CHAPTER XXV.
"Yes, Hastings, these are they Who challenge to themselves thy country's love; The true, the constant, who alone can weigh What glory should demand, or liberty approve!"
--AKENSIDE.
A pause succeeded this little opening, during which the assembly waswaiting for the arrival of Ursula Malbone, and the semi-savage guardianthat "set" so much by her, as not to leave her out of sight for amoment. All that time Thousandacres was ruminating on his own plans;while old Andries was probably reflecting on the singular circumstancesthat "wonters shoult pe so wonterful!" At length a little bustle andmovement occurred near the door, the crowd collected in it opened, andDus walked into the centre of the room, her color heightened byexcitement, but her step firm, and her air full of spirit. At first, theblazing light affected her sight, and she passed a hand over her eyes.Then looking around I met her gaze, and was rewarded for all my anxietyby one of those glances, into which affection knows how to infuse somuch that is meaning and eloquent. I was thus favored for a moment only;those eyes still turning until they met the fond, answering look ofChainbearer. The old man had arisen, and he now received his niece inhis arms, as a parent would embrace a beloved child.
That outpouring of feeling lasted but a little while. It had beenunpremeditated and impulsive, and was almost as suddenly suppressed. Itgave me, however, the happiness of witnessing one of the most pleasantsights that man can behold; that of youth, and beauty, and delicacy, andfemale tenderness, pouring out their feelings on the bosom of age--onthe ruder qualities of one hardened in person by the exposures of a lifepassed in the forest. To me the contrast between the fair, golden hairof Dus, and the few straggling, bleached locks of her uncle; the downy,peach-like cheek of the girl, and the red, wrinkled, and sun-driedcountenance of Chainbearer, was perfectly delightful. It said how deepmust lie those sympathies of our nature, which could bring together soclosely two so differently constituted in all things, and set atdefiance the apparent tendencies of taste and habit.
Dus suffered herself to be thus carried away by her feelings for only amoment. Accustomed in a degree, as she certainly was, to the roughassociations of the woods, this was the first time she had ever beenconfronted with such an assembly, and I could see that she drew backinto herself with womanly reserve, as she now gazed around her, and sawin what a wild and unwonted presence she stood. Still, I had never seenher look so supremely lovely as she did that evening, for she threw PrisBayard and Kate, with all their advantages of dress and freedom fromexposure, far into the shade. Perhaps the life of Ursula Malbone hadgiven to her beauty the very completeness and fullness, that are mostapt to be wanting to the young American girl, who has been educated inthe over-tender and delicate manner of our ordinary parental indulgence.Of air and exercise she had already enjoyed enough, and they hadimparted to her bloom and person the richness and development that areoftener found in the subordinate than in the superior classes of thecountry.
As for Thousandacres, though he watched every movement of Ursula Malbonewith jealous interest, he said nothing to interrupt the current of herfeelings. As soon as she left her uncle's arms, however, Dus drew backand took the rude seat that I had placed for her close to Chainbearer'sside. I was paid for this little act of attention by a sweet smile fromits subject, and a lowering look from the old squatter, that admonishedme of the necessity of being cautious of manifesting too much of theinterest I felt in the beloved object before me. As is usual inassemblages composed of the rude and unpractised, a long, awkward pausesucceeded this introduction of Dus to our presence. After a time,however, Aaron resumed the subject in hand.
"We've met to settle all our difficulties, as I was sayin'," observedThousandacres, in a manner as deliberative and considerate as if he wereengaged in one of the most blameless pursuits of life, the outwardappearances of virtue and vice possessing a surprising resemblance toeach other. "When men get together on sich a purpose, and in a rightspirit, it must be that there's a fault somewhere, if what's right can'tbe come at atween 'em. What's right atwixt man and man is _my_ creed,Chainbearer."
"What's right petween man ant man is a goot creet, T'ousantacres; antit's a goot religion, too," answered Andries, coldly.
"That it is! that it is! and I now see that you're in a reasonabletemper, Chainbearer, and that there's a prospect of business in you. Idespise a man that's so set in his notions that there's no gettin' himto give in an inch in a transaction--don't you hold to that, too,Captain Andries?"
"T'at depents on what t'e notions pe. Some notions do nopoty any goot,ant t'e sooner we're rit of 'em t'e petter; while some notions pe sofery excellent t'at a man hat pest lay town his life as lay t'em town."
