CHAPTER XVII.
THE SOLDIER'S CARD
"O Fairy! Fairy! is not this grand?"
Maid Sally stood in a little room, so neat, so prettily furnished, thatit was to her like waking up and finding one of her pleasant dreams cometrue.
A cot with a real feather bed was in one corner, a small chest ofdrawers with a mirror on it, a mirror in a square frame screwed into alittle stand, so she could bring it forward or push it back, was at oneside of the room; a small wooden rocking-chair stood by the window, anda pretty painted wash-stand, with bowl and pitcher, a soap-dish, and asaucer for brushes, was opposite the bed.
Sally looked with pleasure on the simple yet convenient things that shenever had had the use of before. Then she said:
"I feel as though these things fitted me. Yes, and even finer onesmight, too. Why is it I have such feelings always rising within mewhenever I look upon what is fine and would seem far above me?"
"I cannot tell you," said her Fairy.
"Did you notice," asked Sally, "what slipped from Mistress Cory Ann'stongue? how she asked was I sure of being an American?"
"I noticed, surely," said the Fairy, "but many a vain and useless thingwill slip from the tongue of an angry woman. I think she meant but totaunt you."
"Yet I wonder what she may know."
"It would be wiser to stop wondering," returned her Fairy.
And now it was not only a new home, but a new life that had come to thepretty maid.
Goodwife Kendall did not favor having too much time spent in arrangingthe hair, dressing up, and such like vanities. Yet much it did pleaseher to see the beautiful fluff and rich curl of Sally's red-gold hairafter she had used on it a good brush and comb.
And a "changeable" silk of pink and gray, making an "ashes of roses"color, that had hung useless in the closet for a year, made so becominga gown for the blooming maid that Goodwife Kendall feared lest thebright young head might be turned at sight of the fair vision flashedback from the little mirror into the clear, dark eyes.
And Parson Kendall had some ado in striving to keep back from her earssundry and divers compliments and sweet sayings that began to be tossedabout, bearing on the growth and beauty of the Maid Sally Dukeen.
As winter rolled away and spring came on, the threats and mutteringsagainst the governor and king grew louder and ever louder, and spokenwith less fear. Work was going on in the fields and on the plantations,but men met at the corner of the roads and at the stores, talking longand earnestly, and with stern faces and dark brows.
Sally had seen the Fairy Prince ride by a number of times, sometimeswith his cousin Rosamond Earlscourt at his side. With other newfeelings, Sally had begun to feel backward at thought of going again tothe seat behind the hedge. She could read anything now, and in more thanone language. No excuse any longer for wanting to hear another read, andsomething told her that slyly listening was not becoming in any personof right ideas.
One day at dinner,--always the noon meal in those days,--Parson Kendallsaid:
"It is now reported that Sir Percival Grandison, after much thought,feels it his duty to side with the king, and not to aid the colonists.But he hath great todo in striving to keep down the fiery spirit of hisyoung son. The lad thinketh himself old enough to have a mind of hisown, as indeed he is, and he greatly desireth to have his name enrolledas a soldier, if fighting must be done. It is sad to have father and sondivided at such serious times, and Sir Percival wishes not to dealharshly with his son. Yet the young man is with the colonists heart andsoul."
"And how old is he?" asked one of the sisters.
"He is nineteen, not yet of age."
"But if there should be fighting, think you not there would be many astripling," asked Goodwife Kendall, "of even seventeen or eighteen, whowould enter the ranks on our side?"
"I have no doubt of it," answered the parson, "and it may be that veryglad we shall be of the assistance of the younglings."
No one noticed how rosy grew the face of Maid Sally, or how short becameher breath as the talk went on. But long ere this had she made up hermind that, should war break out, her Dream Prince would want to be inthe thick of the fight, and on the right side.
The lad who stood at the edge of the lawn one night, and said, in firm,decided tones, that he meant to act as should a man, would never sittamely down and let others struggle for the liberty he was to enjoy.
One soft evening well past mid April, Sally walked over in the directionof Ingleside. She had wearied at heart for the sound of the voice of herFairy Prince, yet she told herself there was but little chance ofhearing him, even should she go but just once more to the rocky seat.For had she not seen him go by but a few moments before in the Inglesidecoach?
No; Sally thought it was he who sat beside his sister Lucretia, but shewas mistaken.
"I will see if the seat still be there," she said to herself, as,entering the hedge, she saw in a moment that the great stones were justas they had been months before.
Ah! but she had been there only a few moments when she blushed andtightly clasped her hands together at sound of a well-known voice, asquick footsteps came toward the arbor.
"Now here," said the voice of the Prince, "we can talk without danger ofbeing overheard.
"You know, Reginald, I would not willingly do anything to disturb or toanger my sire, but I feel it my solemn duty to do all that one youngman can to put down tyranny and unjust rule, which is oppression.
"How can my father allow himself to be so mistaken? Or how can he failto see that Governor Dunmore has insulted us, and treated us likechildren in taking away our gunpowder, leaving us as he did with no wayof defending ourselves in case of an attack?
"I reckon he found out his mistake when he was obliged to pay us for it,for he could not stand before the fury of the people when they found outwhat had been done."
Poor Sally had felt a twinge that hurt when Lionel Grandison said, "Nowhere we can talk without danger of being overheard." The nicer part ofher nature asked if she ought not at once to go away from the rocks. Butshe could hardly have done that without herself being overheard, andsooner than risk that, she made up her mind that this time she muststay, but that in the future she must sit no more between the wall andthe hedge at Ingleside.
