James Fenimore Cooper's Five Novels

by James Fenimore Cooper

  “Sitgreaves, administer a little of the aid of the lights of science to my body, if you please.”

  The surgeon was beginning to feel this was a subject that was intolerable, but venturing a glance towards his comrade, he saw with surprize the preparations he had made, and an air of sincerity about him that was unusual to his manner when making such a request. Changing his intended burst of resentment to a tone of civil inquiry, he said—

  “Does Captain Lawton want any thing at my hands?”

  “Look for yourself, my dear Sit,” said the trooper mildly; “here seem to be most of the colours of the rainbow on this shoulder.”

  “You have reason for saying so,” said the other, handling the part with great tenderness and consummate skill; “but happily nothing is broken. It is wonderful how well you escaped!”

  “I have been a tumbler from my youth, and I am past minding a few falls from a horse; but, Sitgreaves,” he added with affection, and pointing to a scar on his body, “do you remember this bit of work?”

  “Perfectly well, Jack; it was bravely obtained, and neatly extracted; but don’t you think I had better apply an oil to these bruises?”

  “Certainly,” said Lawton, with unexpected condescension.

  “Now, my dear boy,” cried the doctor exultingly, as he busied himself in applying the remedy to the hurts, “do you not think it would have been better to have done all this last night?”

  “Quite probable.”

  “Yes, Jack, but if you had let me perform the operation of phlebotomy when I first saw you, it would have been of infinite service.”

  “No phlebotomy,” said the other positively.

  “It is now too late, but a dose of oil would carry off the humours famously.”

  To this the captain made no reply, but grated his teeth in a way that showed the fortress of his mouth was not to be assailed without a resolute resistance, and the experienced physician changed the subject by saying—

  “It is a pity, John, that you did not catch the rascal, after the danger and trouble you incurred.”

  The captain of dragoons made no reply; and, while placing some bandages on the wounded shoulder, the surgeon continued—

  “If I have any wish at all to destroy human life, it is to have the pleasure of seeing that traitor hanged!”

  “I thought your business was to cure, and not to slay,” said the trooper drily.

  “Ay! but he has caused us such heavy losses by his information, that I sometimes feel a very unphilosophical temper towards that spy.”

  “You should not encourage such feelings of animosity to any of your fellow creatures,” returned Lawton, in a tone that caused the operator to drop a pin he was arranging in the bandages, from his hand. He looked the patient in the face to remove all doubts of his identity, and finding, however, it was his old comrade, Captain John Lawton, who had spoken, he rallied his astonished faculties, and proceeded by saying—

  “Your doctrine is just, and in general I subscribe to it. But, John, my dear fellow, is the bandage easy?”

  “Quite.”

  “I agree with you as a whole; but as matter is infinitely divisible, so no case exists without an exception. Lawton,—do you—feel easy?”

  “Very.”

  “It is not only cruel to the sufferer, but sometimes unjust to others, to take human life where a less punishment would answer the purpose. Now, Jack, if you were only—move your arm a little—if you were only—I hope you feel easier, my dear friend?”

  “Much.”

  “If, my dear John, you would teach your men to cut with more discretion, it would answer you the same purpose—and give me great pleasure.”

  The doctor drew a heavy sigh, as he was enabled to get rid of what was nearest to his heart; and the dragoon coolly replaced his coat, saying with great deliberation, as he retired—

  “I know no troop that cut more judiciously—they generally shave from the crown to the jaw.”

  The disappointed operator collected his instruments, and with a heavy heart, proceeded to pay a visit to the room of Colonel Wellmere.

  Chapter XII

  “This fairy form contains a soul as mighty

  As that which lives within a giant’s frame;

  These slender limbs, that tremble like the aspen

  At summer evening’s sigh, uphold a spirit,

  Which rous’d, can tower to the height of heaven,

  And light those shining windows of the face

  With much of heaven’s own radiance.”

  Duo.

  * * *

  THE NUMBER and character of her guests had greatly added to the cares of Miss Jeanette Peyton. The morning found them all restored, in some measure, to their former ease of body, with the exception of the youthful captain of dragoons, who had been so deeply regretted by Dunwoodie. The wound of this officer was severe, though the surgeon persevered in saying that it was without danger. His comrade, we have shown, had deserted his couch; and Henry Wharton awoke from a sleep that had been undisturbed by any thing but a dream of suffering amputation under the hands of a surgical novice. As it proved, however, to be nothing but a dream, the youth found himself much refreshed by his slumbers, and Dr. Sitgreaves removed all further apprehensions, by confidently pronouncing that he would be a well man within a fortnight.

  During all this time Colonel Wellmere did not make his appearance; he breakfasted in his own room, and, notwithstanding certain significant smiles of the man of science, declared himself too much injured to rise from his bed. Leaving him, therefore, endeavouring to conceal his chagrin in the solitude of his chamber, the surgeon proceeded to the more grateful task of sitting an hour by the bedside of George Singleton. A slight flush was on the face of the patient as the doctor entered the room, and the latter advanced promptly and laid his fingers on the pulse of the youth, beckoning to him to be silent, while he muttered to himself—

  “Growing symptoms of a febrile pulse—no—no, my dear George, you must remain quiet and dumb; though your eyes look better, and your skin has even a moisture.”

