CHAPTER XVI.
COLONEL CARTER GAINS ONE VICTORY, AND MISS RAVENEL ANOTHER.
After the victory of Georgia Landing, the brigade was stationed for thewinter in the vicinity of the little half-Creole, half-American city ofThibodeaux. I have not time to tell of the sacking of this land of richplantations; how the inhabitants, by flying before the northern Vandals,induced the spoliation of their own property; how the negroes defiledand plundered the forsaken houses, and how the soldiers therebyjustified themselves in plundering the negroes; how the furniture, plateand libraries of the Lafourche planters were thus scattered upon thewinds of destruction. These things are matters of public and not ofprivate history. If I were writing the life and times of Colonel Carter,or of Captain Colburne, I should relate them with conscientioustediousness, adding a description in the best style of modernword-painting of the winding and muddy Bayou Lafourche, the interminableparallel levees, the flat border of rich bottom land, the fields ofmoving cane, and the enclosing stretches of swampy forest. But I amsimply writing a biography of Miss Ravenel illustrated by sketches ofher three or four relatives and intimates.
To reward Colonel Carter for his gallantry at Georgia Landing, and tocompensate him for his disappointment in not obtaining the star of abrigadier, the commanding general appointed him military governor ofLouisiana, and stationed him at New Orleans.
In his present temper and with his present intentions he was sincerelydelighted to obtain the generous loot of the governorship. In order tosave up money for his approaching married life, he tried to beeconomical, and actually thought that he was so, although he regularlyspent the monthly two hundred and twenty-two dollars of his colonelcy.But the position of governor would give him several thousands a year,and these thousands he could and would put aside to comfort and adornhis future wife. Now-a-days there was no private and unwarrantableattachment to his housekeeping establishment; the pure love that was inhis heart overthrew and drove out all the unclean spirits who were itsenemies. Moreover, he rapidly cut down his drinking habits, firstpruning off his cocktails before breakfast, then his absinthe beforedinner, then his afternoon whiskeys straight, then his convivial eveningpunches, and in short everything but the hot night-cap with which heprepared himself for slumber.
"That may have to go, too," he said to himself, "when I am married."
He spent every spare moment with Lillie and her father. He was quitehappy in his love-born sanctification of spirit, and showed it in hisair, countenance and conversation. Man of the world as he was, orthought he was, _roue_ as he had been, it never occurred to him towonder at the change which had come over him, nor to laugh at himselfbecause of it. To a nature so simply passionate as his, the present hourof passion was the only hour that he could realize. He shortly came tofeel as if he had never lived any other life than this which he wasliving now.
The Doctor soon lost his keen distrust of Carter; he began to respecthim, and consequently to like him. Indeed he could not help beingpleased with any tolerable person who pleased his daughter; although hesometimes exhibited a petulant jealousy of such persons which was drollenough, considering that he was only her father.
"Papa, I believe you would be severe on St. Cecilia, or St. Ursula, if Ishould get intimate with them," Lillie had once said. "I never had aparticular friend since I was a baby, but what you picked her topieces."
And the Doctor had in reply looked a little indignant, not perceivingthe justice of the criticism. By the way, Lillie had a similar jealousyof him, and was ready to slander any single woman who ogled him toofondly. There were moments of great anguish when she feared that hemight be inveigled into admiring, perhaps loving, perhaps (horridthought!) marrying, Mrs. Larue. If it ever occurred to her that thiswould be a poetically just retribution for her own sin of giving awayher heart without asking his approval, she drew no resignation from thethought. I may as well state here that the widow did occasionally makeeyes at the Doctor. He was oldish, but he was very charming, and any manis better than no man. She had given up Carter; our friend Colburne waswith his regiment at Thibodeaux; and the male angels of New Orleans wereso few that their visits were far between. So those half-shut, almondeyes of dewy blackness and brightness were frequently turned sidelongupon Ravenel, with a coquettish significance which made Lillie uneasy inthe innermost chambers of her filial affection. Mrs. Larue had veryremarkable eyes. They were the only features of her face that were notunder her control; they were so expressive that she never could fullyveil their meaning. They were beautiful spiders, weaving quite visiblywebs of entanglement, the threads of which were rays of dazzling lightand subtle sentiment.
"Devilish handsome eyes! Dangerous, by Jove!" remarked the Colonel,judging in his usual confident, broadcast fashion, right rather morethan half the time. "I've seen the day, by Jove! when they would havefinished me."