This answer puzzled Thousandacres, who had no idea of a man's ever dyingfor opinion's sake; and who was probably anxious, just at that moment,to find his companion sufficiently indifferent to principle to make somesacrifices to expediency. It was quite evident this man was disposed topractise a _ruse_ on this occasion, that is often resorted to byindividuals, and sometimes by states, when disposed to gain a greatadvantage out of a very small right; that of demanding much more thanthey expect to receive, and of making a great merit of yielding pointsthat they never had the smallest claim to maintain. But this dispositionof the squatter's will make itself sufficiently apparent as we proceed.
"I don't see any use in talkin' about layin' down lives," Thousandacresreturned to Chainbearer's remark, "seein' this is not a life and deathtransaction at all. The most that can be made of squattin', give the lawits full swing, is trespass and damages, and them an't matters tofrighten a man that has stood out ag'in 'em all his days. We're prettymuch sich crittur's as sarcumstances make us. There be men, I don'tquestion, that a body can skear half out of their wits with a writ,while a whull flock of sheep, skins and wool united, wunt intimidatethem that's used to sich things. I go on the principle of doin' what'sright, let the law say what it will of the matter; and this is theprinciple on which I wish to settle our present difficulty."
"Name your tarms--name your tarms!" cried Chainbearer, a littleimpatiently; "talkin' ist talkin', all t'e worlt ofer, ant actin' istactin'. If you haf anyt'ing to propose, here we are, reaty ant willin'to hear it."
"That's hearty, and just my way of thinkin' and feelin', and I'll act upto it, though it was the gospel of St. Paul himself, and I was set onfollowin' it. Here, then, is the case, and any man can understand it.There's two rights to all the land on 'arth, and the whull world over.One of these rights is what I call a king's right, or that which dependson writin's, and laws, and sichlike contrivances; and the other dependson possession. It stands to reason, that fact is better than any writin'about it can be; but I'm willin' to put 'em on a footin' for the timebein', and for the sake of accommodatin'. I go all for accommodatin'matters, and not for stirrin' up ill blood; and that I tell Chainbearer,b'ys, is the right spirit to presarve harmony and fri'ndship!"
This appeal was rewarded by a murmur of general approbation in all thatpart of the audience which might be supposed to be in the squatterinterest, while the part that might be called adverse, remained silent,though strictly attentive, old Andries included.
"Yes, that's my principles," resumed Thousandacres, taking a heartydraught of cider, a liquor of which he had provided an ample allowance,passing the mug civilly to Chainbearer, as soon as he had his swallow."Yes, that's my principles, and good principles they be, for them thatlikes peace and harmony, as all must allow. Now, in this matter aforeus, General Littlepage and his partner ripresents writin's, and I andmine ripresent fact. I don't say which is the best, for I don't want tobe hard on any man's rights, and 'specially when the accommodatin'spirit is up and doin'; but I'm fact, and the gin'ral's pretty muchwritin's. But difficulties has sprung up atwixt us, and it's high timeto put 'em down. I look upon you, Chainbearer, as the fri'nd of thet'other owners of this sile, and I'm now ready to make proposals, or tohear them, just as it may prove convenient."
"I haf no pr
oposals to make, nor any aut'ority to offer t'em. I'm nut'inhere put a chainpearer, wit' a contract to survey t'e patent into smalllots, ant t'en my tuty ist tone. Put, here ist General Littlepage's onlyson, ant he ist empoweret, I unterstant, to do all t'at is necessary ont'is tract, as t'e attorney----"
"He is and he isn't an attorney!" interrupted Thousandacres, a littlefiercely for one in whom "the accommodatin' spirit is up." "At onemoment he says he's an attorney, and at the next he isn't. I can't standthis onsartainty any very great while."
"Pooh, pooh! T'ousantacres," returned Chainbearer, coolly, "you'refrightenet at your own shadow; ant t'at comes, let me telt you, from notlifing in 'peace and harmony,' as you call it, yourself, wit' t'e law. Aman hast a conscience, whet'er he pe a skinner or a cowboy, or efen asquatter; and he hast it, pecause Got has gifen it to him, and not onaccount of any sarfices of his own. T'at conscience it is, t'at makes myyoung frient Mortaunt here an attorney in your eyes, when he ist no moreof a lawyer t'an you pe yourself."