  “Nay, my dear Sitgreaves,” said the youth, taking his hand, “you see there is no fever about me—look, is there any of Jack Lawton’s hoarfrost on my tongue?”

  “No, indeed,” said the surgeon, clapping a spoon in the mouth of the other, forcing it open, and looking down his throat as if disposed to visit the interior in person; “the tongue is well, and the pulse begins to lower again. Ah! the bleeding did you good. Phlebotomy is a sovereign specific for southern constitutions. But that mad-cap Lawton obstinately refused to be blooded for a fall he had from his horse last night. Why, George, your case is becoming singular,” continued the doctor, instinctively throwing aside his wig; “your pulse even and soft, your skin moist, but your eye fiery, and cheek flushed. Oh! I must examine more closely into these symptoms.”

  “Softly, my good friend, softly,” said the youth, falling back on his pillow, and losing some of that colour which alarmed his companion; “I believe in extracting the ball you did for me all that is required. I am free from pain, and only weak, I do assure you.”

  “Captain Singleton,” said the surgeon with heat, “it is presumptuous in you to pretend to tell your medical attendant when you are free from pain; if it be not to enable us to decide in such matters, of what avail the lights of science? for shame, George, for shame; even that perverse fellow, John Lawton, could not behave with more obstinacy.”

  His patient smiled as he gently repulsed his physician in an attempt to undo the bandages, and with a returning glow to his cheeks, inquired—

  “Do, Archibald,” a term of endearment that seldom failed to soften the operator’s heart, “tell me what spirit from heaven has been gliding around my apartment, while I lay pretending to sleep?”

  “If any one interferes with my patients,” cried the doctor ha
stily, “I will teach them, spirit or no spirit, what it is to meddle with another man’s concerns.”

  “Tut—my dear fellow, there was no interference made, nor any intended; see,” exhibiting the bandages, “every thing is as you left it—but it glided about the room with the grace of a fairy, and the tenderness of an angel.”

  The surgeon, having satisfied himself that every thing was as he had left it, very deliberately resumed his seat and replaced his wig, as he inquired, with a brevity that would have honoured Lieutenant Mason—

  “Had it petticoats, George?”

  “I saw nothing but its heavenly eyes—its bloom—its majestic step—its grace;” replied the young man, with rather more ardor than his surgeon thought consistent with his debilitated condition, and he laid his hand on his mouth, to stop him; saying himself—

  “It must have been Miss Jeanette Peyton—a lady of fine accomplishments, with—hem—with something of the kind of step you speak of—a very complacent eye; and as to the bloom, I dare say offices of charity can summon as fine a colour to her cheeks, as glows in the faces of her more youthful nieces.”

  “Nieces! has she nieces then? the angel I saw may be a daughter, a sister, or a niece, but never an aunt.”

  “Hush, George, hush, our talking has brought your pulse up again; you must observe quiet, and prepare for a meeting with your own sister, who will be here within an hour.”

  “What, Isabella! and who sent for her?”

  “The major.”

  “Considerate Dunwoodie!” murmured the exhausted youth, sinking again on his pillow; where the commands of his attendant compelled him to remain silent.

  Even Captain Lawton had been received with many and courteous inquiries after the state of his health, from all the members of the family when he made his morning entrance; but an invisible spirit presided over the comforts of the English colonel. Sarah had shrunk with consciousness from entering the room; yet she knew the position of every glass, and had, with her own hands, supplied the contents of every bowl, that stood on his table.

  At the time of our tale we were a divided people, and Sarah thought it was no more than her duty to cherish the institutions of that country to which she yet clung as the land of her forefathers: but there were other, and more cogent reasons for the silent preference she was giving to the Englishman. His image had first filled the void in her youthful fancy, and it was an image that was distinguished by many of those attractions that can enchain a female heart. It is true, he wanted the personal excellence of Peyton Dunwoodie, but his pretensions were far from contemptible. Sarah had moved about the house during the morning, casting frequent and longing glances at the door of Wellmere’s apartment, anxious to learn the condition of his wounds, and yet ashamed to inquire: conscious interest kept her tongue tied, until her sister, with the frankness of innocence, had put the desired question to Dr. Sitgreaves.

  “Colonel Wellmere,” said the operator gravely, “is in what I call a state of free-will, madam. He is ill, or he is well, as he please; his case, young lady, exceeds my art to heal; and I take it, Sir Henry Clinton is the best adviser he can apply to: though Major Dunwoodie has made the communication with his leech rather difficult.”

