Cannot love put the time forward?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't know."</p> + +<p class="indent">"We could then go South together."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I do not want to go South."</p> + +<p class="indent">"With me, Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you will go to London, and your father +will have complete control of you, he may make you +marry some other man."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No one can make me break my word of honor—you +have my promise."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am wretched. I am broken-hearted. I have +failed in making you love me. I will go to the +front—what does it matter if I am killed? You will +not care."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course I shall care, Ernest."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Say that a little differently, then I shall be satisfied. +Put your arms round my neck; kiss me, if +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 265]</span> +only once, you never have kissed me yet, say, 'I +love you, Ernest'; come, my dear one, comfort me a +little!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Her heart was on fire, it throbbed and struggled +like a bound creature. She looked sadly, even tenderly +at her lover, but she could not break the thrall +of careless impassiveness that bound her, as streams +are bound in ice. Medway wearied himself with +entreaty. She trembled to its passion, but remained +inarticulate. He was at first disappointed, then astonished, +then, weary with his own emotion, wounded +and sorrowful. He rose, put on his hat and +gloves, and prepared to leave her. It was like the +nailing of the coffin lid over a sensitive form; but +still that strange, insuperable apathy was not broken.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Good-bye, Maria! My life, my love, good-bye! +and if forever, still——<i>Maria! Maria!"</i> and those +two last words were not only speech, they were a +cry from a heart hurt beyond hoping, a cry full of +despairing affection. The door closed to them, and +its clash broke the icy bounds of that soul stupor +which had held her like a spell.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ernest! Ernest!" she called passionately, but +he was beyond hearing, and ere she reached the parlor +door, she heard the entrance door clash in the +same fatal, final manner. Yet, walking as if in +some evil dream she reached it, and with a great +effort threw it wide open. Her lover was just beyond +the garden gate. Would he not turn his head? +Oh, would he not look round and see her! No. He +caught no sound of her sorrowful entreaty; he cast +no backward glance to the distracted girl, who +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 266]</span> +reached the outer gate, only to see his tall, soldierly +figure blend itself with the misty night shadows, +and then vanish entirely.</p> + +<p class="indent">Never, never in all her life had Maria been so +wretched. In the Bradley affair, she had at least +the consciousness that it was not her doing; she was +the victim of circumstances she could not control; +but this cup of sorrow she had stubbornly mixed for +herself. And that was the smallest part of her remorse; +she had made the man who loved her so +dearly, drink of it also. And it had all happened in +such a tragically short time. Oh, to call back the +last hour! only five minutes of it, that she might see +again the handsome face that had never turned to +her except with love and tender kindness! Alas, alas, +there is no return to our lost Edens! Whatever +gardens of pleasure we may find in the future, our +past Edens are closed. The cherubim are at the +gate, and the flaming sword.</p> + +<p class="indent">She went despairingly to her room, and sat for +two bitter hours speechless, astonished at her own +folly and wilfulness. She could blame no one. +Destiny in this case had used only the weapons she +herself put into her hand. She did not complain, +nor even weep, her grief found no passage to her +eyes, it sank inward and seemed for the first hour +or two to drown her heart in a dismal, sullen stillness, +which made her feel the most forlorn and abandoned +of creatures.</p> + +<p class="indent">But even in these dark hours she was trying the +wings that should take her out of them. As she sat +musing the inner woman returned to the post she +had so criminally deserted, and at once began to suggest +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 267]</span> +remedies. "Nothing is desperate," she whispered; +"in every loss, but the loss of death, there +is room for hope; write a letter, Neil will take it, he +may yet be detained."</p> + +<p class="indent">She took out pen and paper, and wrote the words +Medway had begged her to say; wrote, indeed, far +more than the one tender "yes" he had asked for. +Then she sealed the letter and sat with it in her hand, +waiting for Neil. He was so late that she thought +he must have reached his room unheard, and toward +midnight she tip-toed along the corridor to his door. +There was no light, no sound, and when she +knocked, no response. Anxiously she resumed her +watch, and soon after twelve o'clock heard him enter +the house. She went noiselessly down stairs to meet +him. "Neil," she said, "can you find Ernest? Oh, +if you can, you must carry this letter to him! Neil, +it is the very greatest favor I can ever ask of you. +Do not speak, if you are going to refuse me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"My dear Maria, I know not where to find Lord +Medway. He ought to have been at the dinner +given to Colonel Gordon, and he was not there."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He was here," she said wearily; "he is going +South at once; he must, he must have this letter first. +Neil, good, kind Uncle Neil, try and find him!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Be reasonable, Maria. If he is paying farewell +calls—which is likely—how can I tell at whose house +he may be; at any rate it is too late now for him to +be out, the city is practically closed; any one wandering +about it after midnight is liable to arrest, and +if Ernest is not visiting, he is in his rooms, and likely +to be there till near noon to-morrow. I will carry +this letter before breakfast, if you say so, but——"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 268]</span> +"I tell you he is going to General Clinton at once. +He told me so."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He cannot go until the <i>Arethusa</i> sails. She +leaves to-morrow, but the tide will not serve before +two o'clock. Give me the letter; I will see he gets +it very early in the morning."</p> + +<p class="indent">With a sigh she assented to this promise, and then +slipped back into the sorrowful solitude of her room. +But the talk with Neil had slightly steadied her. +Nothing more was possible; she had done all she +could to atone for her unkindness, and after a little +remorseful wandering outside the Eden she had herself +closed, she fell asleep and forgot all her anxiety.</p> + +<p class="indent">And it is this breaking up of our troubles by +bars of sleep that enables us to bear them and even +grow strong in conquering them. When the day +broke Maria was more alert, more full of purpose, +and ready for what the morning would bring her. +Neil was missing at breakfast and she found out that +he had left the house soon after seven o'clock. So +she dressed herself carefully and took her sewing to +the front window. When she saw her lover at the +gate, she intended to go and meet him, and her +heart was warm and eager with the kind words that +she would at last comfort him with.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was half-past eight; by nine o'clock—at the +very latest by half-past nine—he would surely answer +that loving letter. Nine o'clock struck, and +the hands on the dial moved forward inexorably to +ten o'clock—to eleven—to noon. But long before +that hour Maria had ceased to sew, ceased to watch, +ceased to hope. Soon after twelve she saw Neil +coming and her heart turned sick within her. She +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 269]</span> +could hardly walk into the hall to meet him. She +found it difficult to articulate the questioning word +"Well?"</p> + +<p class="indent">He gave her the letter back. "Ernest sailed this +morning at two o'clock," he said.</p> + +<p class="indent">She looked at him with angry despair. "You +might have taken that letter last night. You have +ruined my life. I will never forgive you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria, listen to me. Ernest went on board an +hour before you asked me. The ship dropped down +the river to catch the early tide; he was on her at +half-past ten. I could not have given him the letter, +even if I had tried to."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No; of all the nights in the year, you must stop +out last night until twelve o'clock! I never knew +you do such a thing before; well, as grandmother +says, it is destiny; I am going to my room. I want +no dinner; don't let them worry me, or worry about +me."</p> + +<p class="indent">Sitting alone she faced the circumstances she had +evoked, considered them in every light, and came to +a conclusion as to her future:</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will go to London, and make no fuss about it," +she decided; "here I should miss Ernest wherever I +went; miss him in every way, and people would +make me feel he was absent. I have been a great +trouble and expense to grandfather and grandmother. +I dare say they will be glad to be quiet and +alone again. I don't know much about father—he +has always been generous with money—but I wonder +if he cared much for me! He sent me away, +first to nurses, then to school; I saw little of him, +but I can make him care. As for Madame, my stepmother, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 270]</span> +I shall not let her annoy me. And there will +be Mrs. Gordon for a refuge, if I need one. She +has always been good to me, and I will see her at +once. I cannot help understanding that I am come +to the end of this road; but there are many roads in +life, and from this moment, I am on the way to +London."</p> + +<p class="indent">Evidently it was destiny, for there was never a let +or hinderance in all her preparations. The Gordons +took her as a godsend, and all her arrangements +went without a hitch. And when it was known she +was absolutely going away from New York there +was a great access of kindness toward her. The +young women she had known—and not always +pleasantly—brought her good-bye mementoes; +books to read on the voyage, book-marks of their +own working, little bags and cases of various kinds +for toilet needs, and needlework; and all were given +with a conspicuous intention of apology for past offense +and conciliation for any future intercourse.</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria valued it pretty accurately. "It is far better +than ill-will," she said to her grandmother; "but +I dare say they think I am going home to be married, +and as they all look forward to England eventually, +they feel that Lady Medway may not be unserviceable +in the future."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Dinna look a gift-horse in the mouth, Maria. +Few folks give away anything of real value to themselves. +You needna feel under any special obligation +for aught but the good will, and that's aye +worth having. As for being Lady Medway, there +is many a slip between cup and lip, and oceans +between you and a' the accidents o' war, and love +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 271]</span> +not unchangeable in this warld o' change; and +there's your father's will that may stand in your +road like a wall you can neither win round nor over. +I'm real glad at this hour that your grandfather was +wise enough to write naething about Lord Medway. +You can now tell your ain news, or keep it, whichever +seems best to you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you mean to say, grandmother, that my father +has not been told about my engagement to Lord +Medway?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Just so. At first your grandfather was too ill +to write one thing or another; and by the time he was +able to hold a pen, we had, baith o' us, come to the +conclusion that silence anent the matter was wisdom. +It would hae been a hard matter to tell, without telling +the whole story, Police Court and young Bradley +included, and then there was aye the uncertainty +of a man's love and liking to be reckoned +with; none o' us could be sure Lord Medway would +hold to his promise; he might meet other women to +take his heart from you; he might be killed in battle, +or in a duel, for it is said he has fought three +already; the chances o' the engagement coming to +naething were so many on every side we came to the +conclusion to leave a' to the future, and I'm sure we +did the best thing we could do."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am so glad you did it, grandmother. I shall +now go home on my own merits. If I win love, it +will be because I am Maria Semple, not because I am +going to be Lady Medway. And if my engagement +was known I should never hear the last of it. I +should be questioned about letters—whether they +came or not; my stepmother might talk about the +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 272]</span> +matter; my father insists on a public recognition of +my position, and so on. There would be such endless +discussions about Lord Medway that I should +get weary to even hear his name. And I must bear +my fate, whatever it is."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nonsense! Parfect nonsense! There is nae +such thing as fate. You're in the care and guidance +of a wise and loving Creator, and not in thrall to +some vague, wandering creature, that you ca' <i>Fate</i>. +Your ain will is your Fate. Commit your will and +way to God, and He will direct your path; and you +may snap your thumb and finger at that will o' the +wisp—Fate!"</p> + +<p class="indent">In such conversation over their duties together the +three last days were spent, and the girl caught hope +and strength from the feeble old woman as they +mended and brushed clothing and put it into the +trunks standing open in the hall. The Elder wandered +silently about. The packing was a mournful +thing to him; for, with all her impetuosities and little +troublesome ways, Maria was close to his heart, +and he feared he had given her the impression that +she was in some way a burden. Indeed, he had not +felt this, and had only been solicitous that she should +obey her father's wishes, and obey them in a loving +and dutiful spirit. On the last morning, however, +as they rose from the breakfast table, he put even +this wise intention behind his anxious love, and +drawing her aside he said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria, my dearie, you will heed your father, of +course, in a' things that are your duty—but—but—my +dear bairn! I ken my son Alexander is a masterfu' +man, and perhaps, it may be, that he might go +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 273]</span> +beyond his right and your duty. I hae told you to +obey him as your father, that's right, but if he is +your father, he is my son, and so speaking in that +relation, I may say, if my son doesna treat you right, +or if he lets that strange English woman treat you +wrong, then you are to come back to me—to your +auld grandfather—to sort matters between you. +And I'll see no one do you wrong, Maria, no one, +though it be my auldest son Alexander. You are in +my heart, child, and there is always room in my +heart for you; and I speak for your grandmother +and uncle as well as for mysel'." His voice was low +and broken at this point, tears rolled slowly down +his cheeks, and he clasped her tenderly in his arms: +"God bless you my little lassie! Be strong and of a +good courage. Act for the best, and hope for the +best, and take bravely whatever comes."