"Why has he called himself an attorney, then, and why do _you_ call himone? An attorney is an attorney, in my eyes, and little difference isthere atween 'em. Rattlesnakes would fare better in a clearin' ofThousandacres' than the smartest attorney in the land!"
"Well, well, haf your own feelin's; for I s'pose Satan has put 'em intoyou, ant talkin' won't pring t'em out. T'is young gentleman, however,ist no attorney of t'e sort you mean, old squatter, put he hast been asoltier, like myself, ant in my own regiment, which wast his fat'er's,ant a prave young man he ist ant wast, ant one t'at has fou't gallantlyfor liperty----"
"If he's a fri'nd of liberty, he should be a fri'nd of liberty's people;should give liberty and take liberty. Now I call it liberty to let everyman have as much land as he has need on, and no more, keepin' the restfor them that's in the same situation. If he and his father be truefri'nds of liberty, let 'em prove it like men, by giving up all claimsto any more land than they want. That's what I call liberty! Let everyman have as much land as he's need on; that's my religion, and it'sliberty, too."[19]
[Footnote 19: I am a little apprehensive that the profound politicalphilosophers who have sprung up among us within a few years, includingsome in high places, and who virtually maintain that the American is soineffably free, that it is opposed to the spirit of the institutions ofthe country to suffer him to be either landlord or tenant, however muchhe may desire it himself (and no one pretends that either law or factscompel him to be either, contrary to his own wishes), will feelmortified at discovering that they have not the merit of first proposingtheir own exquisite theory; Aaron Thousandacres having certainlypreceded them by sixty years. There is no great secret on the subject ofthe principle which lies at the bottom of this favorite doctrine, theDeity himself having delivered to man, as far back as the days of Moses,the tenth commandment, with the obvious design of controlling it. Anattempt to prove that the institutions of this country are unsuited tothe relations of landlord and tenant, is an attempt to prove that theyare unsuited to meet the various contingencies of human affairs, and isan abandonment of their defence, as that defence can only be made onbroad, manly, and justifiable grounds. As a political principle, it isjust as true that the relations of debtor and creditor are unsuited tothe institutions, and ought to be abolished.--EDITOR.]
"Why are you so moterate, T'ousantacres? why are you so unreasonaplymoterate? Why not say t'at efery man hast a right to efery t'hing hehast need of, and so make him comfortaple at once! T'ere is no wistom intoin' t'ings by hafs, ant it ist always petter to surfey all t'e lantyou want, while t'e compass is set ant t'e chains pe going. It's just asmuch liperty to haf a right to share in a man's tollars, as to share inhis lants."
"I don't go as far as that, Chainbearer," put in Thousandacres, with adegree of moderation that ought to put the enemies of his principles tothe blush. "Money is what a man 'arns himself, and he has a right to it,and so I say let him keep it; but land is necessary, and every man has aright to as much as he has need on--I wouldn't give him an acre more, onno account at all."
"Put money wilt puy lant; ant, in sharin' t'e tollars, you share t'emeans of puyin' as much lant as a man hast neet of; t'en t'ere ist agreat teal more lant ast money in t'is country, ant, in gifin' a manlant, you only gif him t'at which ist so cheap ant common, t'at he mustpe a poor tefil if he can't get all t'e lant he wants wit'out muchtrouple and any squattin', if you wilt only gif him ever so littlemoney. No, no, T'ousantacres--you're fery wrong; you shoult pegin totivite wit' t'e tollars, ant t'at wilt not tisturp society, as tollarsare in t'e pocket, ant go ant come efery day; whereast lant is afixture, and some people lofe t'eir own hills, ant rocks, anttrees--when t'ey haf peen long in a family most especially."
There was a dark scowl gathering on the brow of Thousandacres, partlybecause he felt himself puzzled by the upright and straightforwardcommon sense of Chainbearer, and partly for a reason that he himselfmade manifest in the answer that he quite promptly gave to my oldfriend's remarks.
