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.
—— DueThe number and character of her guests had greatly added to the cares of Miss Jeannette Peyton. The morning had 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 him a well man within a fortnight.
During all this time Colonel Wellmere had not made 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 he advanced promptly and laid his fingers on the pulse of the youth, beckoning him to be silent, while he filled the vacuum in the discourse, by saying——
"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 he was disposed to visit his interior in person; "your tongue is well, and your 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 avails 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, but a few minutes before you entered."
"If any one interferes with my patients," cried the doctor hastily, "I will teach them, spirit or no spirit, what it is to meddle with another man's concerns."
"Tut——my dear fellow," replied the wounded man with a faint smile, "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——
"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 Jeannette Peyton——a lady of fine accomplishments, with——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!" said the invalid; "has she nieces then? Oh, the angel I saw may be a daughter, a sister, or a niece, but never an aunt."
"Hush, George, hush, your 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," said the surgeon drily.
"Kind, considerate Dunwoodie," murmured the exhausted youth, sinking again on his pillow; where the commands of his attendant compelled him to continue in silence.
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 retiring delicacy 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 well furnished table.
At the time of which we write we were a divided people, and Sarah thought it was no more than her right 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 graceful and lofty stature of Peyton Dunwoodie, his commanding brow, his speaking eye, and his clear and comprehensive diction; but his skin was fair, his cheeks coloured, and his teeth no less white than those which shone in the fascinating smile of the young Virginian. Sarah had moved round 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 pleases; 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 archly, but averted her face to do so, while Sarah moved haughtily, and with the stately grace of an offended Juno, from the apartment. Her own room, however, afforded her but little to relieve her thoughts, 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. Sarah ventured lightly into the apartment, and busied herself for a few minutes in arranging the tables, and nourishment provided for the patient, hardly conscious of what she was doing, and possibly dreaming that it was done for another. The naturalbloom of her cheek was heightened by the insinuation of the surgeon, and the lustre of her eye was by no means diminished from the same cause. The sound of the approaching footsteps of Sitgreaves had hastened her retreat through another door, and down a private stair-way to the side of her sister. Together they sought the fresh air on the piazza to the cottage, and they pursued their walk arm in arm, holding the following dialogue——
"There is something disagreeable about this surgeon, Dunwoodie has honoured us with," said Sarah, "that causes me to wish him away, most heartily."
Frances fixed her laughing eyes on her sister, who, meeting their playful glance as they turned in their walk, blushed yet deeper than before as she added hastily; "but I forget he is one of this renowned corps of Virginians, and as such must be spoken reverently of."
"As respectfully as you please, my dear sister," returned Frances mildly; "there is but little danger of your 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 an hospital."
"We ought to be grateful," replied the younger in a low voice, "that none of the patients it contains are dearer to us."
"Your brother is one," said Sarah laconically.
"True, true," interrupted Frances hastily, and 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 thatis affixed to his visit were removed, I could feel his wound as nothing."
"You now have the fruits of rebellion brought home to you," said Sarah, moving across the piazza with something more than her ordinary stateliness; "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 eye was 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 the other. 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. Frances lost her brilliancy of colour as the vehicle gradually drew nigher, and when she was enabled to see a female form in it by the side of a liveried black who held the reins, her limbs shook with an agitation that compelled her to lean on Sarah for support. In a few minutes the travellers approached the gate, and it was thrown open by a dragoon who had 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 reading the countenance of the visitor. She was young, of a light and fragile form, yet of exquisite proportions; but it was in her eye that her greatest charm existed; it was large, full, black, piercing, and at times a little wild. Her hair was luxuriant, and without the powder it was then the fashion to wear, but shone in its own, glossy, raven, blackness. A few of its locks had fallen on her cheek, giving its chilling whiteness by the contrast yet a more deadly character. Dr. Sitgreaves supported her from the chaise, and when she gained the floor of the piazza, she turned her expressive eye on the face of the practitioner in silence; but it spoke all that she wished to say——
"Your brother is out of danger, and wishes to see you, Miss Singleton," said the surgeon in reply to her look.