</p> + +<p class="indent">To such wise, tender words she set her face eastward, +and the Elder and Neil watched the vessel far +down the river, while in her silent home Madame +slowly and tearfully put her household in order. +Fortunately, the day was sunny and the Spring air +full of life and hope, and as soon as they turned +homeward, the Elder began to talk of the possibility +of Maria's return:</p> + +<p class="indent">"If she isna happy, I hae told her to come back to +us," he said to Neil, and then added: "Your brother +is sometimes gey ill to live wi', and the bit lassie has +had, maybe, too much o' her ain way here," and Neil +wondered at the brave old man; he spoke as if his +love would always be present and always sufficient. +He spoke like a young man, and yet he was so visibly +aging. But Neil had forgotten at the moment that +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 274]</span> +the moral nature is inaccessible to Time; that though +the physical man grows old, the moral man is eternally +young.</p> + +<p class="indent">Not long after the departure of Maria, Neil was +one morning sorting and auditing some papers regarding +the affairs of Madame Jacobus. Suddenly +the thought of Agnes Bradley came to him with such +intense clarity and sweetness that his hands dropped +the paper they held; he remained motionless, and in +that pause had a mental vision of the girl, while her +sweet voice filled the chambers of his spiritual ears +with melody. As he sat still, seeing and listening, a +faint, dreamy smile brightened his face, and Madame +softly opening the door, stood a moment and +looked at him. Then advancing, the sound of her +rustling silk garments brought Neil out of his happy +trance, and he turned toward her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Dreaming of St. Agnes?" she asked, and he answered, +"I believe I was Madame."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Sometimes dreams come true," she continued. +"Can you go to Philadelphia for me? Here is an +offer from Gouverneur Morris for my property on +Market Street. He proposes to turn the first floor +into storage room. At present it is a rather handsome +residence, and I am not sure the price he offers +will warrant me making the change."</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil was "ready to leave at any time," he said, +and Madame added, "Then go at once. If it is a +good offer, it will not wait on our leisure."</p> + +<p class="indent">He began to lock away the papers under his +hands, and Madame watched him with a pleasant +smile. As he rose she asked, "Have you heard anything +yet from Miss Bradley?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 275]</span> +"Not a word."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you know where she is?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have not the least idea. I think the Hurds +know, but they will not tell me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will tell you then. Agnes is in Philadelphia."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madame! Madame! I——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am sure of it. On this slip of paper you will +find her address. She boards with a Quaker family +called Wakefield—a mother and four daughters; +the father and brothers are with the American army. +I suppose you can leave to-day?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"In two hours I will be on the road. I need but +a change of clothing and a good horse."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The horse is waiting you in my stables. Choose +which animal you wish, and have it saddled: and +better mount here; you can ride to Semple house +quicker than you can walk."</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil's face spoke his thanks. He waited for no +explanations, he was going to see Agnes; Madame +had given him her address, it was not worth while +asking how she had procured it. But as he left the +room he lifted Madame's hand and kissed it, and in +that act imparted so much of his feeling and his +gratitude that there was no necessity for words.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Poor fellow!" sighed Madame, and then she +walked to the window and looked sadly into Broadway. +"Soldiers instead of citizens," she murmured, +"war horses instead of wagon horses; that screaming +fife! that braying, blustering drum! Oh, how +I wish the kings of earth would fight their own battles! +Wouldn't the duello between George of England +and George of America be worth seeing? +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 276]</span> +Lord! I would give ten years of my life for the +sight."</p> + +<p class="indent">With the smile of triumph on her face she turned +to see Neil re-entering the room. "Madame," he +said, "I must have appeared selfishly ungrateful. +My heart was too full for speech."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I know, I know, Neil. I have been suffering +lately the same cruel pain as yourself. I have not +heard from Captain Jacobus for nearly a year. +Something, I fear, is wrong; he takes so many +risks."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is sailing as an American privateer. If he +had been captured by the English, we should have +heard of the capture."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is not all. I will tell you just what Jacobus +would do, as soon as he was fairly out at sea, he +would call his men together on deck, and pointing to +the British colors, would say something like this: +'Men, I don't like that bunting, and I'm going to +change it for the flag of our own country. If there +is any one here that doesn't like the American flag, +he can leave the ship in any way he chooses,' then +down would go the British flag, and up, with rattling +cheers, the American. So far he would be only in +ordinary danger, but that is never enough for Jacobus; +he would continue after this extraordinary +fashion: 'Men, you have all heard of these French +and Spanish alliances. As the son of a hundred +thousand Dutchmen, I hate the Spaniards, and I'm +going to fight and sink every Spanish ship I meet. +<i>Allies!</i> To the deep sea with such allies! We +want no Spanish allies; we want their ships though, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 277]</span> +and we'll take them wherever on the wide ocean we +can find them.' Then he would put his hand on his +first mate's shoulder and continue, 'Here's Jack Tyler, +an Englishman from beard to boots, born in the +city of London, and there's more on board like him. +What does an Englishman want with Frenchmen? +Nothing, only to fight them, and that we'll do +wherever we meet them! And as for English ships +coming our way, they're out of their course, and +we'll have to give them a lesson they'll remember. +So then, all of you, keep your eyes open for English, +French, or Spanish sails. Nothing but American +colors in American waters, and American water rolls +round the world, as I take it.' So you see, Neil, +Jacobus would always have a threefold enemy to +fight, and I have not a doubt that was his first +thought when he heard of our alliance with France +and Spain. And though we might hear of his capture +by a British vessel, it is not likely we should do +so if he fell into the hands of a French or Spanish +privateer. When you come from Philadelphia we +will consider this circumstance; but now, good-bye, +and good fortune go with you."</p> + +<p class="indent">It did not take Neil long to go to the Semple +house and obtain a change of clothing, and after this +short delay nothing interfered with the prosperous +course of his journey. The weather was delightful, +and his heart so full of hope that he felt no fatigue. +And he had such confidence in all Madame Jacobus +said, or did, that no doubts as to finding Agnes +troubled him. It was, however, too late in the evening +of the day on which he reached Philadelphia, to +make a call, and he contented himself with locating +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 278]</span> +the house to which he had been directed. He found +it in a quiet street, a small brick house, with white +wooden shutters, and a tiny plot of garden in front. +No sign of light or life appeared, and after walking a +while in front of it, he returned to his inn and tried to +sleep.</p> + +<p class="indent">But he was not very successful. His hopes and +his fears kept him waking. He fancied the house +he had been directed to looked too silent and dark to +be occupied; he longed for the daylight to come +that he might settle this fear; and then the possibility +of its reality made him sick with anxiety and +suspense, holding a measure of hope, seemed better +than certain disappointment. In the morning his +rigid, upright business instinct asserted itself, and he +felt that he must first attend to those affairs which +were the ostensible reason of his journey. So it was +the early afternoon before he was at liberty to gratify +the hunger of his heart.</p> + +<p class="indent">Happily, when he reached the house indicated, +there were many signs of its occupancy; the windows +were open, and he saw a young woman sitting +near one of them, knitting. His knock was answered +by her. He heard her move her chair and +come leisurely toward the door, which she opened +with the knitting in her hand, and a smile on her +face.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Does Mr. Wakefield live here?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"This is his house, but he is not at home now."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was told that Miss Bradley of New York was +staying here."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She is here. Does thee want to see her?"</p> + +<p class="indent">A great weight rolled from Neil's heart. "Yes," +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 279]</span> +he answered, "will you tell her that Mr. Neil Semple +of New York desires to speak with her."</p> + +<p class="indent">She bowed her head, and then took him into a +small darkened parlor. He was glad the light was +dim; he had a feeling that he looked worse than he +had ever looked in all his life. He knew that he +was pale and trembling with a score of fears and +doubts, and the short five minutes of suspense +seemed to him a long hour of uncertain apprehensions. +Yet it was barely five minutes ere he heard +Agnes coming down the stairs, and her steps were +quick and eager; and he took courage from the welcoming +sound in them, and as the door opened, went +with open arms to meet her. He held her in his embrace, +her cheek was against his cheek—what need +was there for speech? Both indeed felt what they +had no power to express, for as all know who have +lived and loved, there is in the heart feelings yet +dumb; chambers of thought which need the key of +new words to unlock them. Still, in that heavenly +silence all was said that each heart longed for, and +when at length they sat down hand in hand and +began to talk, it was of the ordinary affairs of the +individual lives dear to them.</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil's first inquiry concerned John Bradley and +his son, and he was glad to notice the proud pleasure +with which Agnes answered him. "My father is +now in his proper place," she said, "and I have never +seen him so well and so happy."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is he under arms?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not unless there is fighting on hand; but he is +in camp, and all day he is busy mending the accoutrements +of the soldiers. At night he sings to them as +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 280]</span> +they sit round the camp fires, or he holds a prayer +meeting, or he reads the Bible; and every Sunday +he preaches twice. St. Paul made tents, and as he +stitched found time to preach Jesus Christ crucified; +my father mends saddles and bridles, and does the +same thing, and he is happy, oh, so happy! What +is better still, he makes the men around him happy +and hopeful, and that is a great thing to do, when +they are hungry, and naked, and without pay. +Sometimes, when the camp is very bare and hungry, +he takes his implements and goes to the outlying +farms, mends all their leather, and begs in return +corn, and flour, and meat for the men. He never +fails in getting some relief; and often he has so +moved the poor farmers that they have filled a wagon +with food and driven it to the perishing soldiers."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And Harry? Where is he?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"With the greatest and best of men. He is now a +regular soldier in Washington's own regiment."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am glad, and my dear one, are you happy +here?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"As I can be, out of my own home. There are +six women in this house; all the men are at the war; +some at Morristown; some are gone South. We +spend our time in knitting stockings for the soldiers, +or in any needlework likely to be of service. But +how is Maria? Tell me about her. I thought you +might have brought me a letter."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria is on her way to England. Her father +has married again. He has obtained an excellent +place in the government and furnished a home in +London. Naturally, he desired Maria to join him +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 281]</span> +at once. You know that she is engaged to Lord +Medway?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No. Poor Harry! He still dreams that Maria +is faithful to him. I think she might have given +Harry one year's remembrance."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What did she tell you about Harry in your last +interview?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nothing. She was more fretful and unreasonable +than I ever before saw her. She could only +cry and make reproaches; we parted in sorrow, and +I fear in misunderstanding."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, if you do not know the price paid for your +brother's life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The price paid! What do you mean, Neil?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"The night Harry was condemned to death Lord +Medway came to see Maria. He told her he would +save Harry's life, if she would marry him. He +would listen to no compromise, and she accepted the +terms. It was a decision bitter as death at the time, +but she has learned to love Medway."</p> + +<p class="indent">Agnes did not appear to listen, she was occupied +with the one thought that Maria had been the saviour +of her brother.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It seems incredible," she said at length; "why +did she not tell me that last—last time I saw her. It +would have changed everything. Oh, Maria! +Maria! how I have misjudged you!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You had better tell Harry, and be very positive, +there is really not a shadow of hope for him. Maria +<i>had</i> to forget; it was her first duty."