"No man need say anything ag'in squattin' that wants to keep fri'ndswith me," Thousandacres put in, with certain twitchings about themuscles of the mouth, that were so many signs of his being in earnest."I hold to liberty and a man's rights, and that is no reason I should bedeflected on. My notions be other men's notions, I know, though they becalled squatters' notions. Congressmen have held 'em, and will hold 'emag'in, if they expect much support, in some parts of the country, atelection time. I dare say the day will come when governors will be foundto hold 'em. Governors be but men a'ter all, and must hold doctrinesthat satisfy men's wants, or they won't be governors long.[20] But allthis is nuthin' but talk, and I want to come to suthin' like business,Chainbearer. Here's this clearin', and here's the lumber. Now, I'mwillin' to settle on some sich tarms as these: I'll keep the lumber,carryin' it off as soon as the water gets to be high enough, agreein' topay for the privilege by not fellin' another tree, though I must havethe right to saw up sich logs as be cut and hauled already; and then, asto the land and clearin', if the writin' owners want 'em, they can have'em by payin' for the betterments, leavin' the price out to men in thisneighborhood, sin' city-bred folks can't know nothin' of the toil andlabor of choppin', and loggin', and ashin', and gettin' in, and croppin'new lands."
[Footnote 20: Thousandacres speaks here like a veritableprophet.--EDITOR.]
"Mortaunt, t'at proposal ist for you. I haf nut'in' to do wit' t'eclearin' put to surfey it; and t'at much will I perform, when I get asfar ast t'e place, come t'ere goot, or come t'ere efil of it."
"Survey this clearin'!" put in Tobit, with his raven throat, andcertainly in a somewhat menacing tone. "No, no, Chainbearer--the man isnot out in the woods, that could ever get his chain across thisclearin'."
"T'at man, I tell you, is Andries Coejemans, commonly calledChainpearer," answered my old friend, calmly. "No clearin', ant nosquatter, ever stoppet him yet, nor do I t'ink he will pe stoppet here,from performin' his tuty. Put praggin' is a pat quality, ant we'll leaftime to show t'e trut'."
Thousandacres gave a loud hem, and looked very dark, though he saidnothing until time had been given to his blood to resume its customarycurrent. Then he pursued the discourse as follows--evidently bent onkeeping on good terms with Chainbearer as long as possible.
"On the whull," he said, "I rather think, Tobit, 'twill be best if youleave this matter altogether to me. Years cool the blood, and allow timeto reason to spread. Years be as necessary to judgment as a top to afruit-tree. I kind o' b'lieve that Chainbearer and I, being both elderlyand considerate men, will be apt to get along best together. I dare say,Chainbearer, that if the surveyin' of this clearin' be put to you on thefootin' of defiance, that your back would get up, like anybody else's,and you'd bring on the chain, let who might stand in your way. Butthat's neither here nor there. You're welcome to chain out just as muchof this part of the patent as you see fit, and 'twill help us along somuch the better when we come to the trade. Reason's reason, and I'm ofan accommodatin' spirit."
"So much t'e better, T'ousantacres; yes, so much t'e better," answeredold Andries, somewhat mollified by the conciliatory temper in which thesquatter now delivered himself. "When work ist to pe performet, it_must_ pe performet; ant, as I'm hiret to surfey and chain t'e wholeestate, t'e whole estate _must_ be chainet ant surfeyet. Well, what elsehaf you to say?"
"I am not answered as to my first offer. I'll take the lumber, agreein'not to cut another tree, and the valie of the betterments can be leftout to men."
"I am the proper person to answer this proposal," I thought it now rightto say, lest Andries and Thousandacres should get to loggerheads againon some minor and immaterial point, and thus endanger every hope ofkeeping the peace until Malbone could arrive. "At the same time, Iconsider it no more than right to tell you, at once, that I have nopower that goes so far as to authorize me to agree to your terms. BothColonel Follock and my father have a stern sense of justice, andneither, in my opinion, will feel much of a disposition to yield to anyconditions that, in the least, may have the appearance of compromisingany of their rights as landlords. I have heard them both say that, inthese particulars, 'yielding an inch would be giving an ell,' and Iconfess that, from all I have seen lately of settlers and settlements,I'm very much of the same way of thinking. My principals may concedesomething, but they'll never treat on a subject of which all the rightis on their own side."
"Am I to understand you, young man, that you're onaccommodatin', andthat my offers isn't to be listened to, in the spirit in which they'remade?" demanded Thousandacres, somewhat dryly.
"You are to understand me as meaning exactly what I say, sir. In thefirst place, I have no authority to accept your offers, and shall notassume any, let the consequences to myself be what they may. Indeed, anypromises made in duresse are good for nothing."
"Anan!" cried the squatter. "This is Mooseridge Patent, and Washington,late Charlotte County--and this is the place we are to sign and seal in,if writin's pass atween us."
