CHAPTER XIII
I will stand to and feed, Although my last.
--Tempest.
The savor of preparation which had been noticed by Captain Lawton beganto increase within the walls of the cottage; certain sweet-smellingodors, that arose from the subterranean territories of Caesar, gave tothe trooper the most pleasing assurances that his olfactory nerves,which on such occasions were as acute as his eyes on others, hadfaithfully performed their duty; and for the benefit of enjoying thepassing sweets as they arose, the dragoon so placed himself at a windowof the building, that not a vapor charged with the spices of the Eastcould exhale on its passage to the clouds, without first giving itsincense to his nose. Lawton, however, by no means indulged himself inthis comfortable arrangement, without first making such preparations todo meet honor to the feast, as his scanty wardrobe would allow. Theuniform of his corps was always a passport to the best tables, and this,though somewhat tarnished by faithful service and unceremonious usage,was properly brushed and decked out for the occasion. His head, whichnature had ornamented with the blackness of a crow, now shone with thewhiteness of snow; and his bony hand, that so well became the saber,peered from beneath a ruffle with something like maiden coyness. Theimprovements of the dragoon went no further, excepting that his bootsshone with more than holiday splendor, and his spurs glittered in therays of the sun, as became the pure ore of which they were composed.
Caesar moved through the apartments with a face charged with animportance exceeding even that which had accompanied him in hismelancholy task of the morning. The black had early returned from theerrand on which he had been dispatched by the peddler, and, obedient tothe commands of his mistress, promptly appeared to give his serviceswhere his allegiance was due; so serious, indeed, was his duty nowbecoming, that it was only at odd moments he was enabled to impart tohis sable brother, who had been sent in attendance on Miss Singleton tothe Locusts, any portion of the wonderful incidents of the momentousnight he had so lately passed. By ingeniously using, however, suchoccasions as accidentally offered, Caesar communicated so many of theheads of his tale, as served to open the eyes of his visitor to theirfullest width. The gusto for the marvelous was innate in these sableworthies; and Miss Peyton found it necessary to interpose her authority,in order to postpone the residue of the history to a more befittingopportunity.
"Ah! Miss Jinnett," said Caesar, shaking his head, and looking all thathe expressed, "'twas awful to see Johnny Birch walk on a feet when helie dead!"
This concluded the conversation; though the black promised himself thesatisfaction, and did not fail to enjoy it, of having many a gossip onthe subject at a future period.
The ghost thus happily laid, the department of Miss Peyton flourished;and by the time the afternoon's sun had traveled a two hours' journeyfrom the meridian, the formal procession from the kitchen to the parlorcommenced, under the auspices of Caesar, who led the van, supporting aturkey on the palms of his withered hands, with the dexterity of abalance master.
Next followed the servant of Captain Lawton, bearing, as he marchedstiffly, and walking wide, as if allowing room for his steed, a ham oftrue Virginian flavor; a present from the spinster's brother in Accomac.The supporter of this savory dish kept his eye on his trust withmilitary precision; and by the time he reached his destination, it mightbe difficult to say which contained the most juice, his own mouth or theAccomac bacon.
Third in the line was to be seen the valet of Colonel Wellmere, whocarried in either hand chickens fricasseed and oyster patties.
After him marched the attendant of Dr. Sitgreaves, who had instinctivelyseized an enormous tureen, as most resembling matters he understood, andfollowed on in place, until the steams of the soup so completelybedimmed the spectacles he wore, as a badge of office, that, on arrivingat the scene of action, he was compelled to deposit his freight on thefloor, until, by removing the glasses, he could see his way through thepiles of reserved china and plate warmers.
Next followed another trooper, whose duty it was to attend on CaptainSingleton; and, as if apportioning his appetite to the feeble state ofhis master, he had contented himself with conveying a pair of ducks,roasted, until their tempting fragrance began to make him repent hishaving so lately demolished a breakfast that had been provided for hismaster's sister, with another prepared for himself.
The white boy, who belonged to the house, brought up the rear, groaningunder a load of sundry dishes of vegetables, that the cook, by way ofclimax, had unwittingly heaped on him.
But this was far from all of the preparations for that day's feast;Caesar had no sooner deposited his bird, which, but the week before, hadbeen flying amongst the highlands of Dutchess, little dreaming of sosoon heading such a goodly assemblage, than he turned mechanically onhis heel, and took up his line of march again for the kitchen. In thisevolution the black was imitated by his companions in succession, andanother procession to the parlor followed in the same order. By thisadmirable arrangement, whole flocks of pigeons, certain bevies ofquails, shoals of flatfish, bass, and sundry woodcock, found their wayinto the presence of the company.