She knew the companion of her Prince to be Reginald Bromfeld, who spokenext:
"I have but an hour ago heard from Boston, and the town is red-hot overthe unlawful, daring conduct of the soldiers, and the government thathas sent them over here. Mark my words!" exclaimed young Bromfeld, "itwon't be long before a blow will be struck that meaneth war, and when itis, it will be near Boston town that the first sharp crack of a gun willbe heard.
"And also when that blow is struck, I shall be on the ground almostbefore one could say 'Jack Robinson!'"
"I would I could go too," said Lionel, "running like 'Sam Hill!'"
Both young men laughed a little, then Reginald asked:
"But would that be best? It may be that Virginia's sons will need remainto defend her. You know I hail from Boston, am native there, althoughbusiness affairs of my mother's have brought me here."
"I should not mean to fly from duty," said Lionel, "but wherever thefirst hard blow for freedom is struck there will men be needed, and fora time at least I think the conflict will be hottest near old Bostontown."
There came at that moment the sound of gay voices from near the house.
"What you say may be true," Reginald hastened to reply, then he added ina sly tone, "but I thought it might be there were fair ones, I mightsay, _a_ fair one, it would be your first sweet duty to stay anddefend."
"Oh, prithee, halt!" cried Lionel, half impatiently. "_The_ fair one Iwould guard and defend, at present, is my native land. All fair damesand maidens have my respect and command my service, but I can thinkneither of billing or cooing or wooing with sound of clanking guns beingraised in our midst, and by those who call us 'rebels!'
"Now here come the ladies. And hark ye
! the subject must be changed. Ilike not talking of war with those who think it sin to take up armsagainst the king."
After they had gone Sally sat for several moments lost in thought.
"It would sometimes seem that he loveth the Lady Rosamond not one whit,"she said, dreamily.
Then she arose, shook out her pretty skirt with its simple but tastefuloverskirt of flowered cloth, and began a leisurely homeward walk.
Her heart-beats quickened and she turned her head aside, when twosoldiers appeared at a turn in the road. She could usually avoid meetingthem, but to-night they were so near she must needs pass them.
As she hurried by, some green sprays she had held fluttered to theground. The next instant a tall, graceful form was by her side, and apair of curious eyes were peeping into her straw bonnet.
"Permit me, ma'selle," said a pleasant voice, and the green sprays wereoffered her.
Sally had raised her eyes in surprise, but said "Thank you," and washurrying on when the soldier suddenly exclaimed "Ah! ah!" as ifsurprised at the beauty of the young face, and had no mind to let themaid escape so easily.
"There are many abroad to-night," he said, with a strange way of callinghis words, "and it might be convenient to have a friend near; wouldma'selle permit me to walk beside her?"
But Sally, with all her shyness at times, was no coward, and she verywell knew that the British soldier and a stranger should not seek towalk with her. So she replied, in a low voice but with a fine, maidenlyair:
"My home is at the parson's close by. I have no fear, nor is there needthat any one should walk with me;" and she raised her eyes part way tohis face.
The soldier said "Ah!" again, but this time with so great a note ofsurprise that Sally looked him full in the face, and lo! it was not ayoung man at all that she saw, but a tall, handsome man with thickmoustaches that were going gray.
Now neither Englishmen nor Americans wore moustaches in those days. Abeard or side-whiskers were often worn, but Sally had never before seena man with long moustaches that swept his smooth cheek.
But it was not the brave, distinguished look of the soldier that madeSally pause for an instant with her eyes on his face. Some dim memorywas stirred at sight of him. As she dropped her eyes the soldier said,in a gentle voice:
"Would not young ma'selle tell her name? I bear myself a name both trueand tried, one of which never to be ashamed. I would know what namema'selle is called by."
Sally was quick of thought.
"Parson Kendall might better tell my name," she said. "Oh, and herecomes Mammy!"
And making excuse to dart away, Sally hastened forward at sight of MammyLeezer, who had come along at the right moment.
Mammy was out in great glory. A gay bandanna, really a handkerchief ofred silk with yellow dots, was made up into a gay turban, with rabbit'sears that stood erect just over the middle of her forehead.
Another gay kerchief was crossed over her ample bosom, and her skirt ofwhite cotton with a red stripe stood out stiff with starch, making Mammylook much like a sailing balloon as she came slowly along.
"What dat sojer man sayin' to you, honey?" she asked, as Sally flew upto her in a way to do her affectionate old heart good.
"Nothing much," said Sally. "I dropped some leaves and he picked them upfor me, but I didn't want him stepping beside me, so I ran up to you."
"Which am de proper ting to do," said Mammy, with dignity. "Doan't youlet none of dem Britishers go sparkin' yo' pritty face, honey, nordoan't you be a bit 'fraid o' dem, neder. I nebber was 'fraid ob de faceof clay, and dar doan't no sojers make eyes at me when I goes outwalkin' ov an evening."
Sally wanted to laugh at the pompous air with which Mammy stalked along,much like an old dragoon, she thought, for the soft spring weather hadhelped her rheumatism, and she could get along with considerablecomfort.
But the road forked, and Mammy went off toward Ingleside, while Sallywent on to the parson's.
She had reached the gate, and was startled as she began going up thegravelled walk to hear a soft voice beside her say:
"Allow me, ma'selle," and the tall soldier's sword grated on the walk,as, bending low, he put a card in the curve of her arm. Then lifting hishat gay with gold lace high above his head, he said, with his gentleaccent, "Au revoir, ma'selle." And he was gone.
"He is French," said Sally, "for he said 'Au revoir, ma'selle,' and thatmeans 'adieu, or good-by, mademoiselle, until we meet again.'"
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