"By promises made in duresse, I mean promises made while the partymaking them is in confinement, or not absolutely free to make them ornot; such promises are good for nothing in law, even though all the'writings' that could be drawn passed between the parties."
"This is strange doctrine, and says but little for your boasted law,then! At one time, it asks for writin's, and nothin' but writin's willanswer; and then all the writin's on 'arth be of no account! Yet somefolks complain, and have hard feelin's, if a man wunt live altogether upto law!"
"I rather think, Thousandacres, you overlook the objects of the law, inits naked regulations. Law is to enforce the right, and were it tofollow naked rules, without regard to principles, it might become theinstrument of effecting the very mischiefs it is designed tocounteract."
I might have spared myself the trouble of uttering this fine speech;which caused the old squatter to stare at me in wonder, and produced asmile among the young men, and a titter among the females. I observed,however, that the anxious face of Lowiny expressed admiration, ratherthan the feeling that was so prevalent among the sisterhood.
"There's no use in talkin' to this young spark, Chainbearer,"Thousandacres said, a little impatiently in the way of manner, too;"he's passed his days in the open country, and has got open-countryways, and notions, and talk; and them's things I don't pretend tounderstand. You're woods, mainly; he's open country; and I'm clearin'.There's a difference atween each; but woods and clearin' come clussest;and so I'll say my say to you. Be you, now, r'ally disposed toaccommodate, or not, old Andries?"
"Any t'ing t'at ist right, ant just, ant reasonaple, T'ousantacres; antnut'in' t'at ist not."
"That's just my way of thinkin'! If the law, now, would do as much asthat for a man, the attorneys would soon starve. Wa-a-l, we'll try nowto come to tarms, as soon as possible. You're a single man, I know,Chainbearer; but I've always supposed 'twas on account of no dislike tothe married state, but because you didn't chance to light on the rightgal; or maybe on account of the surveyin' principle, which keeps a manpretty much movin' about from tract to tract; though not much more thansquattin' doos, neither, if the matter was inquired into."
I understood the object of this sudden change from fee-simples, andpossessions, and the "accommodatin' spirit," to matrimony; butChainbearer did not. He only looked his surprise; while, as to myself,if I looked at all as I felt, I must have been the picture ofuneasiness. The beloved, unconscious Dus sat there in her maiden beauty,interested and anxious in her mind, beyond all question, but totallyignorant of the terrible blow that was meditated against herself. AsAndries looked his desire to hear more, instead of answering the strangeremark he had just heard, Thousandacres proceeded, "It's quite nat'ralto think of matrimony, afore so many young folks, isn't it,Chainbearer?" added the squatter, chuckling at his own conceits. "Here'slots of b'ys and gals about me; and I'm just as accommodatin' in findin'husbands or wives for my fri'nds and neighbors, as I am in settlin' allother difficulties. Anything for peace and a good neighborhood is myreligion!"
Old Andries passed a hand over his eyes, in the way one is apt to dowhen he wishes to aid a mental effort by external application. It wasevident he was puzzled to find out what the squatter would be at, thoughhe soon put a question that brought about something like an explanation.
"I ton't unterstant you, T'ousantacres;--no, I ton't unterstant you. Isit your tesire to gif me one of your puxom ant fine-lookin' gals, here,for a wife?"
The squatter laughed heartily at this notion, the young men joining inthe mirth; while the constant titter that the females had kept up eversince the subject of matrimony was introduced, was greatly augmented inzest. An indifferent spectator would have supposed that the utmost goodfeeling prevailed among us.
"With all my heart, Chainbearer, if you can persuade any of the gals tohave you!" cried Thousandacres, with the most apparent acquiescence."With such a son-in-law, I don't know but I should take to the chain,a'ter all, and measure out my clearin's as well as the grandee farmers,who take pride in knowin' where their lines be. There's Lowiny, she'sgot no spark, and might suit you well enough, if she'd only think so."
"Lowiny don't think any sich thing; and isn't likely to think any sichthing," answered the girl, in a quick, irritated manner.
"Wa-a-l, I do s'pose, a'ter all, Chainbearer," Thousandacres resumed,"we'll get no weddin' out of _you_. Three-score-and-ten is somewhat latefor takin' a first wife; though I've known widowers marry ag'in whenhard on upon ninety. When a man has taken one wife in 'arly life, he hasa kind o' right to another in old age."