A third attack brought suitable quantities of potatoes, onions, beets,coldslaw, rice, and all the other minutiae of a goodly dinner.
The board now fairly groaned with American profusion, and Caesar,glancing his eye over the show with a most approving conscience, afterreadjusting every dish that had not been placed on the table with hisown hands, proceeded to acquaint the mistress of the revels that histask was happily accomplished.
Some half hour before the culinary array just recorded took place, allthe ladies disappeared, much in the same unaccountable manner thatswallows flee the approach of winter. But the springtime of their returnhad arrived, and the whole party were collected in an apartment that, inconsequence of its containing no side table, and being furnished with achintz coverlet settee, was termed a withdrawing-room.
The kind-hearted spinster had deemed the occasion worthy, not only ofextraordinary preparations in the culinary department, but had seenproper to deck her own person in garments suited to the guests whom itwas now her happiness to entertain.
On her head Miss Peyton wore a cap of exquisite lawn, which wasornamented in front with a broad border of lace, that spread from theface in such a manner as to admit of a display of artificial flowers,clustered in a group on the summit of her fine forehead.
The color of her hair was lost in the profusion of powder with which itwas covered; but a slight curling of the extremities in some degreerelieved the formality of its arrangement, and gave a look of femininesoftness to the features.
Her dress was a rich, heavy silk, of violet color, cut low around thebust, with a stomacher of the same material, that fitted close to thefigure, and exhibited the form, from the shoulders to the waist in itstrue proportions. Below, the dress was full, and sufficiently showedthat parsimony in attire was not a foible of the day. A small loopdisplayed the beauty of the fabric to advantage, and aided in givingmajesty to the figure.
The tall stature of the lady was heightened by shoes of the samematerial with the dress, whose heels added more than an inch to theliberality of nature.
The sleeves were short, and close to the limb, until they fell off atthe elbows in large ruffles, that hung in rich profusion from the armwhen extended; and duplicates and triplicates of lawn, trimmed withDresden lace, lent their aid in giving delicacy to a hand and arm thatyet retained their whiteness and symmetry. A treble row of large pearlsclosely encircled her throat; and a handkerchief of lace partiallyconcealed that part of the person that the silk had left exposed, butwhich the experience of forty years had warned Miss Peyton should nowbe veiled.
Thus attired, and standing erect with the lofty grace that distinguishedthe manners of that day, the maiden would have looked into nothingness abevy of modern belles.
The taste of Sarah had kept even pace with the decorations of her aunt;and a dress, differing in no respect from th
e one just described, butin material and tints, exhibited her imposing form to equal advantage.The satin of her robe was of a pale bluish color. Twenty years did not,however, require the screen that was prudent in forty, and nothing butan envious border of exquisite lace hid, in some measure, what the satinleft exposed to view. The upper part of the bust, and the fine fall ofthe shoulders, were blazing in all their native beauty, and, like theaunt, the throat was ornamented by a treble row of pearls, to correspondwith which were rings of the same quality in the ears. The head waswithout a cap, and the hair drawn up from the countenance so as to giveto the eye all the loveliness of a forehead as polished as marble and aswhite as snow. A few straggling curls fell gracefully on the neck, and abouquet of artificial flowers was also placed, like a coronet, overher brow.
Miss Singleton had resigned her brother to the advice of Dr. Sitgreaves,who had succeeded in getting his patient into a deep sleep afterquieting certain feverish symptoms that followed the agitation of theinterview. The sister was persuaded, by the observant mistress of themansion, to make one of the party, and she sat by the side of Sarah,differing but little in appearance from that lady, except in refusingthe use of powder on her raven locks, and that her unusually highforehead and large, brilliant eyes gave an expression of thoughtfulnessto her features, that was possibly heightened by the paleness ofher cheek.
Last and least, but not the most unlovely, in this display of femalecharms, was the youngest daughter of Mr. Wharton. Frances, we havealready mentioned, left the city before she had attained to the age offashionable womanhood. A few adventurous spirits were already beginningto make inroads in those customs which had so long invaded the comfortsof the fair sex; and the youthful girl had ventured to trust her beautyto the height which nature had bestowed. This was but little, but thatlittle was a masterpiece. Frances several times had determined, in thecourse of the morning, to bestow more than usual pains in the decorationof her person. Each time in succession, as she formed this resolution,she spent a few minutes in looking earnestly towards the north, and thenshe as invariably changed it.
