V
HILARY?--YES, UNCLE?
Second half as well as first, the drill was ended. The low acacias andgreat live-oaks were casting their longest shadows. The great plainrested from the trample and whirl of hoofs, guns, and simulated battle.A whiff of dust showed where the battery ambled townward among roadsidegardens, the Callender carriage spinning by it to hurry its three ladiesand Mandeville far away to the city's lower end. At the column's headrode Irby in good spirits, having got large solace of Flora's societysince we last saw her paired with Kincaid. Now beside the tiny railwaystation Hilary was with her once more as she and Charlie awaited thetrain from town. Out afield were left only General Brodnax andGreenleaf, dismounted between the Northerner's horse and Hilary's. NowKincaid came across the turf.
"Greenleaf," said the old soldier, "why does Hilary forever walk asthough he were bringing the best joke of the season? Can't you make himquit it?"
The nephew joined them: "Uncle, if you'd like to borrow my horse I cango by train."
That _was_ a joke. "H-m-m! I see! No, Greenleaf's going by train. Wouldyou like to ride with me?"
"Well, eh--ha! Why, uncle, I--why, of course, if Fred really--" Theymounted and went.
"Hilary?"
"Yes, uncle?"
"How is it now? Like my girl any better?"
"Why--yes! Oh, she's fine! And yet I--"
"You must say? What must you say?"
"Nothing much; only that she's not the kind to seem like the owner of afield battery. My goodness! uncle, if she had half Miss Flora's tang--"
"She hasn't the least need of it! She's the quiet kind, sir, that foolswho love 'tang' overlook!"
"Yes," laughed Hilary, "she's quiet; quiet as a fortification bymoonlight! Poor Fred! I wish--"
"Well, thank God you wish in vain! That's just been settled. I askedhim--oh, don't look surprised at _me_. Good Lord! hadn't I the right toknow?"
The two rode some way in silence. "I wish," mused the nephew aloud, "itcould be as he wants it."
The uncle's smile was satirical: "Did you ever, my boy, wish anythingcould be as _I_ want it?"
"Now, uncle, there's a big difference--"
"DAMN THE DIFFERENCE! I'm going to try you. I'm going to make Adolphe myadjutant-general. Then if you hanker for this battery as it hankers foryou--"
"Mary, Queen of Scots!" rejoiced Hilary. "That'll suit us both to thebone! And if it suits you too--"
"Well it doesn't! You know I've never wanted Adolphe about me. Butyou've got me all snarled up, the whole kit of you. What's more, Idon't want him for my heir nor any girl with 'tang' for mistress of mylands and people. Hilary, I swear! if you've got the sand to want Annaand she's got the grace to take you, then, adjutant-general or not, I'llleave you my whole fortune! Well, what amuses you now?"
"Why, uncle, all the cotton in New Orleans couldn't tempt me to marrythe girl I wouldn't take dry so without a continental cent."
"But your own present poverty might hold you back even from the girl youwanted, mightn't it?"
"No!" laughed the nephew, "nothing would!"
"Good God! Well, if you'll want Anna I'll make it easy for you to askfor her. If not, I'll make it as hard as I can for you to get any oneelse."
Still Hilary laughed: "H-oh, uncle, if I loved any girl, I'd rather haveher without your estate than with it." Suddenly he sobered and glowed:"I wish you'd leave it to Adolphe! He's a heap-sight better business manthan I. Besides, being older, he feels he has the better right to it.You know you always counted on leaving it to him."
The General looked black: "You actually decline the gift?"
"No. No, I don't. I want to please you. But of my own free choice Iwouldn't have it. I'm no abolitionist, but I don't want that kind ofproperty. I don't want the life that has to go with it. I know othersorts that are so much better. I'm not thinking only of the moralresponsibility--"
"By--! sir, I am!"
"I know you are, and I honor you for it."
"Bah!... Hilary, I--I'm much obliged to you for your company, but--"
"You've had enough," laughed the good-natured young man. "Good-evening,sir." He took a cross-street.
"Good-evening, my boy." The tone was so kind that Hilary cast a lookback. But the General's eyes were straight before him.
Greenleaf accompanied the Valcours to their door. Charlie, who dislikedhim, and whose admiration for his own sister was privately cynical, hadleft them to themselves in the train. There, wholly undetected by thevery man who had said some women were too feminine and she was one, shehad played her sex against his with an energy veiled only by itsintellectual nimbleness and its utterly dispassionate design. Charliedetected achievement in her voice as she twittered good-by to thedeparting soldier from their street door.