"Yes--yes--or a hundred either," put in Prudence, with spirit. "Give 'ema chance only, and they'll find wives as long as they can find breath toask women to have 'em! Gals, you may make up your minds to _that_--noman will mourn long for any on you, a'ter you're once dead and buried."
I should think this little sally must have been somewhat common, asneither the "b'ys" nor the "gals" appeared to give it much attention.These matrimonial insinuations occur frequently in the world, andPrudence was not the first woman, by a million, who had ventured to makethem.
"I will own I was not so much thinkin' of providin' a wife for you,Chainbearer, as I was thinkin' of providin' one for a son of mine,"continued Thousandacres. "Here's Zephaniah, now, is as active andhard-workin', upright, honest and obedient a young man as can be foundin this country. He's of a suitable age, and begins to think of a wife.I tell him to marry, by all means, for it's the blessedest condition oflife, is the married state, that man ever entered into. You wouldn'tthink it, perhaps, on lookin' at old Prudence, there, and beholdin' whatshe now is; but I speak from exper'ence in recommendin' matrimony; and Iwouldn't, on no account, say what I didn't really think in the matter. Alittle matrimony might settle all our difficulties, Chainbearer."
"You surely do not expect me to marry your son, Zephaniah, I musts'pose, T'ousantacres!" answered Andries, innocently.
The laugh, this time, was neither as loud or as general as before,intense expectation rendering
the auditors grave.
"No, no; I'll excuse you from that, of a sartainty, old Andries; thoughyou may have Lowiny, if you can only prevail on the gal. But, speakin'of Zephaniah, I can r'ally ricommend the young man; a thing I'd never doif he didn't desarve it, though he is my son. No one can say that I'm inthe habit of ever ricommendin' my own things, even to the boards. Thelumber of Thousandacres is as well known in all the markets below, theytell me, as the flour of any miller in the highest credit. It's just sowith the b'ys, better lads is not to be met with; and I can ricommendZephaniah with just as much confidence as I could ricommend any lot ofboards I ever rafted."
"And what haf I to do wit' all t'is?" asked Chainbearer, gravely.
"Why, the matter is here, Chainbearer, if you'll only look a little intoit. There's difficulty atween us, and pretty serious difficulty, too. Inme the accommodatin' spirit is up, as I've said afore, and am willin' tosay ag'in. Now I've my son, Zeph, here, as I've said, and he's lookin'about for a wife; and you've a niece here--Dus Malbone, I s'pose is hername--and they'd just suit each other. It seems they're acquaintedsomewhat, and have kept company some time already, and that'll makethings smooth. Now what I offer is just this, and no more; not a bit ofit. I offer to send off for a magistrate, and I'll do't at my ownexpense; it shan't cost you a farthin'; and as soon as the magistratecomes, we'll have the young folks married on the spot, and that willmake etarnal peace forever, as you must suppose, atween you and me.Wa-a-l, peace made atween _us_, 'twill leave but little to accommodatewith the writin' owners of the sile, seein' that you are on tarms withem' all, that a body may set you down all as one as bein' of the samefamily, like. If Gin'ral Littlepage makes a p'int of anything of thesort, I'll engage no one of my family, in all futur' time, shall eversquat on any lands he may lay claim to, whether he owns em or not."
I saw quite plainly that at first Chainbearer did not fully comprehendthe nature of the squatter's proposal. Neither did Dus herself; thoughsomewhat prepared for such a thing by her knowledge of Zephaniah'sextravagant wishes on the subject. But when Thousandacres spoke plainlyof sending for a magistrate, and of having "the young folks married onthe spot," it was not easy to mistake his meaning, and astonishment wassoon succeeded by offended pride, in the breast of old Andries, and thatto a degree and in a manner I had never before witnessed in him. PerhapsI ought, in justice to my excellent friend, to add that his highprinciples and keen sense of right were quite as much wounded by thestrange proposal as his personal feelings. It was some time before hecould or would speak; when he did, it was with a dignity and severity ofmanner which I really had no idea he could assume. The thought of UrsulaMalbone's being sacrificed to such a being as Zephaniah, and such afamily as the squatter's, shocked all his sensibilities, and appearedfor a moment to overcome him. On the other hand, nothing was plainerthan that the breed of Thousandacres saw no such violation of theproprieties in their scheme. The vulgar, almost invariably, in thiscountry, reduce the standard of distinction to mere money; and in thisrespect they saw, or fancied they saw, that Dus was not much better offthan they were themselves. All those points which depended on taste,refinement, education, habits and principles, were Hebrew to them; and,quite as a matter of course, they took no account of qualities theycould neither see nor comprehend. It is not surprising, therefore, thatthey could imagine the young squatter might make a suitable husband toone who was known to have carried chain in the forest.
