CHAPTER XV.
A SMALL HERO.
Dr. Collaston and his wife opened their new house early in Septemberwith quite a grand gathering of friends. It was really very handsomefor the times, and the young wife was considered quite an acquisitionto society, which was rather fluctuating. Louis Mason esteemed himselfvery fortunate to obtain a place in the office of Judge Todd of theSupreme Court. Charles and Varina went to Williamsburg to school, andAnnis had her mother all to herself once more, for Jaqueline was ingreat demand at her sister's.
She was not long in meeting Roger Carrington, but they might have beenthe merest acquaintances. And as if to help the family get over thedisappointment, Ralph married a daughter of one of the neighbors, anamiable, home-loving girl, an excellent housekeeper, and quite up inthe demands of the society of the day. She came home to live, and Mrs.Carrington had her coveted daughter, who was entirely satisfied withher position.
"We were all very sorry when the difference happened between you andRoger," Mrs. Carrington said gently to Jaqueline the first time theymet. "But it was better to learn then that you could not agree than tohave to live unhappy afterward. Still, I hope we shall remain friends,and I want a visit from your parents very much."
Jaqueline thanked her gracefully. Truly, it seemed to make littledifference. Roger looked older and more dignified, and was in greatdemand with the inner circle of both men and women.
There were many pressing questions, both in the City and country. TheNapoleonic conquests had shaken Europe to its very center, and thefirst disaster to the man regarded as invincible produced a thrillingsensation. Mr. Barlow, author of some quite important pamphlets, wassent to France to observe affairs, which were in a rather criticalstate. The party clamoring for war with England made itself heard moreloudly. The right of search, the interference of trade, the insolentand overbearing manner of England roused the whole country.
Through all the turmoil Mrs. Madison moved serenely, and if her heartquaked with forebodings, it was not allowed to disturb her effortsat making Washington a social center. Then her pretty widowed sister,Mrs. Washington, married Judge Todd, and so became permanently settledin the City. Every year saw a little improvement made in the Capitoland the President's mansion. Streets began to have a more finishedappearance.
Jaqueline was not less a belle than she had been the previous winter.Arthur Jettson was prospering, and Jane was bright and gay in spite ofthree babies; so between the two homes and the outside world she waskept full of engagements.
She was rather surprised when Lieutenant Ralston made her a proposal ofmarriage. The friendly feeling had been so strong, and on her part sounlike love, that there could be but one answer. He did not seem deeplydisappointed, but begged that they might remain friends.
Only a few days after she received a note from her mother. They hadbeen up to the Pineries, for grandmother was quite poorly and wentdownstairs only to her dinner.
"She misses the stir and activity of being mistress of the house, andher son's ideas are different in many respects from hers. But therecomes a time when the old must give way and step aside for the young.Marian is devoted to her. I do not know now what your grandmotherwould do without her. Did you hear that poor Mr. Greaves is dead atlast? But it has been a living death for six months or more; indeed,he has never had his mind and memory clearly since the first stroke,and now for weeks he has been barely conscious. He must have had aniron constitution. I think your grandmother is very thankful that thishappened before the marriage rather than afterward. Miss Greaves wantsto close the house, dispose of the slaves by hire or leasing, and goto England to educate the children. Brandon is as bitterly opposed towar as ever his father could have been. Marian is sweet and kindly,but has fallen into an apathetic state. Dolly is prospering, and fromall accounts very gay. She has written repeatedly to Marian. I wishthe poor girl could make the visit. It is sad to see her youth fadingaway."
"Poor Marian! Oh, Patty, do you remember our first visit here? It seemsages ago, doesn't it? and so much has happened. What girls we were!"
"And Mr. Madison was inaugurated! You went to a levee. How I did envyyou! Now I curtsey to Mrs. Madison every day or two, and gossip withMrs. Cutts, and am asked to meet this one and that one. Well, we'rethe Virginian part of the Capital," laughing. "And how you schemed forMarian! Jaqueline, you don't mean to marry Lieutenant Ralston yourself,after all? Jane was so afraid you might attract him."
"Oh, no! He seems just like a brother." But she did not confessshe had answered the momentous question. She gave a great throb ofthankfulness. True, he insisted that Marian had never really loved him,and a man would be foolish enough to go mooning about such a woman.
It was June of that year, after a stormy session of Congress, thatthe word spread like wildfire through every State, first announcedin the _National Intelligencer_, that war had been declared againstGreat Britain. And on June 21 the strongest naval force the countrycould muster, a squadron of four warships, was fitting out atNorfolk. Charleston was astir; New York, Boston, and Salem were busytransforming merchant vessels that had lain idly at the wharves intofighting ships. Young men hurried to Annapolis and placed themselves intraining, for the war must be largely fought out on the seas.