For the present the Doctor was saved from their perilous witchery by theadvent of Colburne, who, having obtained a leave of absence for tendays, came of course to spend it with the Ravenels. Immediately theLarue orbs kindled for him, as if they were pyres whereon his passions,if he chose, might consume themselves to ashes. She exhibited and feltno animosity on account of bygones. She was a most forgiving,cold-hearted, good-natured, selfish, well-bred little creature. Shenever had standing quarrels, least of all with the other sex; and shecould practice a marvellous perseverance, without any acrimony in caseof disappointment. Colburne was favored with private interviews which hedid not seek, and visions of conquest which did not excite his ambition.He was taken by gentle force up the intricate paths of a mountain oftalk, and shown the unsubstantial and turbulent kingdoms of coquetry,with a hint that all might be his if he would but fall down and worship.It became a question in his mind whether Milton should not haverepresented Satan as a female of French extraction and New Orleanseducation.
"Captain Colburne, you do not like women," she once said.
"I beg your pardon--I repel the horrible accusation."
"Oh, I admit that you like a woman--this one, perhaps, or that one. Butit is the individual which interests you, and not the sex. For woman aswoman--for woman because she is woman--you care little."
"Mrs. Larue, it is a very singular charge. Now that you have brought itto my notice, I don't know but I must plead guilty, to some extent. Youmean to say, I suppose, that I can't or won't fall in love with thefirst woman I come to, merely because she is handy."
"That is precisely it, only you have phrased it rather grossly."
"And do you charge it as a fault in my character?"
"I avow that I do not regard it as so manly, so truly masculine, youcomprehend, as the opposite trait."
"Upon my honor!" exclaimed Colburne in amazement. "Then you mustconsider,--I beg your pardon--but it follows that Don Juan was a modelman."
"In my opinion he was. Excuse my frankness. I am older than you. I haveseen much life. I have a right to philosophise. Just see here. It isintended for wise reasons that man should not leave woman alone; that heshould seek after her constantly, and force himself upon her; that,losing one, he should find another. Therefore the man, who, losing one,chooses another, best represents his sex."
She waited for a reply to her argument, but Colburne was too muchcrushed to offer one. He shirked his honest duty as an interlocutor bysaying, "Mrs. Larue, this is a novel idea to me, and I must have timefor consideration before I accept it."
She laughed without a sign of embarrassment, and changed the subject.
But Mrs. Larue was not the only cause which prevented Colburne's visitfrom being a monotony of happiness. He soon discovered that there was anunderstanding between Colonel Carter and Miss Ravenel; not anengagement, perhaps, but certainly an inner circle of confidences andsentiments into which he was not allowed to enter. In this matter Lilliewas more open and legible than her lover. She so adored her hero becauseof the deadly perils which he had affronted, and the honor which he hadborne from among their flame and smoke, that she could not alwaysco
nceal, and sometimes did not care to conceal, her admiration. Notthat she ever expressed it by endearments or fondling words: no, thatwould have been a coarse audacity of which her maidenly nature wasincapable: but there were rare glances of irrepressible meaning,surprised out of her very soul, which came like revelations. When sheasked Colburne to tell her the whole story of Georgia Landing, heguessed easily what she most wanted to hear. To please her, he madeCarter the hero of the epic, related how impetuous he was during thecharge, how superbly cool as soon as it was over, how he sat his horseand waved his sabre and gave his orders. To be sure, the enthusiasticyouth took a soldierly pleasure in the history; he was honestly proud ofhis commander, and he loved to tell the tale of his own only battle. Butnotwithstanding this slight pleasure, notwithstanding that the Doctortreated him with even tender consideration, and that Mrs. Larue wasoften amusing as well as embarrassing, he did not enjoy his visit. Thismysterious cloud which encompassed the Colonel and Miss Ravenel,separating them from all others, cast upon him a shadow of melancholy.In the first place, of course, it was painful to suspect that he hadlost this charming girl; in the second, he grieved on her account, notbelieving it possible that with that man for a husband she could bepermanently happy. Carter was a brave soldier, an able officer, a personof warm and naturally kind impulses; but gentlemen of such habits as hiswere not considered good matches where Colburne had formed his opinions.No man, whatever his talents, could win a professorship in WinslowUniversity, or occupy a respectable niche in New Boston society, whorarely went to church, who drank freely and openly, who had been seen togamble, who swore like a trooper, and who did other things which theColonel had been known to do. All this time he was so over-modest bynature, and so oppressed by an acquired sense of soldierlysubordination, that he never seriously thought of setting himself up asa rival against the Colonel. Perhaps I am tedious in my analysis of theCaptain's opinions, motives and sentiments. The truth is that I take asympathetic interest in him, believing him to be a representative youngman of my native New England, and that I consider him a better match forMiss Ravenel than this southern "high-toned" gentleman whom she insistsupon having.