</p> + +<p class="indent">Neil spent nearly three days with his beloved, and +then they had to part. But this parting was full of +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 282]</span> +hope, full of happy plans for the future, full of promises +in all directions. In those three days Neil forgot +all the sorrowful weeks of his despairing love. +As a dream when one awaketh, they slipped even +from his memory. For Agnes was loving and faithful, +a steady hand to hold, and a steady heart to +trust. And oh, she was so lovely and desirable! As +he rode joyfully home, he could think of nothing but +Agnes; of her eyes, gray as mountain lakes and full +of light and shadow; of her smile, that filled even +silence with content; her white arms, her brown +hair, the warm pallor of her cheeks catching a rosy +glow from the pink dimity she wore! Oh, how perfect +she was! Beauty! Love! Fidelity! all in +one exquisite woman, and that one woman loved +him!</p> + +<p class="indent">Ah, well! Love wakes men once in a lifetime, +and some give thanks and rejoice, and some neglect +and betray; but either way, love, and their childhood's +unheeded dream</p> + +<p class="center"> +Is all the light, of all their day.<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">THE QUESTION OF MARRIAGE.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">Maria</span> reached London in the early days of June. +Her voyage had been uneventful, and though long, +not unpleasant. Still she was glad to feel the earth +beneath her feet, and the stir of trafficking humanity +around her. They landed late in the afternoon and +she remained with the Gordons all night, but early +the following morning the colonel took her to +Bloomsbury. Mr. Semple's house was not difficult +to find; it was the largest in the fine square, an imposing +mansion of red brick with a wide flight of +stone steps leading to its main entrance. This entrance +impressed Maria very much. It was so +ample and so handsome.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think, indeed," said the Colonel to her, "two +sedan chairs could easily be taken in, or out, at the +same time."</p> + +<p class="indent">Her welcome, if not effusive, was full of kindness +and interest; she was brought at once to the sunny +parlor at the back of the house where her father and +stepmother were breakfasting, and nothing could +have been more properly affectionate than the latter's +greeting. And although she had breakfasted +with the Gordons, she found it pleasant enough to +sit down beside her father and talk of the voyage +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 284]</span> +and the war, and the conditions of life in America. +He was obviously both astonished and delighted +with his daughter; her beauty was so great, her +manner so charming, her conversation so full of +clever observations, that he felt her to be a personal +credit. "There are very few young girls so perfectly +formed, so admirably finished," he said to +himself; and he rose and walked loftily about the +room, proudly aware of the piquant loveliness and +intelligence of the girl who called him father. The +word sounded well in his ears, and even touched his +heart; and she herself was a crowning grace to his +splendid habitation. And for her, and for all her +beauties and graces and accomplishments, he took +the entire credit. She was his daughter, as much +his property as his wife, or his house, or his purse.</p> + +<p class="indent">This appropriation of herself did not then displease +Maria. She was longing to be loved, longing +to be cared for and protected. And she loved +her father, and felt that she could easily love him a +great deal more. His appearance invited this feeling. +He was a strikingly handsome man, though +touching fifty years of age, tall and erect like her +grandfather, but with a manner much more haughty +and dictatorial. He was dressed in a dark blue cloth +coat lined with white satin and ornamented with +large gilt buttons; his long vest and breeches were +of black satin, his stockings of black silk, and his +low shoes clasped with gold latches. He wore his +own hair combed back from his large ruddy face +and tied behind with a black ribbon.</p> + +<p class="indent">His new wife was very suitable to him. She was +thirty-eight years old and distinctly handsome, tall +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 285]</span> +and fair, rather highly colored, and dressed with +great care in a morning robe of Indian silk. She was +very cheerful and composed, had fine health, lived +in the unruffled atmosphere of her interests, and had +no nerves worth speaking of—a nice woman apparently, +who would always behave as nice women were +then taught to behave. And yet there were within +her elements much at variance with that habitual +subservience she showed her husband. Maria was +not long in discovering that, though she spoke little +and never boasted, she got all she wished to get and +did all she wished to do.</p> + +<p class="indent">After Mr. Semple had gone to business she took +Maria to the rooms prepared for her. They were +light and airy and prettily furnished, and Mrs. Semple +pointed out particularly the little sitting-room +attached. It contained a small library of books +which are now classic, a spinnet for practice, maps +and globes, and a convenient desk furnished with all +the necessary implements for writing or correspondence.</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria had fully resolved not to be forced into any +kind of study, but as she stood listening to her stepmother's +plans and explanations she changed her +mind. She resolved rather to insist on the finest +teachers London could furnish. She would perfect +herself in music and singing; she would enlarge her +knowledge and accomplishments in every direction, +and all this that she might astonish and please Lord +Medway when he came for her. That he would +do so she never doubted; and he could not doubt <i>her</i> +love when he saw and heard what she had done to +make herself more worthy of him.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 286]</span> +But this incitement she kept to herself. She permitted +her father and stepmother to believe that the +fulfilling of their desires was her sole motive, and +this beautiful obedience gave her much liberty in +other directions. So the weeks and months went +past very pleasantly. She had an Italian singing +master and a French dancing master, Kalkbrenner +gave her music lessons, Madame Jermyn taught her +embroidery and lace, and two hours every day were +spent in the study of history and geography, and her +much neglected grammar. It was all pleasant +enough; every master or mistress brought in a fresh +element, a little gossip, a different glimpse of the +great city in which they all lived. And the preparation +of her studies and the practice of her music gave +her almost unbounded control of her time. If things +were not agreeable down stairs her study was a safe +retreat, and she began to take off their shelves the +books provided for her amusement and instruction, +and to make friends of them and become familiar +with their thoughts and opinions.</p> + +<p class="indent">The evenings were often spent at the theatre or +opera, and still more frequently at Vauxhall or +Ranelagh gardens, and at the latter places she was +always sure of a personal triumph. Her beauty was +so remarkable and so admirably set off by her generally +fine toilets that she quickly became a noted +visitor. Sir Horace Walpole had called her on +one occasion "The American Beauty," and the sobriquet +clung like a perfume to her. When the Semples +had a box and a supper in the rotunda the most +noble and fashionable of the young bloods hung +round it, paraded past it, or when possible took a box +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 287]</span> +in such close proximity that their toasts to "The +Divine American" could be distinctly or indistinctly +heard. Both Mr. and Mrs. Semple were proud of +this notoriety. It was quite in keeping with the +social <i>élat</i> of the age that every glass should be +raised when they entered their box at the theatre or +opera; quite honorable and flattering to walk between +the admiring beaux who watched their entry +into the gardens. Maria gave them distinction, exhilarating +notice and attention. She was spoken of +in the papers as "the lovely Miss Semple, the beautiful +daughter of our new collector," and her <i>début</i> +at the next spring functions of the Court was confidently +predicted.</p> + +<p class="indent">The break in this generally agreeable life came, +of course, through a man's selfish desires, dignified +with the name of love. Mrs. Semple had a cousin +who was largely engaged in the Mediterranean trade—then +entirely in English hands—and when Maria +had been about eighteen months in London he returned +to that city after a sojourn in Turkey and +the Greek islands of nearly three years. He had +been named at intervals to Maria, but his existence +had made no impression upon her, and she was astonished +on coming to the dinner table one day to +meet him there. The instinct of conquest was immediately +aroused; she smiled and he was subdued. +The man who had snubbed Turkish bashaws and +won concessions from piratical beys in Tunis and +Algiers was suddenly afraid of a woman. He might +have run away, but he did not; he was under a spell, +and he went with her to the opera, and became her +willing slave thereafter.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 288]</span> +Now during her residence in London, Maria had +had many admirers; some she had frowned away, +some her father had bowed out, but Richard Spencer +was a very different man to be reckoned with. He +was Mrs. Semple's cousin, and Mrs. Semple was +strongly attached to every member of her family. +Cousin Richard's suit was advocated, pressed, even +insisted upon by her. He was present at every meal +and went with them to every entertainment, and the +generality of Maria's admirers understood that he +was her accepted lover.</p> + +<p class="indent">In fact, this relationship was speedily assumed by +the whole Semple household, and before the man +had even had the courage to ask her to be his wife she +was made to understand that her marriage to Cousin +Richard was a consummation certain and inevitable. +Of course she rebelled, treating the supposition at +first as an absurdity, and, when this attitude was resented +and punished, as an impossibility.</p> + +<p class="indent">The affair soon became complicated with business +relations and important money interests, Mr. Semple +becoming a silent partner in the gigantic ventures +of the Spencer Company. He had always felt, even +in Maria's social triumphs, a proprietary share; she +was his daughter, he could give or refuse her society +to all who asked it. She had never denied his power +to dismiss all the pretenders to her favor that had as +yet asked it. He considered himself to have an +equal right to grant her hand to the suitor he thought +proper for her.</p> + +<p class="indent">And as his interests became more and more associated +with Mr. Spencer's he became more and more +positive in Mr. Spencer's favor. There was little +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 289]</span> +need then for Mrs. Semple's diplomacies. He had +"taken the matter in his own hands" he said, "and he +should carry it through."</p> + +<p class="indent">For some time Maria did not really believe that +her father and stepmother were in earnest, but on +her twentieth birthday the position was made painfully +clear, for when she came to the breakfast table +her father kissed her, an unusual token of affection, +and put into her hand an order on his banker +for a large sum of money.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is for your wedding clothes, Maria," he said, +"and I wish you to have the richest and best of +everything. Such jewels as I think necessary I will +buy for you myself. Our relatives and friends will +dine with you to-day and I shall announce your engagement."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But father!" she exclaimed, "I do not want to +marry. Let me return this money. Indeed, I cannot +spend it for wedding clothes. The idea is so +absurd! I do not want to marry."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria, you are twenty years old this twenty-fifth +of November. It is time you settled yourself. +Mr. Spencer will have his new house ready by the +end of next June. As nearly as I can tell, your +marriage to him will take place on the twenty-ninth +of June. Your mother thinks that with the help +of needlewomen your clothing can be finished by +that time."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I told Mr. Spencer a month ago that I would not +marry him."</p> + +<p class="indent">"All right; girls always say such things. It appears +modest, and you have a certain privilege in +this respect. But I advise you not to carry such +pretty affectations too far."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 290]</span> +"Father, I do not love Mr. Spencer."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He loves you, that is the necessary point. It is +not proper, it is not requisite that a girl should take +love into her consideration. I have chosen for you +a good husband, a man who will probably be Lord +Mayor of London within a few years, and the prospect +of such an honor ought to content you."</p> + +<p class="indent">It is difficult for an American girl at this time to +conceive of the situation of the daughters of England +in the year 1782. The law gave them absolutely +into their father's power until they were twenty-one +years old; and the law was stupendously strengthened +and upheld by universal public approval, and +by barriers of social limitations that few women had +the daring to cross. Maria was environed by influences +that all made for her total subjection to her +parent's will, and at this time she ventured no further +remark. But her whole nature was insurgent, +and she mentally promised herself that neither on +the twenty-ninth of June nor on any other day that +followed it would she marry Richard Spencer.</p> + +<p class="indent">After breakfast she went to her room to consider +her position, and no one prevented her withdrawal.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is the best thing she can do," said Mr. Semple +to his wife. "A little reflection will show her the +hopeless folly of resistance to my commands."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Her behavior is not flattering to Richard."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Richard has more sense than to notice it. He +said to me that 'there was always a little chaffering +before a good bargain.' He understands women."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria has been brought up badly. She has dangerous +ideas about the claims and privileges and +personal rights of women."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 291]</span> +"Balderdash! Claims of women, indeed! Give +them the least power, and they would stake the world +away for a whim. See that she dresses herself +properly for dinner. I have told her I shall then +announce her engagement, and in the midst of all +our relatives and friends she will not dare to deny it."</p> + +<p class="indent">In a great measure Mr. Semple was correct. +Maria was not ready to deny it, nor did she think the +relatives and friends had anything to do with her +private affairs. She made no answer whatever to +her father's notice of her approaching marriage, and +the congratulations of the company fell upon her +consciousness like snowflakes upon a stone wall. +They meant nothing at all to her.