At the appointed hour, our heroine appeared in the drawing-room, clothedin a robe of pale blue silk, of a cut and fashion much like that worn byher sister. Her hair was left to the wild curls of nature, itsexuberance being confined to the crown of her head by a long, low comb,made of light tortoise shell; a color barely distinguishable in thegolden hue of her tresses. Her dress was without a plait or a wrinkle,and fitted the form with an exactitude that might lead one to imaginethe arch girl more than suspected the beauties it displayed. A tucker ofrich Dresden lace softened the contour of the figure. Her head waswithout ornament; but around her throat was a necklace of gold claspedin front with a rich cornelian.
Once, and once only, as they moved towards the repast, did Lawton see afoot thrust itself from beneath the folds of her robe, and exhibit itslittle beauties encased in a slipper of blue silk, clasped close to theshape by a buckle of brilliants. The trooper caught himself sighing ashe thought, though it was good for nothing in the stirrup, howenchantingly it would grace a minuet.
As the black appeared on the threshold of the room, making a lowreverence, which has been interpreted for some centuries into "dinnerwaits," Mr. Wharton, clad in a dress of drab, bedecked with enormousbuttons, advanced formally to Miss Singleton, and bending his powderedhead nearly to the level of the hand he extended, received hersin return.
Dr. Sitgreaves offered the same homage to Miss Peyton, and met withequal favor; the lady first pausing to draw on her gloves.
Colonel Wellmere was honored with a smile from Sarah, while performing asimilar duty; and Frances gave the ends of her taper fingers to CaptainLawton with maiden bashfulness.
Much time, and some trouble were expended before the whole party were,to the great joy of Caesar, comfortably arranged around the table, withproper attention to all points of etiquette and precedence. The blackwell knew the viands were not improving; and though abundantly able tocomprehend the disadvantage of eating a cold dinner, it greatly exceededhis powers of philosophy to weigh all the latent consequences to societywhich depend on social order.
For the first ten minutes all but the captain of dragoons foundthemselves in a situation much to their liking. Even Lawton would havebeen perfectly happy, had not excess of civility on the part of his hostand Miss Jeanette Peyton kept him from the more agreeable occupation oftasting dishes he did want, in order to decline those he did not. Atlength, however, the repast was fairly commenced, and a devotedapplication to the viands was more eloquent than a thousand words infavor of Dinah's skill.
Next came drinking with the ladies; but as the wine was excellent, andthe glasses ample, the trooper bore this interruption with consummategood nature. Nay, so fearful was he of giving offense, and of omittingany of the nicer points of punctilio, that having commenced thiscourtesy with the lady who sat next him, he persevered until not one ofhis fair companions could, with justice, reproach him with partiality inthis particular.
Long abstemiousness from anything like generous wine might plead theexcuse of Captain Lawton, especially when exposed to so strong atemptation as that now before him. Mr. Wharton had been one of a set ofpoliticians in New York, whose principal exploits before the war hadbeen to assemble, and pass sage opinions on the signs of the times,under the inspiration of certain liquor made from a grape that grew onthe south side of the island of Madeira, and which found its way intothe colonies of North America through the medium of the West Indies,sojourning awhile in the Western Archipelago, by way of proving thevirtues of the climate. A large supply of this cordial had been drawnfrom his storehouse in the city, and some of it now sparkled in a bottlebefore the captain, blushing in the rays of the sun, which were passingobliquely through it, like amber.
Though the meat and vegetables had made their entrance with perfectorder and propriety, their exeunt was effected much in the manner of aretreat of militia. The point was to clear the board something after thefabled practice of the harpies, and by dint of scrambling, tossing,breaking, and spilling, the remnants of the overflowing repastdisappeared. And now another series of processions commenced, by virtueof which a goodly display of pastry, with its usual accompaniments,garnished the table.
Mr. Wharton poured out a glass of wine for the lady who sat on his righthand, and, pushing the bottle to a guest, said with a low bow,--
"We are to be honored with a toast from Miss Singleton."
Although there was nothing more in this movement than occurred every dayon such occasions, yet the lady trembled, colored, and grew pale again,seemingly endeavoring to rally her thoughts, until, by her agitation,she had excited the interest of the whole party; when by an effort, andin a manner as if she had striven in vain to think of another, Isabellasaid, faintly,--
"Major Dunwoodie."