While Colburne was feeling so strongly with regard to Lillie, could shenot devote a sentiment to him? Not many; she had not time; she wasotherwise occupied. So selfishly wrapped up in her own affections wasshe, that, until Mrs. Larue laughingly suggested it, she never thoughtof his being jealous or miserable on account of her. Then she hoped thathe did not care much for her, and was really sorry for him if he did.What a horrible fate it seemed to her to be disappointed in love! Sheremembered that she had once liked him very much indeed; but so she dideven yet, she added, with a comfortable closing of her eyes to allchange in the nature of the sentiment; and perhaps he only fancied herin a similar Platonic fashion. Once she had cut out of a paper, and putaway in so safe a place that now she could not find it, a little poemwhich he had written, and which was only interesting because he was theauthor. She blushed as she called her folly to mind, and resolved thatit should never be known to any one. It is curious that she was a littlevexed with Colburne because of this reminiscence, and felt that it morethan repaid him for all the secret devotion which he might have lavishedon her.
"My leave of absence has not been as pleasant as I hoped it would be,"he once had the courage to remark.
"Why not?" she asked absent-mindedly; for she was thinking of her ownheart affairs.
"I fear that I have lost some sympathies which I once----"
Here he checked himself, not daring to confess how much he had oncehoped. With a sudden comprehension of his meaning Lillie coloredintensely, after her usual fashion on startling occasions, and glancedabout the room in search of some other subject of conversation.
"I have a sense of being a stranger in the family," he explained after amoment of painful silence.
She might surely have said something kind here, but she was tooconscientious or too much embarrassed to do it. She made one of thoseefforts which women are capable of, and sailed out of the difficulty onthe wings of a laugh.
"I am sure Mrs. Larue takes a deep interest in you."
Colburne colored in his turn under a sense of mortification mingled withsomething like anger. Both were relieved when Doctor Ravenel entered,and thereby broke up the fretting dialogue. Now why was not the youngman informed of the real state of affairs in the family? Simply becausethe Doctor, fearful for his child's happiness, and loth to lose dominionover her future, could not yet bring himself to consider the engagementas a finality.
There were no scenes during the leave of absence. Neither Colburne norMadame Larue made a declaration or received a refusal. Two days beforethe leave of absence terminated he sadly and wisely and resolutely tookhis departure for Thibodeaux. Nothing of interest happened to him duringthe winter, except that he accompanied his regiment in Weitzel's advanceup the Teche, which resulted in the retreat of Mouton from CampBeasland, and the destruction of the rebel iron-clad "Cotton." Anarrative of the expedition, written with his usual martial enthusiasm,but which unfortunately I have not space to publish, was received byDoctor Ravenel, and declared by him to be equal in precision, brevity,elegance, and every other classical quality of style, to theCommentaries of Julius Caesar. The Colonel remarked, in his practicalway, that the thing seemed to have been well planned, and that theCaptain's account was a good model for a despatch, only a little toolong-winded and poetical.
Colburne being absent, Mrs. Larue turned her guns once more upon theDoctor. As the motto of an Irishman at a Donnybrook fair is, "Whereveryou see a head, hit it," so the rule which guided her in the Vanity Fairof this life was, "Wherever you see a man, set your cap at him." It mustnot be supposed, however, that she made the same eyes at the Doctor thatshe made at Colburne. Her manner would vary amazingly, and frequentlydid vary to suit her company, just as a chameleon's jacket is said tochange color according to the tree which he inhabits; and this was notbecause she was simple and easily influenced, but precisely because shewas artful and anxious to govern, and knew that soft looks and words arewoman's best means of empire. It was interesting to see what a nun-likeand saintly _pose_ she could take in the presence of a clergyman. To theColonel she acted the part of Lady Gay Spanker; to the Doctor she was_femme raisonnable_, and, so far as she could be, _femme savante_; toColburne she of late generally played the female Platonic philosopher.It really annoys me to reflect how little space I must allow myself forpainting the character of this remarkable woman. "She was nobody's foolbut her own," remarked the Colonel, who understood her in a coarse,incomplete way; nor did she deceive either Lillie or the Doctor inregard to the main features of her character, although they had nosuspicion how far she could carry some of her secret caprices. It ishard to blind completely the eyes of one's own family and dailyintimates.