  Frances smiled, but averted her face, while Sarah moved with the grace of an offended Juno, from the apartment. Her own room, however, afforded her but little relief, and in passing through the long gallery that communicated with each of the chambers of the building, she noticed the door of Singleton’s room to be open. The wounded youth seemed sleeping, and was alone. She had ventured lightly into the apartment, and busied herself for a few minutes in arranging the tables, and the nourishment provided for the patient, hardly conscious of what she was doing, and possibly dreaming that these little feminine offices were performed for another. Her natural bloom was heightened by the insinuation of the surgeon, nor was the lustre of her eye in any degree diminished. The sound of the approaching footstep of Sitgreaves hastened her retreat down a private stair-way to the side of her sister. The sisters, then sought the fresh air on the piazza, and as they pursued their walk arm in arm, the following dialogue took place—

  “There is something disagreeable about this surgeon of Dunwoodie,” said Sarah, “that causes me to wish him away, most heartily.”

  Frances fixed her laughing eyes on her sister, but forbearing to speak, the other readily construed their expression, and hastily added—“but I forget he is one of your renowned corps of Virginians, and must be spoken of reverently.”

  “As respectfully as you please, my dear sister; there is but little danger of exceeding the truth.”

  “Not in your opinion,” said the elder with a little warmth; “but I think Mr. Dunwoodie has taken a liberty that exceeds the rights of consanguinity; he has made our father’s house a hospital.”

  “We ought to be grateful that none of the patients it contains are dearer to us.”

  “Your brother is one.”

  “True, true,” interrupted Frances blushing to the eyes; “but he leaves his room, and thinks his wound lightly purchased by the pleasure of being with his friends—if,” she added with a tremulous lip, “this dreadful suspicion that is affixed to his visit were removed, I could consider his wound of little moment.”

  “You now have the fruits of rebellion brought home to you; a brother wounded and a prisoner, and perhaps a victim; your father distressed, his privacy interrupted, and not improbably his estates torn from him on account of his loyalty to his king.”

  Frances continued her walk in silence. While facing the northern entrance to the vale, her eyes were uniformly fastened on the point where the road was suddenly lost by the intervention of a hill; and at each turn, as she lost sight of the spot, she lingered until an impatient movement of her sister quickened her pace to an even motion with that of her own. At length, a single horse chaise was seen making its way carefully among the stones which lay scattered over the country road that wound through the valley, and approached the cottage. The colour of Frances changed as the vehicle gradually drew nearer, and when she was enabled to see a female form in it by the side of a black in livery, her limbs shook with an agitation that compelled her to lean on Sarah for support. In a few minutes the travellers approached the gate. It was thrown open by a dragoon who followed the carriage, and who had been the messenger despatched by Dunwoodie to the father of Captain Singleton. Miss Peyton advanced to receive their guest, and the sisters united in giving her the kindest welcome; still Frances could with difficulty withdraw her truant eyes from the countenance of their visitor. She was young, and of a light and fragile form, but of exquisite proportions. Her eye was large, full, black, piercing, and at times a little wild. Her hair was luxuriant, and as it was without the powder it was then the fashion to wear, it fell in raven blackness. A few of its locks had fallen on her cheek, giving its chilling whiteness by the contrast a more deadly character. Dr. Sitgreaves supported her from the chaise, and when she gained the floor of the piazza, she turned an expressive look on the face of the practitioner.

  “Your brother is out of danger, and wishes to see you, Miss Singleton,” said the surgeon.

  The lady burst into a flood of tears. Frances had stood contemplating the action and face of Isabella with a kind of uneasy admiration, but she now sprang to her side with the ardor of a sister, and kindly drawing her arm within her own, led the way to a retired room. The movement was so ingenuous, so considerate, and so delicate, that even Miss Peyton withheld her interference, following the youthful pair with only her eyes and a smile of complacency. The feeling was communicated to all the spectators, and they dispersed in pursuit of their usual avocations. Isabella yielded to the gentle influence of Frances without resistance, and having gained the room where the latter conducted her, wept in silence on the shoulder of the observant and soothing girl, until Frances thought her tears exceeded the emotion natural to the occasion. The sobs
of Miss Singleton for a time were violent and uncontroulable, until with an evident exertion she yielded to a kind observation of her companion, and succeeded in suppressing her tears: raising her face to the eyes of Frances, she rose, while a smile of beautiful radiance passed over her features, and making a hasty apology for the excess of her emotion, she desired to be conducted to the room of the invalid.

  The meeting between the brother and sister was warm, but, by an effort on the part of the lady, more composed than her previous agitation had given reason to expect. Isabella found her brother looking better, and in less danger than her sensitive imagination had led her to suppose. Her spirits rose in proportion; from despondency she passed to something like gayety; her beautiful eyes sparkled with renovated brilliancy, and her face was lighted with smiles so fascinating, that Frances, who, in compliance with her earnest intreaties, had accompanied her to the sick chamber, sat gazing on a countenance that possessed so wonderful variability, impelled by a charm that was beyond her control. The youth had thrown an earnest look at Frances, as soon as his sister raised herself from his arms, and perhaps it was the first glance at the lovely lineaments of our heroine, when the gazer turned his eyes from the view in disappointment. He seemed bewildered, rubbed his forehead like a man awaking from a dream, and mused.