The efforts of England to harass and break up the commerce between theUnited States and other countries, notably France, had exasperated thepride and sense of justice of the country. The war-cry was taken up:"Free trade and the rights of sailors. America must protect her own."And although times had been hard and trade poor, out of it had growna knowledge of the young country's power and possibilities. Now thenation was compact and had a centralized government. There had beenmany improvements since old Revolutionary times, and the population hadnearly doubled.
Not that the country was a unit on this subject. The Federalists wereextremely bitter, and denounced the war as unnecessary and suicidal.England, out of one war, was ready with her ripened experience to sweepus from the seas. And what then?
On the frontier the campaign opened badly. At the disgraceful surrenderof Hull at Detroit not only was the commander blamed for treachery andcowardice, but the Cabinet and the President held up to execration.
As an offset, naval victories suddenly roused the waning enthusiasm:the _Wasp_ and the _Frolic_, the _Hornet_ and the _Peacock_, and the_Constitution's_ splendid escape from the _Guerriere_, that was todrive the "insolent rag of bunting" from the seas, the chase from NewYork to Boston, the brief fight of an hour and a half, when the buntingwas left to wave over the wreck, and Captain Dacres and the part of hiscrew not in a watery grave made prisoners. No wonder Boston had a dayof rejoicing!
This was followed by other victories. The country began to draw a freebreath, and the conquest on the lakes crowned it with new courage andrejoicing.
But in the Capital a fierce battle was raging. Whether Madison shouldagain be the candidate and succeed himself was a hotly disputedquestion. But if the President came in for so much animadversion, itwas admitted that Mrs. Madison bore herself with steady courage andcheerfulness. There was no distinction made between parties at herreceptions. No one was treated with coolness because he had reviled theadministration. Perhaps it was the charming courtesy that upheld Mr.Madison through the stress of the times.
Then Jaqueline and Dr. Collaston were summoned suddenly to Cedar Grove.Charles had been brought home in a rather alarming condition. There hadbeen spells of fainting and headaches that were thought to come fromoverstudy, and at last Uncle Conway was seriously alarmed, and sent theboy home in the care of a trusty slave and an old mammy. He was verymuch exhausted by the journey, and Dr. Collaston saw at once that itwas something more serious than overwork.
"But I'll be sure to get well, won't I?" he asked wistfully. "There isso much going on, and so much to do and to learn in this big world.How grand it is! And if we should beat England again, wouldn't it bemagnificent? Do you feel sure that we will?"
"Never mind the war. Tell me when the headaches bega
n. And the pain inyour back. You used to be such a bright, healthy little lad. Did youtake enough exercise?"
There was a faint flush creeping over the pale face, and the eyeslooked out on the distance as if taxing his memory, but instead he wastrying to elude a curious consciousness.
"The headaches? Oh, I used to have them sometimes at home. They'regirlish things, and it doesn't seem as if boys ought to fret overthem," with a touch of disdain.
"And you haven't been trying your strength leaping over five-barredgates or jumping ditches, or perhaps riding too much?"
"I had my pony, you know, but I didn't ride very much. And latterlyit seemed to take away my strength. Aunt Catharine was sure it hurtme, and then I didn't ride at all. So I left it for the children andVarina. Aunt Catharine was wonderfully kind, but she isn't quite likemamma, and father is so good and strong. I'm going to get well now. Ithink I was homesick too, and that's babyish for a great boy. How Louiswould laugh at me!"
But no one laughed. Everybody spoke hopefully, to be sure, and treatedthe matter lightly. Annis read to him, but he sometimes stopped her andsaid: "Tell me about your visit to Patty. Doesn't it seem funny to havePatty among the big people and going to the White House to dinner? Whydo you suppose Jacky didn't marry Mr. Carrington? I like him so much."
Then it was the old Froissart, with the queer pictures, or the warnews. The young people around came in, the boys ruddy, laughing, andsunburned. The little darkies did their funniest tricks and sang songsfor young mas'r; but though he seemed a little stronger, he did not getwell. It had not been altogether the hard study.
"You are quite sure you can't remember any fall down there atWilliamsburg?" the doctor queried.
"Oh, I might have had little tumbles; boys often do," he said with anair of indifference. "But nothing to hurt."
He caught a look on the face of Annis, who was standing by the windowidly drumming with her fingers on the sill, and frowned.
"What was that for?" The doctor intercepted the glance, and looked fromone to the other.
"Please don't drum, Annis," he said gently. "Did I frown?" to thedoctor.
Dr. Collaston studied him sharply.