The health was drunk cheerfully by all but Colonel Wellmere, who wet hislips, and drew figures on the table with some of the liquor hehad spilled.
At length Colonel Wellmere broke silence by saying aloud to CaptainLawton,--
"I suppose, sir, this Mr. Dunwoodie will receive promotion in the rebelarmy, for the advantage my misfortune gave him over my command."
The trooper had supplied the wants of nature to his perfectsatisfaction; and, perhaps, with the exception of Washington and hisimmediate commander, there was no mortal whose displeasure he regarded atittle. First helping himself, therefore, to a little of his favoritebottle, he replied with admirable coolness,--
"Colonel Wellmere, your pardon; Major Dunwoodie owes his allegiance tothe confederated states of North America, and where he owes it he paysit. Such a man is no rebel. Promoted I hope he may be, both because hedeserves it, and because I am next in rank in the corps; and I know notwhat you call a misfortune, unless you deem meeting the Virginiahorse as such."
"We will not differ about terms, sir," said the colonel, haughtily. "Ispoke as duty to my sovereign prompted; but do you not call the loss ofa commander a misfortune to a
party?"
"It certainly may be so," said the trooper, with emphasis.
"Miss Peyton, will you favor us with a toast?" cried the master of thehouse, anxious to stop this dialogue.
The lady bowed her head with dignity, as she named "General Montrose";and the long-absent bloom stole lightly over her features.
"There is no term more doubtful than that word misfortune," said thesurgeon, regardless of the nice maneuvers of the host. "Some deem onething a misfortune, others its opposite; misfortune begets misfortune.Life is a misfortune, for it may be the means of enduring misfortune;and death is a misfortune, as it abridges the enjoyments of life."
"It is a misfortune that our mess has no such wine as this," interruptedthe trooper.
"We will pledge you a sentiment in it, sir, as it seems to suit yourtaste," said Mr. Wharton.
Lawton filled to the brim, and drank, "A speedy peace, or a stirringwar."
"I drink your toast, Captain Lawton, though I greatly distrust yourconstruction of activity," said the surgeon. "In my poor judgment,cavalry should be kept in the rear to improve a victory, and not sent infront to gain it. Such may be said to be their natural occupation, ifthe term can be used in reference to so artificial a body; for allhistory shows that the horse have done most when held in reserve."
This dissertation, uttered in a sufficiently didactic manner, was a hintthat Miss Peyton did not neglect. She arose and retired, followed byher juniors.
Nearly at the same moment, Mr. Wharton and his son made an apology fortheir absence, which was required on account of the death of a nearneighbor, and withdrew.
The retreat of the ladies was the signal for the appearance of thesurgeon's cigar, which, being established in a corner of his mouth, in acertain knowing way, caused not the slightest interruption to hisdiscourse.
"If anything can sweeten captivity and wounds, it must be the happinessof suffering in the society of the ladies who have left us," gallantlyobserved the colonel, as he resumed his seat after closing the door.
"Sympathy and kindness have their influence on the human system,"returned the surgeon, knocking the ashes from his cigar, with the tip ofa little finger, in the manner of an adept. "The connection is intimatebetween the moral and physical feelings; but still, to accomplish acure, and restore nature to the healthy tone it has lost from disease oraccident, requires more than can flow from unguided sympathies. In suchcases, the lights--" the surgeon accidentally caught the eye of thetrooper and he paused. Taking two or three hasty puffs, he essayed tofinish the sentence, "In such cases, the knowledge that flows fromthe lights--"
"You were saying, sir," said Colonel Wellmere, sipping his wine,--
"The purport of my remark went to say," continued Sitgreaves, turninghis back on Lawton, "that a bread poultice would not set a broken arm."
"More is the pity," cried the trooper, "for next to eating, thenourishment could not be more innocently applied."
"To you, Colonel Wellmere," said the surgeon, "as a man of education, Ican with safety appeal." The colonel bowed. "You must have observed thedreadful havoc made in your ranks by the men who were led by thisgentleman"; the colonel looked grave, again; "how, when blows lighted ontheir frames, life was invariably extinguished, beyond all hope ofscientific reparation; how certain yawning wounds were inflicted, thatmust set at defiance the art of the most experienced practitioner; now,sir, to you I triumphantly appeal, therefore, to know whether yourdetachment would not have been as effectually defeated, if the men hadall lost a right arm, for instance, as if they had all losttheir heads."