For an instant the lady clasped her hands with energy, rolled her dark eyes to heaven, while a slight flush, like the last reflected tinge of the setting sun, beamed on her features, and she gave vent to her feelings in 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 in 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 maiden, 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 akind 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, made a hasty apology for the excess of her emotion, and desired to be conducted to the room of her brother.
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, and 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 such wonderful variability, as if impelled by a charm that was beyond her control. The youth had thrown an earnest look at Frances as soon as his sister had raised herself from his arms, and perhaps it was the first glance at the lovely lineaments of the maiden, where the gazer turned his eyes from the view in disappointment; pausing a moment, during which the wandering eyes of Singleton were bent on the open door of the room, he said, as he took the hand of his sister affectionately——
"And where is Dunwoodie, Isabella? he is never weary of kind actions. After a day of such service as that of yesterday, he has spent the night in bringing me a nurse, whose presence alone is able to raise me from my couch."
The expression of the lady's countenance changed instantly; her eye roved round the apartment with a character of wildness in it that repelledthe anxious maiden, who studied her movements with intensity of interest, as forcibly as the moment before it had attracted her; while the sister answered with a trembling emotion——
"Dunwoodie! is he then not here? with me he has not been: I thought to have met him by the side of my brother's bed."
"He has duties that require his presence elsewhere; yes, these English are said to be out by the way of the Hudson, and give the light troops but little rest," said the brother musing; "surely nothing else could have kept him so long from a wounded friend; but, Isabella, the meeting has been too much for you; you tremble like an aspen."
Isabella made no reply, but stretched forth her hand towards the table which held the nourishment of the captain, and the attentive Frances comprehended her wishes in a moment; a glass of water in some measure revived the sister, who, smiling faintly, was enabled to say——
"Doubtless it is his duty. 'Twas said above, a royal party was moving on the river; though I passed the troops but a short two miles from this spot." The latter part of the sentence was hardly audible, and spoken more in the manner of a soliloquy than as if intended for the ears of her companions.
"On the march, Isabella?" eagerly inquired her brother.
"No, dismounted, and seemingly at rest," was the reply, in the same abstracted manner as before.
The wondering brother turned his gaze on the countenance of his sister, who sat with her full, black eye bent on the carpet in unconscious absence, but found no explanation. His look was changed to the face of Frances, who, startling withthe earnestness of his expression, arose, and hastily inquired if he would have any assistance.
"If, madam, you can pardon the rudeness," said the wounded officer, making a feeble effort to raise his body, "I would request to have Captain Lawton's company for a moment."
Frances hastened instantly to communicate his wish to that gentleman, and impelled by an anxious interest she could not control, returned again to her seat by the side of Miss Singleton.
"Lawton," said the youth impatiently as the trooper entered, "hear you from the major?"
The eye of the sister was now bent on the face of the trooper, who made his salutations to the lady with the ease of a gentleman, blended with the frankness of a soldier, and answered——
"His man has been here twice to inquire how we fared in the Lazaretto."
"And why not himself?" said the other quickly.
"Ah! that is a question the major can answer best himself," returned the dragoon drily; "but you know the red coats are abroad, and Dunwoodie commands in the county; these English must be looked to."
"True," said Singleton slowly, as if struck with the other's reasons; "but how is it that you are idle when there is work to do?"
"My sword arm is not in the best condition, and Roanoke has a dreadfully shambling gait this morning," said the trooper with a shrug; "besides there is another reason I could mention, if it were not that Miss Wharton would never forgive me."
"Speak, I beg, sir, without dread of my displeasure," said Frances, withdrawing her eyes from the countenance of Miss Singleton, and returningthe good-humoured smile of the trooper with the natural archness of her own lovely face.
"The odours of your kitchen, then," cried Lawton bluntly, "forbid my quitting the domains, until I qualify myself to speak with more certainty concerning the fatness of the land."
"Oh! aunt Jeannette is exerting herself to do credit to my father's hospitality," said the laughing maid, "and I am a truant from her labours, as I shall be a stranger to her favour unless I proffer my assistance."