"If you young people have any secret that bears on the case, you'dbetter reveal it. Working in the dark isn't always advisable. Annis,why do you change color?"
Annis flushed deeply now, and her eyelids quivered as if tears were notfar away.
"Let Annis alone," said the boy in as gruff a tone as so gentle a voicecould assume. "I suppose we _did_ both think of one thing when you soinsisted upon a fall. It was a long while ago, before I went to school.We were down by the creek. I was on Sam, who had been drinking andwading in the stream. He turned to step out, and a stone rolled and hestumbled. I went over his head, as I didn't have the rein in my hand.It knocked the breath out of me for a moment. But I had been tumbledoff before, when I was learning to ride, and that really didn't--wasn'tof much account, only Annis was so frightened. Now shall I go furtherback and tell you of all the downfalls I have had? I wasn't verydaring--Annis, wasn't I something of a babyish boy?"
"No, you were not." Annis smiled a little then.
"How did he fall?"
Annis could not recall that.
"After a little I walked home. No, I wasn't much hurt. I had a lamethumb, I remember; but afterward there used to come what Phillis callsa 'misery' in my back. The headaches did not come until in the winter."
The doctor nodded.
"But I'm bound to get well," added the boy. "I don't want to die. Ishould have to be dead such a long, long while."
The doctor laughed. "No, we're not going to have you die. That is theleast of the trouble. But you may be an invalid quite a while."
"I shouldn't even mind that, if I could study some. I hate to fallbehind. And, you see, father is so proud of Louis that I couldn't bearpeople saying about me 'Poor Charles!' in a pitying way."
"We won't even have them saying that," was the confident answer, as hewent out to add a note to the memoranda he had made of the case.
Charles held out his hand to Annis, who came over and gave it a littleconvulsive clasp.
"Girls are queer," he said in a soft, slow tone that had no reproach init. "And Dr. Collaston turned you inside out. I do suppose doctors knowpretty generally what is going on inside of your body, and sometimesthey guess what is in your brain, or your mind, or whatever thinks. Iwas so afraid he'd get it all out of you!"
"Oh, do you think it was _that_?" Annis' eyes overflowed, and he couldfeel the quiver of her fingers.
"There--don't cry. It wasn't your fault. It wasn't even Varina's fault.Sam would have turned and gone out, anyhow. And you can't think hownice Varina is growing--pretty, too. I am sure it vexed her a good dealto think she was not as pretty as the older girls, or even you. You'reso fair and sweet, with your clouds of light hair and your skin thatlooks like transparent pearl. You know she was very sorry."
"Oh, we both thought you were dead!" Annis tried hard not to sob.
"Boys take a good deal of killing. You see, I wasn't anywhere neardead. But I did give my back a hard wrench, and I felt it for a week ortwo, then it all went away; and it was somewhere about the holidays--wewere getting greens for the church, and I fainted dead away. After thatthe ache came back. It's dull and aggravating, not a sharp pain thatmakes you feel as if you could get up and fight, but sometimes you arewild to run away, to the very ends of the earth! Then it would creepup to my head like some stealthy thing you couldn't put your fingeron. Aunt Catharine was good, but she fussed so much, and she's alwayssaying, 'Now, don't you think you ought to do this, or give up doingthat? I'm sure it hurts you.' And wanting to find out the cause ofeverything and settle it on some particular point. It's queer that Reneshould get along so well; you know she has a fractious temper! But thelittle girls just adore her, and at home she was teased a good deal."
He leaned back on the pillow, and his face was very white.
"Oh, you are so tired!" cried Annis.
"Yes. I have just a little bit to say, then you may read to me. I don'twant anything said about Varina. She would be almost killed if shethought she was to blame for it. And she wasn't, you know. That littlesplash in Sam's face wasn't anything. He enjoyed having a bucket ofwater thrown over him. He's almost a water dog," laughing.
Annis tried to be convinced. If Varina had not persisted when Charlesasked her to stop! But, then, Sam _had_ stepped on a rolling stone.
"That's just a little bit between ourselves, not to be talked about,for it can't do any good, and would make Rene so very unhappy, now whenshe's growing sweeter. I've thought I ought to tell the doctor, but Ididn't want to believe the fall had anything to do with it. Whateverhappens, you will always love me, Annis?"
"Yes," bending over to kiss the white forehead, her heart full ofsympathy and dread for an unknown future.
"And Jack's so lovely! Only I'm awful sorry she didn't marry Mr.Carrington. Patty and her husband are so happy, so are mother andfather. There, I am tired. Get a book and read. That about Uncle Toby,who had such a big, sweet, foolish heart."