</p> + +<p class="indent">The day following Mrs. Semple went to buy the +lawn and linen and lace necessary for the wedding +garments. Maria would not accompany her; her +stepmother complained and Maria was severely reprimanded, +and for a few days thoroughly frightened. +But a constant succession of such scenes blunted +her sense of fear. She remembered her grandfather's +brave words, "Be strong and of good courage," +and gradually gathered herself together for +the struggle she saw to be inevitable. To break her +promise to Lord Medway! That was a thing she +never would do! No, not even the law of England +should make her utter words false to every true feeling +she had. And day by day this resolve grew +stronger, as day by day it was confronted by a trial +she hardly dared to contemplate.</p> + +<p class="indent">There was no one to whom she could go for advice +or sympathy. Mrs. Gordon was in Scotland, where +her husband had an estate, and she had no other intimate +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 292]</span> +friend. But at the worst, it was only another +year and then she would be her own mistress and +Ernest Medway would come and marry her. Of +this result she never had one doubt. True, she +heard very little from him; but if not one word had +come to assure her she would still have been confident +that he would keep his word, if alive to do so. +Letter-writing was not then the easily practised relief +it is now, and she knew Lord Medway disliked +it. Yet she was not without even these evidences +of his remembrance, and considering the conditions +of the country in which they had been written, the +great distance between them, the difficulty of getting +letters to New York and the uncertainty of getting +letters from New York to England, these evidences +of his affection had been fairly numerous. All of +them had come enclosed in her Uncle Neil's letters, +and without mention or explanation, for Neil was +sympathetically cautious and did not know what +effect they might have on the life of Maria, though +he did not know <i>his</i> letters were sure to be inquired +after and read by her parents.</p> + +<p class="indent">They were intensely symbolic of a man who preferred +to <i>do</i> rather than to <i>say</i>, and are fairly represented +by the three quoted:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="nobmargin">"<span class="smcap">Sweetest Maria</span>: Have you forgiven your +adoring lover?</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Ernest</span>."</p> + +<p class="nobmargin">"<span class="smcap">My Little Darling</span>: I have been wounded. I +have been ill with fever; but no pain is like the pain +of living away from you.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Ernest</span>."</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[Pg 293]</span></p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="nobmargin">"<span class="smcap">Star of My Life</span>: I have counted the days until +the twenty-fifth of November; they are two hundred +and fifty-five. Every day I come nearer to you, my +adorable Maria.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Ernest</span>."</p> +</blockquote> + +<p class="indent">This last letter was dated March the fourteenth, +and with it lying next her heart, was it likely she +would consent to or even be compelled to marry +Richard Spencer? She smiled a positive denial of +such a supposition. But for all that, the preparations +went on with a stubborn persistence that would +have dismayed a weaker spirit. The plans for furnishing +the Spencer house, the patterns of the table +silver, all the little items of the new life proposed for +her were as a matter of duty submitted to her taste +or judgment. She was always stolidly indifferent, +and her answer was invariably the same, "I do not +care. It is nothing to me." Then Mr. Semple would +answer with cold authority, "You have excellent +taste, Elizabeth. Make the selection you think best +for Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mr. Spencer's method was entirely different. He +treated Maria's apathetic unconcern with constant +good nature, pretended to believe it maidenly modesty, +and under all circumstances refused to understand +or appropriate her evident dislike. But his +cousin saw the angry sparkle in his black eyes, and +to her he had once permitted himself to say, "I am +bearing <i>now</i>, Elizabeth. When she is Mrs. Spencer +it will be her turn to bear." And Elizabeth did not +think it necessary to repeat the veiled threat to +Maria's father.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 294]</span> +Medway's last letter, dated March the fourteenth, +did not reach Maria until May the first. On the +morning of that day she had been told by Mrs. Semple +to dress and accompany her to Bond Street.</p> + +<p class="indent">"We are going to choose your wedding dress," +she said, "and I do hope, Maria, you will take some +interest in it. I have spoken to Madame Delamy +about the fashion and trimmings, and your father +says I am to spare no expense."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will not have anything to do in choosing a wedding +dress. I will not wear it if it is made."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think it is high time you stopped such outrageous +insults to your intended husband, your +father and myself. I am astonished your father endures +them. Many parents would consider you +insane and put you under restraint."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I can hardly be under greater restraint," answered +Maria calmly, but there was a cold, sick +terror at her heart. Nevertheless she refused to +take any part in the choosing of the wedding dress, +and Mrs. Semple went alone to make the selection.</p> + +<p class="indent">But Maria was at last afraid. "Under restraint!" +She could not get the words out of her consciousness. +Surely her dear grandfather had had some prescience +of this grave dilemma when he told her if she +was not treated right to come back to him. But how +was she to manage a return to New York? Women +then did not travel, could not travel, alone. No ships +would take her without companions or authority. +She did not know the first of the many steps necessary, +she had no money. She was, in fact, quite in +the position of a little child left to its own helplessness +in a great city. The Gordons would be likely to +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 295]</span> +come to London before the winter, but until then she +could find neither ways nor means for a return to +New York. All she could do was to take day by day +the steps that circumstances rendered imperative.</p> + +<p class="indent">The buying of the wedding dress brought things +so terribly close to her that she finally resolved to +tell her father and stepmother of her engagement to +Lord Medway. "I will take the first opportunity," +she said to herself, and the opportunity came that +night. Mr. Spencer was not present. They dined +alone, and Mr. Semple was indulging one of those +tempers which made him, as his father had said to +Neil, "gey ill to live with." He had been told of +Maria's behavior about the wedding dress, and the +thundery aspect of his countenance during the meal +found speech as soon as the table was cleared and +they were alone. He turned almost savagely to his +daughter and asked in a voice of low intensity:</p> + +<p class="indent">"What do you mean, Miss, by your perverse temper? +Why did you not go with your mother to +choose your wedding dress?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Because it is not my wedding dress, sir. I have +told you for many weeks that I will not marry Mr. +Spencer;" then with a sudden access of courage, +<i>"and I will not</i>. I am the promised wife of Lord +Medway."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mr. Semple laughed, and then asked scornfully, +"And pray, who is Lord Medway?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He is my lover; my husband on the twenty-ninth +of next November."</p> + +<p class="indent">All the passion and pride of a lifetime glowed in +the girl's face. Her voice was clear and firm, and at +that hour she was not a bit afraid. "I will tell you +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 296]</span> +about him," she continued, and her attitude had in +those few minutes so far dominated her audience that +she obtained the hearing she might otherwise not +have gained. Rapidly, but with singular dramatic +power, she related the story of her life in New York—her +friendship with Agnes Bradley, the attraction +between herself and Harry Bradley, his arrest, trial +and death sentence, Lord Medway's interference and +her own engagement, her subsequent intimacy with +the man she had promised to marry, and the love +which had sprung up in her heart for him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"And I will not break my word, not a letter of it," +she said in conclusion.</p> + +<p class="indent">"If there was any truth in this story," answered +her father, "who cares for a woman's promises in +love matters? They are not worth the breath that +made them."</p> + +<p class="indent">"My promise to Lord Medway, father, rests on +my honor. I could give him no security but my +word. I must keep my word."</p> + +<p class="indent">"A woman's honor! A woman's word to a lover! +Pshaw! Let us hear no more of such rant. What +do you think of this extraordinary story, Elizabeth?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think it is a dream, a fabrication. Maria has +imagined it. Who knows Lord Medway? I never +heard tell of such a person."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nevertheless, he will come for me on the twenty-fifth +of November," said Maria.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Long before that time you will be Mrs. Richard +Spencer," answered her father.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I declare to you, father, I will not. You may +carry me to the altar, that is as far as you can go; +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 297]</span> +you cannot make me speak. I will not say one word +that makes me Richard Spencer's wife. I entreat +you not to force such a trial on me. It will make +me the town's talk, you also."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do not dare to consider me as a part of such a +mad scene. Go to your room at once, before I—before +I make you."</p> + +<p class="indent">She fled before his passion, and terrified and +breathless locked the door upon her sorrow. But +she was not conquered. In fact, her resolution had +gained an invincible strength by the mere fact of its +utterance. Words had given it substance, form, +even life, and she felt that now she would give her +own life rather than relinquish her resolve.</p> + +<p class="indent">In reality her confidence did her case no good. +Mr. Semple easily adopted the opinion of his wife +that Maria had invented the story to defer what she +could not break off. "And you know, Alexander," +she added, "those Gordons will be back before the +date she has fixed this pretended lover to appear, and +in my opinion they are capable of encouraging Maria +to all lengths against your lawful authority. As +for myself, I am sure Mrs. Gordon disliked me on +sight, I know I disliked her, and Maria was rebellious +the whole time they were in London. I wonder +Richard does not break off the wedding, late as +it is."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should not permit him to do so, even if he felt +inclined. But he is as resolute as myself. Why, +Elizabeth, we two men should be the laughing-stock +of the town for a twelvemonth if we allowed a chit +of a girl to master us. It is unthinkable. Go on +with the necessary preparations. The Spencers living +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 298]</span> +in Durham and in Kendal must be notified at +once. The greater the company present the more +impossible it will be for her to carry out her absurd +threat. And even if she will not speak, silence gives +consent. I shall tell the clergyman to proceed."</p> + +<p class="indent">After this there were no more pretenses of any +kind. Maria's reluctance to her marriage was openly +acknowledged to the household, and her disobedience +complained of and regretted. Among the two +men-servants and three maids there was not one who +sympathized with her. The men were married and +had daughters, from whom they expected implicit +obedience. The women wondered what the young +mistress wanted: "A man with such black eyes and +nice, curly hair," said the cook, "any proper girl +would like; so free with his jokes and his money, +too; six foot tall, and well set up as ever I saw a +man. And the fine house he is giving her, and the +fine things of all kinds he sends her! Oh, she's a +proud, set-up little thing as ever came my way!" +These remarks and many more of the same kind +from the powers in the kitchen indicated the sentiment +of the whole house, and Maria felt the spirit +of opposition to her, though it was not expressed.</p> + +<p class="indent">She could only endure it and affect not to notice +what was beyond her power to prevent. But she +wrote to her Uncle Neil and desired him to see Lord +Medway and tell him exactly how she was situated. +In this letter she declared in the most positive manner +her resolve not to marry Mr. Spencer, and described +the uneasiness which her stepmother's +remark about "restraint" had caused her. And this +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 299]</span> +letter, with one to Mrs. Gordon, were the only outside +influences she had any power to reach.</p> + +<p class="indent">At length the twenty-eighth day of June arrived. +The Spencer house was filled with relatives from the +Northern and Midland countries, and in Maria's +home the wedding feast was already prepared. A +huge wedding cake was standing on the sideboard, +and in the middle of the afternoon her wedding dress +came home. Mrs. Semple brought it herself to +Maria and spread out its shimmering widths of +heavy white satin and the costly lace to be worn +with it.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It is sure to fit you, Maria," she said. "Madame +Delamy made it from your gray cloth dress, which +you know is perfect every way. Will you try it on? +I will help you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, thank you. I would as willingly try my +shroud on."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think you are very selfish and unkind. You +know that I am not well; indeed, I feel scarcely able +to bear the fatigue of the ceremony, and you are +turning what ought to be a pleasure to your father +and every one else into a fear and a weariness."</p> + +<p class="indent">She did not answer her stepmother, but in the +hurry of preparations going on down stairs she +sought her father and found him resting in the +freshly decorated drawing-room. He was sitting +with closed eyes and evidently trying to sleep. She +stood a little way from him, and with many bitter +tears made her final appeal. "Say I am ill, father, +for indeed I am, and stop this useless preparation. It +is all for disappointment and sorrow."</p> + +<p class="indent">He listened without denial or interruption to her +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 300]</span> +words, but when she ceased in a passion of weeping +he answered, "There is no turning back and there +is no delay, Maria. You are very silly to cry over +the inevitable, especially when both my love and +wisdom decide that the inevitable is good for you. +You will certainly be married to Richard Spencer +to-morrow morning. Prepare yourself for ten +o'clock. I shall come to your study for you at five +minutes before ten. At nine o'clock Madame Delamy +will send two women to arrange your dress. +See that you are ready in time. Good night."