After making a proper apology to the stranger, Frances withdrew to seek her aunt, musing deeply on the character and extreme sensibility of the new acquaintance chance had brought to the cottage.
The wounded officer followed her with his eyes, as her lovely figure moved with infantile grace through the door of his apartment, and as she vanished from his view, observed——
"Such an aunt and niece are seldom to be met with, Jack; this seems a fairy, but the aunt is angelic."
"Ah! George, you are doing well, I see," said the trooper; "your enthusiasm holds its own."
"I should be ungrateful as well as insensible did I not bear testimony to the loveliness of Miss Peyton."
"A good motherly lady," said the dragoon drily; "but as to love, you know that is a matter of taste. I think a few years younger, with deference to the sex," bowing to Miss Singleton, "would accord better with my fancy."
"She must be under twenty," said the other quickly.
"Oh, doubtless, about nineteen," said Lawton with extreme gravity; "yet she looks a trifle older."
"You have mistaken an elder sister for the aunt," said Isabella, laying her fair hand on the mouth of the invalid, "but you must be silent; your feelings are beginning to affect your frame."
The entrance of Doctor Sitgreaves, who, in some alarm, noticed the increase of feverish symptoms in his patient, enforced this mandate; and the trooper withdrew to pay a visit of condolence to Roanoke, who had been an equal sufferer with himself in their last night's somerset. To his great joy, his man pronounced the steed to be equally convalescent with the master; and Lawton found, that by dint of rubbing the animal's limbs several hours without ceasing, he was enabled to place his feet in what he called systematic motion. Orders were accordingly given to be in readiness to prepare to rejoin the troop at the four corners, so soon as the captain had shared in the bounty of the approaching banquet.
In the mean time, Henry Wharton had entered the apartment of Wellmere, and by his sympathetic feelings on account of a defeat in which they had been alike unfortunate, succeeded greatly in restoring the colonel to his own good graces; he was consequently enabled to rise and prepare to meet a rival of whom he had spoken so lightly, and as the result had proved, with so little reason. Wharton knew this misfortune, as it was termed by both, was owing to the other's rashness; but he forbore to speak of any thing except the unfortunate accident which had deprived the English of their leader, and their consequent defeat.
"In short, Wharton," said the colonel putting one leg out of bed, "it may be called a combination of untoward events; your own ungovernablehorse prevented my orders from being carried to the major, in season to flank the rebels."
"Very true," replied the captain, kicking a slipper towards the bed; "had we succeeded in getting a few good fires upon them in flank, we should have sent these brave Virginians to the right about."
"Ay! and that in double quick time," cried the colonel with very considerable animation, making the other leg follow its companion; "then it was necessary to route the guides, you know, and the movement gave them the best possible opportunity to charge."
"Yes," said the other, sending the second slipper after the first, "and that Dunwoodie never overlooks an advantage."
"I think if we had the thing to do over again," continued the colonel, raising himself on his feet, "we might alter the case very materially, though the chief thing the rebels have now to boast of is my capture; they were repulsed you saw, in their attempt to drive us from the wood."
"At least they would have been, had they made an attack," said the captain, throwing his clothes within reach of the colonel.
"Ay! why that, you know, is the same thing," returned Wellmere, dressing himself; "to assume such an attitude as to intimidate your enemy is the chief art of war."
"Doubtless," said the captain, entering himself a little into the proud feelings of a soldier; "then you may remember in one charge they were completely routed."
"True——true," cried the colonel with animation; "had I been there to have improved that advantage we might have turned the table completely on the yankies;" in saying which he completed his toilette, and was prepared to makehis appearance, fully restored to his own good opinion, and fairly persuaded that his capture was owing to casualties absolutely without the control of man.
The knowledge that Colonel Wellmere was to be a partaker in the feast in no degree diminished the preparations which were already making for that important event; and Sarah, after receiving the compliments of the gentleman, and making, with blushing cheeks, many kind inquiries after the state of his wounds, proceeded in person to lend her aid in embellishing what would now be of additional interest.