As a hen is in trouble when her ducklings take to the water, so wasLillie's soul disturbed when her father was out on the flattering sea ofMadame's conversation. Carter was amused at the wiles of the widow andthe terrors of the daughter. He comprehended the affair as well asLillie, at the same time that he did not see so very much harm in it,for the lady was pretty, clever, young enough, and had money. Butnothing came of the flirtation--at least not for the present. Althoughthe Doctor was an eminently sociable being and indefatigably courteousto all of Eve's daughters, he was not at bottom what you call a ladies'man. He was too much wrapped up in his daughter and in his scientificstudies to be easily pervious to the shafts of Cupid; besides which hewas pretty solidly cuirassed by fifty-five years of worldly experience.Madame even felt that she was kept at a distance, or, to use a morecorporeal and specially correct expression, at arm's length, by his verypoliteness.
"Doctor, have you not thought it odd sometimes that I never consult youprofessionally?" she asked one day, changing suddenly from _femmeraisonnable_ to Lady Gay Spanker.
"Really, it never occurred to me. I don't expect to prescribe for my ownfamily. It would be unfair to my brother doctors.
I believe, too, thatyou are never sick."
"Thanks to Heaven, never! But that is not the only cause. The truthis--perhaps you have not noticed the fact--but you are not married. Ifyou want me for a patient, there must first be a Mrs. Ravenel."
"Ah! Yes. Somebody to whom I could confide what is the matter with you."
"That would not matter. We women always tell our own maladies. No; thatwould not matter; it is merely the look of the thing that troubles me."
The Doctor had the air of being cornered, and remained smiling at Mrs.Larue, awaiting her pleasure.
"I do not propose to consult you," she continued. "I am so constantlywell that I am almost unhappy about it. But I do think seriously ofstudying medicine. What is your opinion of female doctors?"
"A capital idea!" exclaimed Ravenel, jumping at the change of subject."Why not follow it up? You could master the science of medicine in twoor three years, and you have ability enough to practice it to greatadvantage. You might be extremely useful by making a specialty of yourown sex."
"You are a professor of theory and practice, Doctor. Will you instructme?"
"Oh! as to that--Elderkin would be better. He is precisely in what oughtto be your line. I think that out of kindness to you I ought to say No."
"Not even if I would promise to study mineralogy also?"
Ravenel pondered an instant, and then eluded her with a story.
"That reminds me of a chaffering which I overheard in a country tavernin Georgia between a Yankee peddler and an indigenous specimen. TheCracker wanted to sell the stranger a horse. 'I don't care particularlyfor a trade,' says the Yankee, 'but I'll buy the shoes if you'll throwin the creetur.' Medicine is a great science; but mineralogy is a farvaster one."
In short, the Doctor was to Madame like a cold cake to a lump of butter;he calmly endured her, but gave her no encouragement to melt upon hisbosom. Just at this time he was more than usually safe from loveentanglements because he was so anxious about Lillie's position andprospects. He made what inquiries he could concerning Carter's way oflife, and watched his demeanor and conversation closely while talking tohim with the politest of smiles. He was unexpectedly gratified bydiscovering that his proposed son-in-law led--at least for thepresent--a sober and decent life. With his devotion as a lover no faultcould be found by the most exacting of fathers. He called on Lillieevery evening and sent her flowers every morning; in short, he bloomedwith fair promise of being an affectionate and even uxorious husband.Gradually the Doctor weaned himself from his selfish or lovingsuspicions, and became accustomed to the idea that from this man hisdaughter might draw a life-long happiness. Thus when it happened, latein January, nearly four months after the declaration, that Carterrequested to be informed definitely as to his prospects, he obtainedpermission to consider the affair an engagement.
"You know I can't promise wealth to Miss Ravenel," he said frankly."She may have to put up with a very simple style of life."
"If she can't be contented, I shall not pity her," answered the Doctor."I don't believe that the love of money is the root of all evil. But Ido say that it is one of the most degrading passions conceivable inwoman. I sympathise with no woman whose only trouble is that she cannothave and spend a great deal of money. By the way, you know how unable Iam to endow her."
"Don't mention it. You have already endowed her. The character that youhave transmitted to her, sir--"
The Doctor bowed so promptly and appreciatively that the Colonel did notfeel it necessary to round off the compliment.
As men do not talk copiously with each other on these subjects, theinterview did not last ten minutes.