</p> + +<p class="indent">There was nothing now to be done in the way of +prevention, and a dull, sullen anger took the place of +entreaty in Maria's mind. "If they will set my back +to the wall, they shall see I can fight," she thought, +as she wretchedly took her way to her room. The +beauteous gown was shining on her bed, and she passionately +tossed it aside and lay down and fell asleep. +When she awoke it was morning, a gusty, rainy +morning with glints of sunshine between the showers. +She was greatly depressed, and not a little +frightened. What she had to do she determined +to do, but oh! what would come after it? Then she +was shocked to find that the scene she was resolved +to enact, though gone over so often in her mind, +slipped away from her consciousness whenever she +tried to recall or arrange it. For a few minutes she +was in a mood to be driven against her will, and she +fully realized this condition. "I must be strong and +of good courage," she whispered. "I must cease +thinking and planning. I must leave this thing to +be done till the moment comes to do it. I am only +wasting my strength."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 301]</span> +Fortunately, she was continually interrupted. +Coffee was sent to her room. Then the hairdresser +arrived, and the women to robe her for the ceremony. +She was quite passive in their hands, and +when her father appeared, ready to answer his +"Come, Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">The parlors were crowded with the Spencers and +their friends, and congratulations sounded fitfully in +her ears as carriage after carriage rolled away to +St. Margaret's Church. Mr. Semple and Maria +were in the last coach, and his wife and the bridegroom +in the one immediately before them. So that +when they arrived at the church, the company were +already grouped around the communion railing.</p> + +<p class="indent">Maria felt like a soul in a bad dream; she was just +aware when she left the carriage that it was raining +heavily, and that her father took her arm and +sharply bid her to "lift her wedding dress from the +plashy pavement." She made a motion with her +hand, but failed to grasp it, and then she was walking +up the gloomy aisle, she was at the rail, the +clergyman was standing before her, the bridegroom +at her side, the company all about her. There was +prayer, and she felt the pressure of her father's hand +force her to her knees; and then there was a constant +murmur of voices, and a spell like that which held +her during her last interview with Lord Medway +was upon her. But suddenly she remembered this +fateful apathy, and the memory was like movement +in a nightmare. The instant she recognized it the +influence was broken and she was almost painfully +conscious of Richard Spencer's affirmative:</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 302]</span> +She knew then what was coming and what she +had to do, and those who watched her saw the girl +lift herself erect and listen to the priest asking those +solemnly momentous questions which were to bind +her forever to obey Richard Spencer, to love and +honor him, and in sickness and health, forsaking all +others, keep unto him as long as she lived. She had +but to say two words and her promise would be +broken, her lover lost and her life made wretched beyond +hope.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I will never say them!" and this passionate +assurance to her soul gave her all the strength she +needed. When the clergyman stopped speaking she +looked straight into his face and in a voice low, but +perfectly distinct, answered:</p> + +<p class="indent">"I will not."</p> + +<p class="indent">There was a moment's startled pause. Her +father's voice broke it:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Go on, sir."</p> + +<p class="indent">But before this was possible Maria continued:</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am the promised wife of another man. I do +not love this man. I will not marry him."</p> + +<p class="indent">Her eyes, full of pitiful entreaty, held the clergyman's +eyes. He looked steadily at the company and +said, "God's law and the laws of this realm forbid +this marriage until such time as the truth of this allegation +be tried." And with these words he walked +to the altar, laid the Book of Common Prayer upon +it, and then disappeared in the vestry.</p> + +<p class="indent">Before he did so, however, there was a shrill, +sharp cry of mortal pain, and Mrs. Semple was +barely saved by her husband's promptitude from +falling prone on the marble aisle before the chancel. +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 303]</span> +Immediately all was confusion. The sick woman +was carried insensible to her coach. Mr. Spencer +took his sobbing sister on his arm, and the guests +broke up into couples. With hurrying feet, amazed, +ashamed, all talking together, they sought the vehicles +that were to carry them away from a scene so +painful and so unexpected. Maria sat down in the +nearest pew and waited to see what would happen. +She heard carriage after carriage roll away, and +then realized that every one had deserted her.</p> + +<p class="indent">In about twenty minutes the sexton began to close +the church, and she asked him, "Has nobody waited +for me?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, miss, you be here alone." Then she took a +ring from her finger and offered it to him: "Get me +a closed carriage and I will give you this ring," she +said, but he answered:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nay, I want no ring from a little lass in trouble. +I'll get the carriage, and you may drop into the +church some better day to pay me."</p> + +<p class="indent">She went back home in the midst of a thunderstorm. +The day was darkened, the rain driven furiously +by the wind, and yet when she reached her +father's house the front entrance stood open and +there was neither men nor women servants in sight. +She ran swiftly to her room, locked the door and +sank into a chair, spent with fear and sick with apprehension. +What had happened? What would +be done to her? "Oh, to be back in New York!" +she cried. "Nobody there would force a poor girl +into misery and make a prayer over it, and a feast +about it."</p> + +<p class="indent">A sudden movement of her head showed her +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 304]</span> +Maria Semple in her wedding dress. She turned +herself quickly from the glass, and with frantic +haste unfastened the gown and hung it up. All the +trinkets in which they had dressed her were as +quickly removed, and she was not satisfied until she +had cast off every symbol of the miserably frustrated +marriage. But as hour after hour passed and no +one came near her she became sick with terror, and +she was also faint with hunger and thirst. Something +must be ventured, some one must be seen; she +felt that she would lose consciousness if she was left +alone much longer.</p> + +<p class="indent">After repeatedly ringing her bell, it was answered +by one of the women. "I want some tea, Mary, and +some meat and bread. What is the matter with +every one?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"The doctors do say as Mrs. Semple is dying, and +the master is like a man out of his mind." The +woman spoke with an air of distinct displeasure, if +not dislike, but she brought the food and tea to +Maria, and without further speech left her to consider +what she had been told.</p> + +<p class="indent">Oh, how long were the gloomy hours of the day! +How much longer those of the terrible night! The +very atmosphere was full of pain and fear; lights +were passing up and down, and footsteps and inarticulate +movements, all indicating the great struggle +between life and death. And Maria lay dressed +upon her bed, sleepless, listening and watching, and +seeing always in the dim rushlight that white shimmering +gown splashed with rain, and hanging +limply by one sleeve. It grew frightful to her, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 305]</span> +threatening, uncanny, and she finally tore it angrily +down and flung it into a closet.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a><img src="images/illus-100gs.png" alt="MARIA LAY DRESSED UPON HER BED." title="MARIA LAY DRESSED UPON HER BED." /><br /> +<span class="caption">MARIA LAY DRESSED UPON HER BED.</span> +</div> + +<p class="indent">But the weariest suspense comes to some end +finally, and just as dawn broke there was a sudden +change. The terror and the suffering were over; +peace stole through every room in the house, for a +man child was born to the house of Semple.</p> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p class="h2a">LOVE AND VICTORY.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">This</span> event was in many ways favorable to Maria. +She was put aside, nearly forgotten for a month, in +the more imminent danger to the household. And +by that time the almost brutal passion which in the +first hours of shame and distress could think of no +equivalent but personal punishment, had become +more reasonable. For men and women, if worthy +of that name, do not tarry in the Valley of the +Shadow of Death without learning much they would +learn nowhere else.</p> + +<p class="indent">Still her position was painful enough. Her father +did not speak unless it was necessary to ask her a +question, her stepmother for nearly eight weeks +remained in her room, and the once obsequious +servants hardly troubled themselves to attend to her +wants or obey her requests. In the cold isolation +of her disgrace she often longed for a more active +displeasure. If only the anger against her would +come to words she could plead for herself, or at least +she could ask to be forgiven.</p> + +<p class="indent">But Mr. Semple, though ordinarily a passionate +and hot-spoken man, was afraid to say or do anything +which would disturb the peace necessary for +his wife's restoration and his son's health. He felt +that it was better for Maria to suffer. She deserved +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 307]</span> +punishment; they were innocent. Yet, being naturally +a just man, he had allowed her such excuse +as reflection brought. He had told himself that the +girl had never had a mother's care and guidance; +that he himself had been too busy making money to +instill into her mind the great duty of obedience to +his commands. He had considered also that the +very atmosphere in which she had lived and moved +nearly all the years of her life had been charged with +assertion and rebellion. It was the attitude of every +one around her to resist authority, even the authority +of kings and governors. If she had been +brought up in the submissive, self-effacing manner +proper to English girls her offense would have been +unnatural and unpardonable; but he remembered +with a sigh that American women, as a rule, arrogated +to themselves power and individuality, which +American men, as a rule, did not ask them to surrender. +These things he accepted as some palliation of +Maria's abnormal misconduct; and also he was not +oblivious to the fact that her grandparents had for +a year given her great freedom, and that he, for his +own convenience, had placed her with her grandparents. +Besides which, anger in a good heart burns +itself out.</p> + +<p class="indent">Very slowly, but yet surely, this process was going +on, and Maria's attitude was favorable to it, for +she was heart-sorry for the circumstances that had +compelled her to assert the right of her womanhood, +and her pathetic self-effacement was sincere and +without reproach. By-the-by the babe came in as +peacemaker. As soon as she was permitted to see +her stepmother she bent all the sweet magnetism of +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 308]</span> +her nature to winning, at least, her forgiveness. +She carried the fretful child in her arms and softly +sung him to sleep, she praised his beauty, she learned +to love him, and she made the lonely hours when Mr. +Semple was at the office pass pleasantly to the sick +woman. Finally one day they came to tears and +explanations; the dreadful affair was talked out, +Maria entreated forgiveness, and was not ungenerously +pardoned.</p> + +<p class="indent">This was at the close of August, and a few days +afterward she received a letter from Mrs. Gordon. +"We are in London for the winter," she wrote. +"Come, child, and let me see how you look." Rather +reluctantly Mrs. Semple permitted her to make the +visit. "She is the next thing to an American," she +thought, "and she will make Maria unreasonable and +disobedient again." But she need not so have +feared; the primal obligations of humanity are +planted in childhood, and when we are old we are +apt to refer to them and judge accordingly.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Gordon's first remark was not flattering, for +as Maria entered her room she cried out, "La, child! +what is the matter with you? You look ill, worried, +older than you ought to look. Are you in trouble?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, Madame."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Stepmother?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Father."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah! Stepmothers make stepfathers, every one +knows that. We shall have a dish of tea and you +shall tell me about it. Then I will help you. But +one can't build without stone. What has the stepfather +done?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Maria told her friend all her trouble, and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 309]</span> +was rather chilled in the telling by certain signs of +qualified sympathy. And when the story was finished +Mrs. Gordon's first remark was yet more disheartening:</p> + +<p class="indent">"'Tis a common calamity," she said, "and better +people than you have endured it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But, Madame——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, I know what you are going to say. But +you must consider first that your father was acting +quite within his authority. He had the right to +choose your husband."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I had already chosen my husband."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you ought, when you first came home, to +have notified your parents. Sure, you had so much +responsibility to fulfill. Why did you not do your +duty in this matter?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think I was afraid."</p> + +<p class="indent">"To be sure you were. Little coward! Pray +what did you fear? Ernest Medway?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. I thought, perhaps—as I told you, we +parted in anger, and I thought perhaps he might not +keep his word, there were so many reasons why +he might like to break it, and also, in war-time life +is uncertain. He has been wounded, sick; he might +have died."</p> + +<p class="indent">"So might you, or I, for that matter. A pretty +account you give of yourself. Lord, child! you +surely had letters to show your father."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I had a few, but they were only a line or two. I +was sure they would be made fun of, and I was +angry, too. I thought if they would not take my +word, I would not give vouchers for it. Not I!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Don't dash at things in that way, child. Your +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 310]</span> +father was not bound to believe your story, especially +as you did not tell it until he had made all arrangements +for your marriage with this Mr. Spencer. +Your conduct was too zigzaggery; you should have +been straight."