The children had a great way of picking out parts they liked andskipping the rest.
Then Dr. Collaston had to go up to Washington for a week or two, andsent for Jaqueline also. For Patty had a little baby girl, and they alllaughed merrily about being uncles and aunts. What was happening to thecountry was a minor consideration.
When the doctor came down again he had a well-digested plan.
"If it wasn't for running the risk on the ocean I should say takethe boy over to London at once and have the best medical skill there.But there are some excellent physicians in Philadelphia and New York.Old Dr. Rush does little in practicing now, but he is still ready andgenerous with advice. You know, I am young in the profession, and asyet we cannot boast much medical talent in our young city. Let Mrs.Mason stay with him three months or so, and have the best treatment. Ithink it quite a serious matter."
Mr. Mason was aghast at
first.
"He is so young now, and the injury may not be as bad as I anticipated;but it will need excellent skill to take him through without leavingpermanent marks and much suffering. So it had better be attended to atonce."
Jaqueline was alarmed at the seriousness of the case. If she couldgo----
"No; it must be some person of experience, and one whom Charles lovesand trusts and would obey. He will make a good patient, for he isanxious to get well; and though he does not whisper such a thing, hehas an awful fear of deformity----"
"Oh, you do not think----" in a tremulous tone.
"Hush! I have mentioned it to no one but your parents. It is not to bediscussed. It is a spinal trouble, and that covers the ground. And hemust have immediate care. You and Annis will come with us, for it wouldbe too lonely to have you here on the plantation, even if your fatheris back and forth."
Mrs. Mason discussed the plans with Jaqueline at once, and the girl wasfull of the warmest sympathy.
"If we could take Annis! but the doctor thinks it would be bad for thechild, and an added care."
"Oh, mamma, you may trust her with me! I am not as gay and volatile asI was a year ago, nor so frivolous."
"She ought to go to school! Perhaps in the fall----"
"Mamma, that suggests something. A Madame Badeau, a very charmingFrench refugee, has started a school for children and young ladiesjust a short distance from the doctor's. She is trying to get scholarsenough to insure her support. And she teaches the pianoforte. It isquite coming into vogue since Mrs. Madison makes so much of the grandone at the White House, where ladies are often asked to play. Annisis such a little home girl that she would be very unhappy away. We alllove her so dearly. And I will look after her clothes, and the doctorafter her health, and Patty and the baby will be so much entertainment.Patty is making a very charming woman, and much admired," said theelder sister heartily.
"That is an admirable plan, and you are kind to take so much interestin the child. It relieves me of considerable anxiety, and she has runwild long enough, though she has picked up an odd conglomeration ofknowledge from Charles. I know your father will be glad and thankful."
"To let you go quite away--to stay!" ejaculated Annis, when she heardof the plan. "Mamma, I have given up part of you a good many times, butI can't give up all," and the soft lips quivered. "Why can I not go? Iwill be very good, and not make any trouble. And I could help you withCharles, and read to him. He is so fond of me."
"It would not be possible to take you, dear," she replied tenderly."You would add to my care. The doctor thinks this plan the best, theonly one."
Annis clung to her mother. "Philadelphia is ever so much farther thanBaltimore!" she cried despairingly. "And--you are _my_ mother!"
"But, if Charles should be ill a long while! And think how lonesome hewould be with just a nurse! You can write quite well, and you can sendme letters about everything. Jaqueline knows of a delightful school youcan go to. It is time you were learning something, as well as Varina.There, dear, don't make it harder for me."
Annis was crying on her mother's shoulder. She had thought a three- orfour-days' separation very hard--how would she stand weeks and months?To be sure, they all loved her mother, and Charles was especially fondof her; but, after all, she was _her_ mother.
Then Mr. Mason came in, but for once she would not sit on his knee norlisten to his bright predictions.
At first Charles refused utterly to go without Annis. He was sure shecouldn't be in the way. He loved mamma very much, but he had foundit lonely at school without Annis to tell things over to. She wasdifferent from the other girls--and, then, they were grown women,except Varina; and he could not stand it without her.
"I want to get well and grow up to manhood, and then none of you shalltake her away from me!" he cried.
Mrs. Mason gave a soft sigh, hoping he would have no greater heartachein the days to come.
Dr. Collaston finally persuaded him that this would be the bestarrangement, as quiet and a darkened room might be necessary. "And itwould be like keeping her a prisoner," he said. "Her mother could nottake her out, and she could not go about a strange city alone, so itwould be rather selfish to ask so much of her."
"And I don't mean to be selfish. If you all think so, it must be right;but I am sorry, all the same."
"You may get home by Christmas," the doctor said hopefully.