I hope that I shall not impress the reader unfavorably concerningLillie's character when I state that she was frankly happy over theresult of her lover's probation. Her delight did not arise merely fromthe prospect of a smooth course of love and marriage. It sprang in partfrom the greatly comforting fact that now there was no difference ofopinion, no bar to perfect sympathy, between her and that loved,respected, almost adored papa. I have given a very imperfect idea of herif I have not already made it clear that with her the sentiment offilial affection was almost a passion. From very early childhood she hadbeen remarkable for papa-worship, or whatever may be the learned namefor the canonization of one's progenitors. At the age of seven she hadpropounded the question, "Mamma, why don't they make papa President ofthe United States?" Some light may be shed on the character of thisdeparted mother and wife by stating that her answer was, "My dear, yourfather never chose to meddle in politics." Whether Mrs. Ravenel actuallydeified the Doctor with all the simple faith of the child, or whetherthe reply was merely meant to confirm the latter in her filial piety,is a matter of doubt even to persons who were well acquainted with thedeceased lady.
At last Lillie could prattle to her father about Carter as much as sheliked; and she used the privilege freely, being habituated to need,demand and obtain his sympathies. Not that she filled his ears withconfessions of love, or said that Colonel Carter was "_so_ handsome!" oranything of that sickish nature. But when her father came in from awalk, it was, "Papa, did you see Mr. Carter anywhere? And what did hesay?" At another time it was, "Papa, did Mr. Carter ever tell you abouthis first campaign against the Indians?" And then would follow thestory, related with glee and a humorous appreciation of thegrandiloquent ideas of a juvenile West Pointer about to draw his maidensword. A frequent subject of her conversation was Carter's chance ofpromotion, not considered with regard to the pecuniary advantagesthereof, but in respect to the simple justice of advancing such an ableand gallant officer. It was, "Papa, how can the Government be so stupidas to neglect men who know their duties? Mrs. Larue says that theabolitionists are opposed to Mr. Carter because he doesn't hold theirultra opinions. I suppose they would rather favor a man who talks asthey do, even if he got whipped every time, and never freed a nigger. IfMr. Carter were on the southern side, he would find promotion fastenough. It is enough to make any one turn rebel."
"My dear," says the Doctor with emphasis, "I would rather be a privatesoldier under the flag of my country, than be a major-general in thearmy of those villainous conspirators against country, liberty andhumanity. I respect Colonel Carter for holding fast to his patrioticsentiments, in spite of unjust neglect, far more than I would if he wereloyal merely because he was sure of being commander-in-chief."
Lillie could not fail to be gratified by such a compliment to the moralworth of her hero. After a few moments of agreeable meditation on thevarious perfections of that great being, she resumed the old subject.
"I think that there is a chance yet of his getting a star when theofficial report of the battle of Georgia Landing once reaches the mindsof those slow creatures at Washington. What do you think, papa? What arethe probabilities?"
"Really, my dear, you perplex me. Prophecy never formed a part of myeducation. There are even a few events in the past that I am notintimately acquainted with."
"Then you shouldn't look so awfully old, papa. If you _will_ wrinkle upyour forehead in that venerable way, as if you were the Wandering Jew,you must expect to have people ask you all sorts of questions. Why willyou do it? I hate to see you making yourself so aggravatingly ancientwhen nature does her best to keep you young."
About these times the Doctor wrote, with a pitying if not a sad heart,to inform Colburne of the engagement. The young man had looked for somesuch news, but it nevertheless pained him beyond his anticipations. Nomental preparation, no melancholy certainty of forecast, ever quite fitsus to meet the avalanche of a great calamity. No matter, for instance,how long we have watched the sure invasion of disease upon the life of adear friend or relative, we are always astonished with a mighty shockwhen the last feeble breath leaves the wasted body. Colburne had longsat gloomily by the bedside of his dying hope, but when it expiredoutright he was seemingly none the less full of anguished amazement.
"Who would have thought it!" he repeated to himself. "How could shechoose such a husband, so old, so worldly, so i
mmoral? God help her andwatch over her. The love of such a man is a calamity. The tender merciesof the wicked are unintentional cruelties."
As for himself, the present seemed a barren waste without a blossom ofhappiness, and the future another waste without an oasis of hope. For atime he even lost all desire for promotion, or for any other worldlyhonor or success; and he would not have considered it hard, soundesirable did life appear, if he had known that it was his fate to diein the next battle. If he wanted to live it was only to see the warterminate gloriously, and the stars and stripes once more flying overhis whole country. The devotional sentiments which his mother had sownthroughout his youth, and which had been warmed for a while into somestrength of feeling and purpose by the saintly glory of her death,struggled anew into temporary bloom under the clouds of this secondbereavement.
"Not my will but Thine be done," he thought. And then, "How unworthy Iam to repeat those words!"
There were certain verses of the Bible which whispered to him acomforting sympathy. Many times a day such a phrase as, "A man ofsorrows and acquainted with grief," repeated to him as if by some otherself or guardian angel, would thrill his mind with the plaintiveconsolation of requiems.
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