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Father ought to have believed me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"We have it on good authority that all men are +liars, and I daresay that your father has known better +people than either you or I to tell lies. Really, +I ought to give you a scolding, and this is nothing +like it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was such an outrage to force me to the very +altar. The consequences were at my father's door."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Custom, use and wont, take the outrage out of +many things. Good gracious, Maria, most of the +women I know were in some way or other forced to +the altar; good for them, too, and generally they +found that out. My own cousin, Lady Clarisse +Home, went weeping there; Miss Anne Gordon, a +cousin of my husband, refused to get up, said she +was ill, and her friends had the marriage at her bedside. +'Tis above or below reason, but these same +women adored their husbands within a week's time."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, dear! what shall I say? What shall I do?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Poor little Maria! You come to England, and +then are astonished that a girl of eighteen is not +allowed to have her own way, even in a husband."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have heard that you took your own way in +England, Madame."</p> + +<p class="indent">"In Scotland, there was some difference, and I +was twenty-three and had a fortune of my own."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Tell me then, Madame, what I ought to do."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think you ought to go back to New York. You +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 311]</span> +are unhappy here, and you must make your father's +home unhappy. That is not fair. If you are in +New York, Ernest Medway will have no difficulty +in keeping his word—if he wishes to do so. If he +does not keep his word, you will escape the mortification +you would certainly feel in your father's +house. Ask the stepmother for permission to go +back; she will manage the rest."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Had I not better wait till the twenty-ninth of +November has come and gone?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you are a fool, do so. If you are wise, do +not give opportunity so much scope. Go at once."</p> + +<p class="indent">This advice was carried out with all the speed +possible. That very night Maria found a good time +to ask her stepmother's influence, and in spite of +some affected reluctances, she understood that her +proposal was one that gave great and unexpected satisfaction. +She felt almost that she might begin to +prepare for the voyage; nor were her premonitions +false. On the third evening after the request her +father came to her room to grant it. He said he +was "sorry she wished to leave him, but that under +the circumstances it was better that she left England, +at least for a year. The war is practically +over," he continued, "and New York will speedily +recover herself." Then he entered into some financial +explanations of a very generous character, and +finally, taking a small package from his pocket, said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Give this to your grandfather. It is a miniature +of his grandson, Alexander Semple the third. He +will be much delighted to see that child, for he has +no other grandson. My brothers' children are only +girls."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 312]</span> +<i>"Only girls!"</i> The two words cut like a two-edged +blade, but they were not said with any unkind +intent, though he felt the unkind impression they +made, and rose and went slowly toward the door. +His manner was hesitating, as if he had forgotten +something he wished to say, and the momentary delay +gave to Maria a good thought. She followed +him quickly, and while his hand was on the door laid +hers upon it. "Father," she said, "stay a little +while. I want to ask you to forgive me. I have +so often been troublesome and self-willed, I have +given you so much annoyance, I feel it now. I +am sorry for it. I cannot go back to America +until you forgive me. Father, will you forgive me? +Indeed, I am sorry."</p> + +<p class="indent">He hesitated a moment, looked into her white, +upturned face, and then answered, "I forgive you, +Maria. You have caused me great shame and disappointment, +but I forgive you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not in that way! Oh, not in that way, father! +Kiss me as you used to do. You have not kissed +me for nearly a year. Dear father, do not be so cold +and so far-off. I am only a little girl, but I am +<i>your</i> little girl. Perhaps I do not deserve to be +forgiven, but for my mother's sake be kind to me."</p> + +<p class="indent">At these words he turned fully to her, took her +hands, and in a low, constrained voice said, "You +are a very dear little girl, and we will let all the +trouble between us be as if it had never been. We +will bury it, forgive it, and forget it evermore. It +is not to be spoken of again, not as long as we live."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then she leaned her head against his breast and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 313]</span> +he kissed her as those who love and forgive kiss, and +the joy of reconciliation was between them.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Good night, Maria;" and as he held her close +within his arm he added with a laugh, "What a little +bit of a woman! How high are you? Maria?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Just as high as your heart, father. I don't want +to be any higher."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is a very pretty speech," and this time he +kissed her voluntarily, and with a most tender affection.</p> + +<p class="indent">Five days after this interview Maria sailed for +America. Her father had carefully attended to all +things necessary for her safety and comfort, and her +stepmother had tried to atone by profuse and handsome +gifts for the apparent unkindness which had +hastened her departure. But Maria knew herself +much to blame, and she was too happy to bear ill +will. She was going to see her lover. She was +going to give him the assurances which she had so +long withheld. She was now impatient to give voice +to all the tenderness in her heart.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was the nineteenth day of September when she +sailed, and on the following day, as Mr. Semple was +sitting in his office, one of the messengers brought +him a card. The light was dim and he looked intently +at it, appeared startled, rose and took it to +the window for further inspection. "Lord Medway" +was certainly the name it bore, and ere he +could give any order concerning it the door opened +and Lord Medway entered.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mr. Semple advanced to meet him, and the nobleman +took the chair he offered. "Sir," he said, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 314]</span> +hardly waiting for the preliminary courtesies, "Sir, +I cannot believe myself quite unknown to you. And +I hope that you have already some anticipation of +the purport of my visit. I come to ask the hand +of your daughter Maria in marriage. I have been +her devoted lover for more than three years, and +now I would make her my wife. I beg you, sir, to +examine these papers. They will give you a generally +correct idea of my wealth and of the settlement +I propose to make in favor of my wife."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mr. Semple looked at the eager young man with +a face so troubled that he was instantly alarmed.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What is it?" he cried. "Is Maria sick? Married? +Sir, do not keep me in suspense."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Maria must be very near to New York. She +sailed three weeks ago."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, how unfortunate I am! I am indeed distracted +at this disappointment."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Will you come with me to my home? Mrs. +Semple will tell you all that you desire to know about +Maria."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am obliged for your kindness, sir, but there is +only one thing for me to do. I must go back to New +York by the first opportunity. I have your permission, +I trust."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have nothing to oppose to your wishes, Lord +Medway. Maria has been faithful to your memory, +and I have every reason to know that you are dear +to her. I wish you both to be happy."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then, sir, farewell for the present. If Fate be +not most unkind to me, I will return with Lady Medway +before the year be fully out."</p> + +<p class="indent">He seemed to gather hope from his own prophecy, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 315]</span> +and with the charming manner he knew well how +to assume he left Mr. Semple penetrated with his +importance and dignity, and exceedingly exalted in +the prospect of his daughter's great fortune.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I do not wonder that Maria would accept no +lover in his place," he said to Mrs. Semple. "I +think, Elizabeth, he is the handsomest man I ever +saw. And I glanced at the total of his rent-roll; it +is close on forty thousand pounds a year, and likely +to increase as his mining property is opened up. +Maria has done very well for herself."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then we have good authority for saying all men +will praise her. Nevertheless, Cousin Richard was +a handsome man and an excellent match," said Mrs. +Semple. "You had better tell Richard. It will +close that affair forever."</p> + +<p class="indent">She was vexed, but not insensible to the social +glory of the match. And there was also the precious +boy in the cradle. A relative among the nobility +would be a good thing for him; and, indeed, +the subject opened up on all sides in a manner flattering +both to the pride and the interest of the Semples.</p> + +<p class="indent">They could not cease talking of it until sleep put +an end to their hopes and speculations. And in the +morning they were so readily excited that Mrs. Semple +felt impelled to make a confidante of her nursery +maid; and Mr. Semple, being under the same necessity +of conversation, was pleased to remember that +his wife had advised him to inform Richard Spencer. +He told himself that she was right, and that +Richard ought to know the reason of his rejection. +It would only be proper kindness to let him understand +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 316]</span> +that Maria's reluctance was not a dislike for +him personally, but was consequent upon her love +for one who had won her heart previous to their +acquaintance. That fact altered Richard's position +and made it much less humiliating.</p> + +<p class="indent">So he went to the offices of the Spencer Company, +and after some tedious talk on the Zante currant +question, he told the rejected man of Lord Medway's +visit, described his appearance, and revealed, under +a promise of secrecy, the amount of his rent-roll and +the settlement proposed for his wife.</p> + +<p class="indent">The effect of this story was precisely in the line +of what Mr. Semple had supposed. The weakness +of Richard Spencer's nature was a slavish adoration +of the nobility. To have had Lord Medway for a +rival was an honor to be fully appreciated; and to +the end of his life it supplied him, in all his hours of +after-dinner confidences, with a sentimental story he +delighted to tell. "Yes, gentlemen," he would say, +even when an old man, "Yes, gentlemen, I was once +in love, madly in love, with as beautiful a creature +as ever trod this earth. And she led me a pretty +dance right to the altar steps, and then deserted me. +But I cannot blame her. No, by St. George, I cannot! +I had a rival, gentlemen, the young, handsome, +rich and powerful Lord Medway, a nobleman +that sits in the house of Lords and may be of the +Privy Council. What hope for poor Dick Spencer +against such a rival? None at all, gentlemen, and +so you see, for Lord Medway's sake I am a bachelor, +and always shall be one. No girl for me, after the +divine Maria was lost. I saw her going to the last +drawing-room and she smiled at me. I live for such +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 317]</span> +little favors, and I have reason to know my great +rival does not grudge them to me."</p> + +<p class="indent">And in this way Richard Spencer consoled himself, +and was perhaps more reasonably happy than if +he had married a reluctant woman and been grieved +all the years of his life by her contradictions.</p> + +<p class="indent">The unexpected return of Maria to her grandparents +quite overthrew Lord Medway's plans for a +few hours. He had hoped to marry her in London, +and take her at once to his town house, which was +even then being prepared and adorned for her. And +affairs in New York were in such a state of chaos +that he was even anxious for her personal safety. +He had left everything and every one in a state of +miserable transition and uncertainty, and he was sure +things were growing worse and would continue to do +so until the departure of the hostile army and the return +of the patriotic citizens. For it was they, and +they only, who had any interest in the preservation +of their beautiful city from plunder and destruction.</p> + +<p class="indent">And as he thought on these things, he reflected +that it would be an impossibility to secure for Maria +and himself any comfortable passage home, in the +ordinary shipping, or even in the ships of war. He +was sure every available inch of room would be filled +with royalist refugees, and he knew well the likely +results of men and women and children crowded together, +without sufficient food and water, and exposed +to the winter's cold and storm without any +preparation for it.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It will not do, it will not do!" he ejaculated, +"whatever it costs, I must charter a vessel for our +own use."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 318]</span> +In pursuance of this decision, he was in the largest +shipping-house very early the next morning, and +with its aid, speedily secured a swift sailing clipper. +Her long, sharp bow and raking masts, pleased his +nautical sense; she was staunchly built, fit to buffet +wind and waves, and had a well-seasoned captain, +who feared nothing, and was pleased at the terms +Lord Medway offered him.</p> + +<p class="indent">Nearly two weeks were spent in victualing and fitting +her for the dainty lady she was to carry. The +softest pillows and rugs and carpets, made her small +space luxuriously sufficient. Silver and china and +fine linen were provided for her table, and when all +her lockers had been filled and all her sailing wants +provided for, Lord Medway brought on board a +good cook, a maid for Maria, and a valet for himself. +Then he set sail joyously; surely, at last, he +was on the right road to his bridal.