"I pelieve I do begin to unterstant you, T'ousantacres," said theChainbearer, rising from his chair, and moving to the side of his nieceas if instinctively to protect her; "t'ough it ist not a fery easy t'ingto comprehent such a proposal. You wish Ursula Malpone to pecome t'ewife of Zephaniah T'ousantacres, ant t'ereupon you wish to patch up apeace wit' General Littlepage and Colonel Follock, ant optain anintemnity for all t'e wrong ant roppery you have done 'em----"
"Harkee, old Chainbearer; you'd best be kearful of your language----"
"Hear what t'at language ist to pe, pefore you interrupt me,T'ousantacres. A wise man listens pefore he answers. Alt'ough I hafnefer peen marriet myself, I know what ist tecent in pehavior, ant,t'erefore, I wilt t'ank you for t'e wish of pein' connectet wit' t'eCoejemans ant t'e Malpones. T'at tuty tone, I wish to say t'at my niecewilt not haf your poy----"
"You haven't given the gal a chance to speak for herself," criedThousandacres, at the top of his voice, for he began to be agitated nowwith a fury that found a little vent in that manner. "You haven't giventhe gal a chance to answer for herself, old Andries. Zeph is a lad thatshe may go farther and fare worse, afore she'll meet his equal, I cantell you, though perhaps, bein' the b'y's own father, I shouldn't sayit--but, in the way of accommodatin', I'm willin' to overlook a greatdeal."
"Zephaniah's an excellent son," put in Prudence, in the pride andfeeling of a mother, nature having its triumph in _her_ breast as wellas in that of the most cultivated woman of the land. "Of all my sons,Zephaniah is the best; and I account him fit to marry with any who don'tlive in the open country, and with many that do."
"Praise your goots, ant extol your poy, if you see fit," answeredChainbearer, with a calmness that I knew bespoke some desperateresolution. "Praise your goots, ant extol your poy, I'll not teny yourright to do as much of t'at as you wish; put t'is gal was left me py anonly sister on her tyin' pet, ant may God forget me, when I forget thetuty I owe to _her_. She shalt nefer marry a son of T'ousantacres--sheshalt nefer marry a squatter--she shalt nefer marry any man t'at ist notof a class, ant feelin's, ant hapits, and opinions, fit to pe t'ehuspant of a laty!"
A shout of derision, in which was blended the fierce resentment ofmortified pride, arose among that rude crew, but the thundering voice ofThousandacres made itself audible, even amid the hellish din.
"Beware, Chainbearer; beware how you aggravate us; natur' can't andwon't bear everything."
"I want nut'in' of you or yours, T'ousantacres," calmly returned the oldman, passing his arm around the waist of Dus, who clung to him, with acheek that was flushed to fire, but an eye that was not accustomed toquail, and who seemed, at that fearful moment, every way ready and ableto second her uncle's efforts. "You're nut'in' to me, ant I'll leaf youhere, in your misteets ant wicket t'oughts. Stant asite, I orter you. Donot tare to stop t'e brod'er who is apout to safe his sister's da'ghterfrom pecoming a squatter's wife. Stant asite, for I'll stay wit' you nolonger. An hour or two hence, miseraple Aaron, you'll see t'e folly ofall t'is, ant wish you hat livet an honest man."
By this time the clamor of voices became so loud and confused, as torender it impossible to distinguish what was said. Thousandacresactually roared like a maddened bull, and he was soon hoarse withuttering his menaces and maledictions. Tobit said less, but was probablymore dangerous. All the young men seemed violently agitated, and bent onclosing the door on the exit of the Chainbearer; who, with his armaround Dus, still slowly advanced, waving the crowd aside, andcommanding them to make way for him, with a steadiness and dignity thatI began to think would really prevail. In the midst of this scene ofconfusion, a rifle suddenly flashed; the report was simultaneous, andold Andries Coejemans fell.