</p> + +<p class="indent">Overtaking Maria was of course beyond a possibility, +but he desired to reach New York before its +evacuation. He had many reasons for this, but the +chief one was a fear that unless he did so, there might +be no clergyman in New York to perform the marriage +ceremony. Lovers have a thousand anxieties, +and if they do not have them, make them; and as +the "Dolphin" flew before the wind, Medway walked +her deck, wondering if Maria had arrived safely in +New York, if her ship had been delayed, if it had +been taken by a privateer, if there had been any shipwreck, +or even great storms; if by any cruel chance +he should reach New York, and not find Maria there. +How could he endure the consequent disappointment +and anxiety? He trembled, he turned heartsick, +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 319]</span> +at any such possibility, and when the green +shores of the new world appeared, he almost wished +for a little longer suspense; he thought a certainty of +Maria's absence would kill him.</p> + +<p class="indent">As they came nearer to the city it was found impossible +to approach any of the usual wharfs. The +river was crowded with men-of-war, transports, and +vessels of every kind, and after some consideration +they took to the North River, and finally anchored in +midstream, nearly opposite the house of Madame +Jacobus.</p> + +<p class="indent">The sight of her residence inspired him with something +like hope, and he caused the small boat by +which he landed to put him on shore as far north of +the heart of the city as possible. But even so, he +could distinctly hear, and still more distinctly <i>feel</i> the +sorrowful tumult of the chaotic, almost frantic town. +With swift steps and beating heart he reached the +Semple house. He stood still a moment and looked +at it. In the morning sunshine it had its usual, +peaceful, orderly aspect, and as he reached the gate, +he saw the Elder open the door, and, oh, sight of +heaven! Maria stepped into the garden with him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a><img src="images/illus-320gs.png" alt="HE CAUSED THE SMALL BOAT TO PUT HIM ON SHORE." title="HE CAUSED THE SMALL BOAT TO PUT HIM ON SHORE." /><br /> +<span class="caption">HE CAUSED THE SMALL BOAT TO PUT HIM ON SHORE.</span> +</div> + +<p class="indent">What happened then? Let each heart tell itself. +We have many words to express grief, none that +translate the transports of love that has conquered all +the accidents of a contrary fortune. Such joy speaks +like a child, two or three words at a time, "My Darling—Oh, +Beloved—Sweetest Maria—Ernest—Ernest—At +last—At last!"</p> + +<p class="indent">But gradually they came back to the sense of those +proprieties that very wisely invade the selfishness of +human beings. They remembered there were others +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 320]</span> +in the world besides themselves, and broke their bliss +in two, that they might share it. And as conversation +became more general Medway perceived that +haste was an imperative necessity, and that even +haste might be too late. It was now exceedingly +doubtful if a clergyman could be procured. Trinity +had no authorized rector, the Reverend Mr. Inglis +having resigned the charge on the first of November, +just three weeks previously, and the appointment of +the Reverend Mr. Moore, selected by the corporation +of Trinity, not being yet approved by the Governor +of the State of New York. To an Englishman of +that day, there was no marriage legally performed +but by an accredited Episcopal minister, and this was +the obstacle Lord Medway had now to face.</p> + +<p class="indent">If General Clinton had been still in New York, the +chaplain attached to his staff would have been easily +available; but Lord Medway knew little of Sir Guy +Carleton, then in command, and could only suppose +his staff would be similarly provided. As this difficulty +demanded instant attention, Medway went immediately +about it. He was but barely in time. Sir +Guy thought the chaplain had already embarked, but +fortunately, he was found in his rooms, in the midst +of his packing, and the offer of a large fee made a +short delay possible to him. It was then the twentieth +of November, and the evacuation of the British +troops and refugees was to be completed on the +twenty-fifth. There was no time to be lost, for an +almost insane terror pervaded the minds of the royalists, +and Medway hastened back to Maria to expedite +her preparations.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Only one day, my dear one," he said, "can be +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 321]</span> +allowed you. You must pack immediately. If your +trunks can be sent to Madame Jacobus to-night, I +will have the captain of the 'Dolphin' get them on +board as early as possible to-morrow. During to-day +you must make all your arrangements. The +clergyman will be waiting for us in St. Paul's Chapel +at nine o'clock in the morning. Will your grandparents +go with us to the church?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think not, Ernest. They would rather bid me +good-bye in their own home, and it will be better so. +Uncle Neil has begged grandfather not to go into +the city; he says it would be both dangerous and +heart-breaking to him—yet we will ask them."</p> + +<p class="indent">It was as Maria had supposed; the Elder and +Madame preferred to part with their little girl in +private. With smiles and tears and blessings, they +gave her into Lord Medway's care and then sat down +on their lonely hearth to rejoice in her joy and good +fortune. They did not, however, talk much; a few +words now and then, and long pauses between, in +which they wandered back to their own bridal, and +the happy, busy days that were gone forever.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It will be Neil next," said the Elder sadly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. The Bradleys will be home on the twenty-seventh. +He is set on Agnes Bradley."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm sorry for it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She suits him. I know you never liked the family."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Far awa' from it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Neil says the son is to marry Mary Wakefield. +Agnes has been with the Wakefields; Mary is the +youngest daughter."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And the saddler will open his shop again?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 322]</span> +"Yes. His son is to be his partner. John Bradley +thinks he has a 'call' to preach. He has got the +habit of wandering about, working and preaching. +Agnes says he will never give it up."</p> + +<p class="indent">After a long pause the Elder spoke again: "Maria +is sure to be happy; she has done well."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No woman could be happier. Has Neil told you +what he is going to do?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He canna stay here, Janet. That is beyond +thinking of. Any bill of attainder would include +him. He is going to Boston to pick up the lines o' +his brother's business. Alexander made a fortune +there; the name o' Semple is known and respected, +and John Curwen, who has plenty o' money, will be +in the business with him. He'll do well, no fear o' +Neil."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then he'll get married."</p> + +<p class="indent">"To be sure; men are aye eager to meet that +trouble."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Alexander!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"And speaking o' bills o' attainder, I'll like enough +hae my name on one."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, you won't. If you'll only bide at hame and +keep your whist anent a' public matters, you'll be +left alane. If you have enemies, I hae friends—great +and powerful friends—and there's our two +sons to stand on your right hand and your left. +Robert and Allen left a' and followed the American +cause from the first. They are good sureties for you. +And what of your friend, Joris Van Heemskirk?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"We'll see, we'll see. He may have changed a +deal; he was always fond o' authority, and for eight +years he has been giving orders and saying 'go' and +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 323]</span> +'come' and 'do this.' I took a bit walk down the +road yestreen, and I saw that creature Batavius polishing +up the brass knocker o' his father-in-law's +front door. He had raked the littered garden, and +Joanna was putting up clean curtains. And he came +waddling down to the gate and said, 'Good-morning, +Elder,' and I could but say the same to him. And +then he said, 'We are all getting ready for the coming +home o' our brave soldiers, and I am satisfied; it +is a steady principle of mine to be satisfied with the +government. Governor Clinton bowed to me yesterday, +and he is the friend of General Washington. +I notice these things, for it is my way to notice everything.' +And I interrupted him and said, 'Your principles +change with your interests, sir,' and he fired +up and asked: 'Why not, then? It is a principle of +mine to go with the times, for I will not be left behind. +I am a sailor, and I know that it is a fool that +does not turn his sail with the wind. When the +wind blows west I will not sail east;' and I said, +'you will do very well in these times,' and he laughed +and answered, '<i>Ja!</i> I always do very well. I am +known for that everywhere.' So I left him, but the +world seems slipping awa' from me, Janet."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am at your side, and there's nae bride nor +bridegroom o' a day half as much to each other as +you are to me and I to you. And if this warld fails, +it is not the only warld." And they looked lovingly +at each other and were silent and satisfied.</p> + +<p class="indent">In the meantime the little wedding party had gathered +at the altar of St. Paul's Chapel: Neil, who gave +away Maria, Madame Jacobus and her friend Counselor +Van Ahrens; Lord Medway with Sir Francis +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 324]</span> +Lauve and his sister Miss Estelle Lauve, members +of an English family with whom he had been familiar. +The chaplain was waiting when the bride arrived, +and the words that made her Lord Medway's +wife were solemnly said. There was no music, no +flowers, no bells, no theatrical effects of any kind, but +the simple, grand words of resignation and consecration +had all the serious joy and sacred character of +a happy religious rite, and every heart felt that nothing +could have been more satisfactory. Maria wore +the dark cloth dress and long coat she intended to +travel in, and as she knelt bareheaded at the altar, +Madame Jacobus held the pretty head-covering that +matched it. So that as soon as the registry had been +made in the vestry, she bid farewell to all her friends, +and with a look of adorable love and confidence +placed her hand in her husband's.</p> + +<p class="indent">He was so happy that he was speechless, and he +feared a moment's delay. Until he had Maria safely +on board the "Dolphin," he could not feel certain +of her possession. The suspense made him +silent and nervous; he could only look at his bride +and clasp her hands, until she had passed safely +through the crowded streets and was securely +in the cabin of the waiting ship. Then, with the +wind in her sails and the sunshine on her white +deck, the "Dolphin" went swiftly out to sea.</p> + +<p class="indent">But not until the low-lying land was quite lost to +sight was Lord Medway completely satisfied. Then +he suffered the rapture in his heart to find words. +He folded Maria in her furs, and clasped her close +to his side, and as the daylight faded and the stars +shone out upon her lovely face, he told her a thousand +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 325]</span> +times over, how dear, how sweet, how beautiful +she was!</p> + +<p class="indent">Ah! Youth is sweet! and Life is dear to Love and +Youth; and these two were supremely happy while +whole days long they talked of their past and their +future. And though the journey lasted their honeymoon +out, they were not sorry. They were going to +be in London for the Christmas feast, and Medway +remembered that he had promised Mr. Semple to +"bring Lady Medway home before the New Year," +and he was pleased to redeem his word.</p> + +<p class="indent">"For I liked your father, Maria," he said. "He +seemed to me one of the finest gentlemen I ever met, +and——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"My stepmother is a lady also," Maria answered, +"one of the Norfolk Spencers; and many women +would have been worse to me than she was. Sometimes +I was in the wrong too."</p> + +<p class="indent">"They must keep Christmas with us. <i>Christmas +in our own home!</i> Maria, you hold me by my heart. +Sweet, say what you wish, and you shall have it." +And indeed it would be impossible to express in written +words a tithe of the great content they had. For +all their hopes and plans and dreams of future happiness +were</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i4">"but Ministers of Love</span><br /> +<span class="i0">And fed his sacred flame,"</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>and the bliss so long afar, at length so nigh, rested in +the great peace of its attainment.</p> + +<p class="indent">In leaving New York immediately after their marriage, +Lord and Lady Medway escaped the misery +of seeing the last agony of the royalist inhabitants +of that city. For six months Sir Guy Carleton had +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 326]</span> +been sending them to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, +Canada, to the Bahamas and the West India Islands, +and yet the condition of the city in these last days +is indescribable. To remove a large household is no +easy matter, but the whole city had practically to be +moved, and at the same time at least two thousand +families driven from their homes at the occupation +of New York, had returned and were gradually taking +possession of their deserted dwellings. The confusion +was intensified at the last by the distraction of +those who had hesitated until delay was no longer +possible, by the sick and the helpless, and the remnant +who had been striving to procure money, or +were waiting for relatives and friends. Such a +scene as New York presented on the morning of the +final evacuation on the twenty-fifth of November, +1783, has no parallel in modern history.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was followed by a scene not only as intensely +dramatic, but also as exhilarating and joyful as the +former was distracting and despairing—the entry of +the triumphant Army of Freedom. As the rearguard +of the British army left the Battery, it came +marching down the Bowery—picked heroes of a +score of battlefields—led by General Knox. It +passed by Chatham Street and Pearl Street to Wall +Street and so to Broadway, where it waited for the +procession headed by General Washington and Governor +Clinton, the officers of the army, citizens on +horseback, and citizens on foot. A salute of thirteen +guns greeted the columns as they met, arms were +presented and the drums beat. As a military procession, +it was without impressiveness, as a moral +procession, it was without equal in the annals of the +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 327]</span> +world. No bells chimed congratulations, no bands +of music stirred popular enthusiasm; it notably +lacked all the usual pomp of military display, but no +grander army of self-wrought freemen ever greeted +their chief, their homes, and their native city.</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Jacobus, weeping tears of joy, viewed it +from her window. Early in the morning she had +sent a closed carriage for her friend Madame Semple; +but it had returned empty.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Janet Semple kept herself alive for this day," she +said. "I wonder why she did not come. She +prayed that her eyes might see this salvation, and +then she has not come to see it. What is the matter, +I wonder?"</p> + +<p class="indent">A very simple and yet a very great thing was the +matter. When Madame had put on her best gown, +some little necessity took her back to the parlor. The +Elder was crouching over the fire and down his +white face tears were unconsciously streaming. She +could not bear it; she could not leave him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The joy is there, the victory is won, and the blessing +is for a' generations," she said. "I'll never be +missed in the crowd, and I can sing 'Glory be to God' +in my ain house. So I'll stay where I'm needed, by +my dear auld man; it was for better or for worse, +for richer or poorer, in joy, or in sorrow, while baith +our lives lasted," she mused, "and Janet Semple isna +one to forget that bargain." She went quickly back +to her room, spoke only into the ear of God her joy +and her thanksgiving, and then taking off her festival +garments, knocked at Neil's door as she went +down stairs.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Are you going out, Neil?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum">[Pg 328]</span> +"No; I shall stay with father. I am just going +to him."</p> + +<p class="indent">They went together, and as they entered the room, +the Elder looked up:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Aren't you going to see the show, Neil?" he +asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I prefer to stay with you, sir," was the answer. +The old man looked from his son to his wife gratefully, +and murmuring, "Thank you baith," he +fainted away.</p> + +<p class="indent">Tenderly they lifted him to a couch, and he soon +responded to the remedies applied; but Janet gave +him a soothing draught, and they sat the afternoon +through, watching him. They could hear the joyful +acclaims—the shouts and songs of a redeemed +people—the noise of a multitude giving itself to a +tumultuous joy; but the real gladness of grateful +hearts was by the rekindled hearth fires. Fathers +and mothers at home again! After seven years' +wandering, they knew what Home meant. Their +houses were dismantled, but they had Liberty! +Their gardens were destroyed, their shade trees +burnt, but they had Liberty! Their churches were +desecrated, but they had Liberty! Their trade was +gone, their fair city mutilated and blackened with +fire, her streets torn up, and her wharfs decayed, +but thank God, they had Liberty! Never again +would they be the subjects of any king, or the victims +of any imposed tyranny. They were free men. +They had won their freedom, and they who have +once tasted of the sharp, strong wine of Freedom +will drink thereof forever.</p> + +<hr/> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[Pg 329]</span></p> + +<p class="indent">These events occurred exactly one hundred and +eighteen years ago, but those who happen to be in +that lovely country which lies between Yorkshire and +Lancashire can find in Medway Castle one frail memento +of them. A little diplomacy and a little coin +of the realm dropped into the keeper's hand will procure +them admittance. And after viewing its rooms +of state, its splendid library, and its picture gallery, +they may seek a little room toward the sunrising, +called "the Lady Maria's parlor." Its furniture +of crimson satin is faded now, but it doubtless suited +well the dark beauty so well depicted in a large portrait +of her, that is one of the ornaments of the east +wall. The portrait of her husband, Lord Ernest +Medway, is near to it, but between them is a sheet +of ordinary writing paper, yellow with age, but still +keeping a legible copy of three verses and the pretty, +simple, old tune to which they were sung. It is the +original copy of <i>"The Song of a Single Note,"</i> the +song they sang together at Nicholas Bayard's summer +entertainment one hundred and twenty-one years +ago. Lord Medway always said it was an enchanted +song, and that, as its melodious tones fell from his +lady's lips, they charmed his heart away and gave it +to her forever.</p> + +<p class="indent">And if other lovers would learn this fateful +melody, why here is a copy of it. If they sing it but +once together, it may be that they will sing it as +long as they live:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"For through the sense, the song shall fit</span><br /> +<span class="i2">The soul to understand."</span><br /> +</div> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[Pg 330]</span></p> + +<p class="h2">A SONG OF A SINGLE NOTE.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-330gs.png" +alt="A song of a sin-gle note. But +it soars and swells a-bove The +trum-pet's call and clash of arms, For the +name of the song is Love, Love, Love, +The name of the song is Love." +title="A song of a sin-gle note. But +it soars and swells a-bove The +trum-pet's call and clash of arms, For the +name of the song is Love, Love, Love, +The name of the song is Love." /><br /> +<span class="caption"><a href="music/singlenote.mid">Listen</a></span> +</div> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Mortals may sing it here below,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">The angels sing it above;</span><br /> +<span class="i0">For all of heaven that earth can know</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Is set to the Song of Love,</span><br /> +<span class="i4">Love, love, love, is set to the Song of Love.</span><br /></div> +</div> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then bid the trumpet and drum be still,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">And battle flags idly float;</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Better by far that men should sing</span><br /> +<span class="i2">The Song of a Single Note.</span><br /> +<span class="i4">Love, love, love, the Song of a Single Note.</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="hr2"/> + +<div class="tnote"> + +<p class="h2a">Transcriber's Notes:</p> + +<p class="indent">Some of the illustrations have been moved so that they correspond to the +text and do not break up paragraphs. The biggest change was the movement +of the illustration "Maria lay dressed upon her bed" from facing page +100 to page 305, near the corresponding text. Because of these changes, +the page numbers of the illustrations no longer match the page numbers +in the List of Illustrations.</p> + +<p class="indent">Throughout the book, the name of one of the characters was "DuBois", but +four times the name was given as "Du Bois". In each of those four, +instances, "Du Bois" was replaced with "DuBois". Likewise, another +character was sometimes named "André" and sometimes named "Andre". +In this case, "Andre" was replaced with "André".</p> + +<p class="indent">Thoughout the book, quotation mark usage is different than current usage. +Quotation mark usage was "corrected" only where the printed usage would be +confusing to the reader. In some cases a single set of quotation marks was +used for multiple paragraphs, in those caes the quotation marks were not +changed.</p> + +<p class="indent">Throughout the dialogues, there were words and punctuation used to +mimic accents of the speakers. Those words and punctuation were retained + as-is.</p> + +<p class="indent">In the Contents, a period was placed after "V".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 2, a period was placed after "easily go further".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 7, a period was placed after "by a meadow", and a period was +placed after "I should say".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 14, a quotation mark was removed after the phrase "called for +a fresh pipe.".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 17, "to speak them" was replaced with "to speak to them".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 27, the double quotation marks around the poem has been replaced +with single quotation marks, as the poem is part of a larger quote.</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 38, "He eat of all" was replaced with "He ate of all".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 48, a period was placed after "he is her lover".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 49, "doubt and fear and love's first food" was replaced with +"doubt and fear are love's first food".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 55, a double quotation mark before "Mr. Bradley, it is the +King's birthday" was replaced with a single quotation mark.</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 65, "she asked" was replaced with "She asked".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 74, the double quotation mark was removed after "Wonderful!".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 79, the single quotation mark after "They, too, have saved us." +was replased with a double quotation mark.</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 84, a double quotation mark was placed before "Oh, you must be".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 86, the quotation mark was removed after "though we may not +admit it."</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 94, "have not began" was replaced with "have not began".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 97, "exhilerating" was replaced with "exhilarating".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 109, the quotation mark was removed after "they would likely +hear it from some one.".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 110, "colums" was replaced with "columns".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 123, "confident and adviser" was replaced with "confidant and +adviser".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 131, a double quotation mark was placed after "at nine o'clock. +Harry.".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 131, a double quotation mark was placed before "I am sure that".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 154, a period was added after "I refuse to say".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 162, the quotation mark was removed after "I will +stand still."</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 163, a quotation mark was added after "but for my +father, it had gone badly with you!"</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 165, a comma was added after "And there is another thing".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 169, "There has a low" was replaced with "There was a low".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 171, a period was added after "said Harry".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 175, a quotation mark was added before "One hundred years ago—in +Scotland".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 178, the period after "Would you be content if I saved his life" +was replaced with a question mark.</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 182, a double quotation mark was added after +"'Ernest is doing all that can be done.'"</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 188, "The horoine is" was replaced with "The heroine is".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 195, a person is referred to as "Hulen" and as "Hulens". No +change was made because there was no indication of which is the correct +name.</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 197, "a saucy youth" was replaced with "A saucy youth".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 197, "and he went on talking" was replaced with "and he went on +talking".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 198, "he had builded" was replaced with "he had built".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 199, a quotation mark was added after "I make you the same +offer if you will take it."</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 199, a period was placed after "and mental tremor".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 199, a period was placed after "waited for Neil's reply".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 200, "as you say" was replaced with "As you say".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 203, a period was placed after "will be paid to-morrow".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 221, A double quotation mark was removed before "This remark +Maria did not approve of".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 227, "curiuosly" was replaced with "curiously".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 234, a quotation mark was added after "less almighty and +mair sensible than others.".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 240, "consiousness" was replaced with "consciousness".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 244, the semicolon after "aboon ten thousand" was replaced with +a period.</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 248, "the butt o 'a lot o' fellows" was replaced with "the butt +o' a lot o' fellows".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 251, a quotation mark was added after "Meets all its wants."</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 251, "scrimage" was replaced with "scrimmage".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 253, a period was put after "lost its chief advantage for +defense".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 257, a quotation mark was added after the phrase "said Lord +Medway,".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 258, the period after "in the sweet Spring evening" was replaced +with a comma.</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 263, a quotation mark was placed after "do love me, +Maria?".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 272, "my father insist" was replaced with "my father insists".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 283, a double quotation mark was placed after "I think, +indeed,".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 290, "situaton" was replaced with "situation."</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 296, the quotation mark after "in her heart for him." was removed.</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 296, a quotation mark was placed after "such a person".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 302, "vesty" was replaced with "vestry".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 309, a quotation mark was placed after "to show your father."</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 310, a quotation mark was placed after "you should have +been straight."</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 323, the quotation mark was removed after "silent and satisfied."</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 323, "alter" was replaced with "altar".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 326, "exhilerating" was replaced with "exhilarating".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 329, "they may seek a litttle" was replaced with "they may seek +a little".</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SONG OF A SINGLE NOTE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 35358-h.txt or 35358-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/5/3/5/35358">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/3/5/35358</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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