"The triumph of your appeal is somewhat hasty, sir," said Wellmere.
"Is the cause of liberty advanced a step by such injudicious harshnessin the field?" continued the surgeon, bent on the favorite principleof his life.
"I am yet to learn that the cause of liberty is in any manner advancedby the services of any gentleman in the rebel army," rejoinedthe colonel.
"Not liberty! Good God, for what then are we contending?"
"Slavery, sir; yes, even slavery; you are putting the tyranny of a mobon the throne of a kind and lenient prince. Where is the consistency ofyour boasted liberty?"
"Consistency!" repeated the surgeon, looking about him a little wildly,at hearing such sweeping charges against a cause he had so longthought holy.
"Aye, sir, your consistency. Your congress of sages have published amanifesto, wherein they set forth the equality of political rights."
"'Tis true, and it is done most ably."
"I say nothing of its ability; but if true, why not set your slaves atliberty?" This argument, which is thought by most of the colonel'scountrymen a triumphant answer to a thousand eloquent facts, lost noneof its weight by the manner in which it was uttered.
Every American feels humbled at the necessity of vindicating his countryfrom the apparent inconsistency and injustice of the laws alluded to.His feelings are much like those of an honorable man who is compelled toexonerate himself from a disgraceful charge, although he may know theaccusation to be false. At the bottom, Sitgreaves had much good sense,and thus called on, he took up the cudgels of argument indownright earnest.
"We deem it a liberty to have the deciding voice in the councils bywhich we are governed. We think it a hardship to be ruled by the king ofa people who live at a distance of three thousand miles, and who cannot,and who do not, feel a single political interest in common withourselves. I say nothing of oppression; the child was of age, and wasentitled to the privileges of majority. In such cases, there is but onetribunal to which to appeal for a nation's rights--it is power, and wenow make the appeal."
"Such doctrines may suit your present purposes," said Wellmere, with asneer; "but I apprehend it is opposed to all the opinions and practicesof civilized nations."
"It is in conformity with the practices of all nations," said thesurgeon, returning the nod and smile of Lawton, who enjoyed the goodsense of his comrade as much as he disliked what he called "his medicaltalk." "Who would be ruled when he can rule? The only rational ground totake is, that every community has a right to govern itself, so that inno manner it violates the laws of God."
"And is holding your fellow creatures in bondage in conformity to thoselaws?" asked the colonel, impressively.
The surgeon took another glass, and hemming once, returned to thecombat.
"Sir," said he, "slavery is of very ancient origin, and it seems to havebeen confined to no particular religion or form of government; everynation of civilized Europe does, or has held their fellow creatures inthis kind of _duresse_."
"You will except Great Britain," cried the colonel, proudly.
"No, sir," continued the surgeon, confidently, feeling that he was nowcarrying the war out of his own country, "I cannot except Great Britain.It was her children, her ships, and her laws, that first introduced thepractice into these states; and on her institutions the judgment mustfall. There is not a foot of ground belonging to England, in which anegro would be useful, that has not its slave. England herself has none,but England is overflowing with physical force, a part of which she isobliged to maintain in the shape of paupers. The same is true of France,and most other European countries. So long as we were content to remaincolonies, nothing was said of our system of domestic slavery; but now,when we are resolute to obtain as much freedom as the vicious system ofmetropolitan rule has left us, that which is England's gift has becomeour reproach. Will your master liberate the slaves of his subjectsshould he succeed in subduing the new states, or will he condemn thewhites to the same servitude as that in which he has been so longcontent to see the blacks? It is true, we continue the practice; but wemust come gradually to the remedy, or create an evil greater than thatwhich we endure at present. Doubtless, as we advance, the manumission ofour slaves will accompany us, until happily these fair regions shallexist, without a single image of the Creator that is held in a statewhich disqualifies him to judge of that Creator's goodness."
It will be remembered that Docto
r Sitgreaves spoke forty years ago, andWellmere was unable to contradict his prophetic assertion.
Finding the subject getting to be knotty, the Englishman retired to theapartment in which the ladies had assembled; and, seated by the side ofSarah, he found a more pleasing employment in relating the events offashionable life in the metropolis, and in recalling the thousand littleanecdotes of their former associates. Miss Peyton was a pleasedlistener, as she dispensed the bounties of the tea table, and Sarahfrequently bowed her blushing countenance to her needlework, as her faceglowed at the flattering remarks of her companion.
The dialogue we have related established a perfect truce between thesurgeon and his comrade; and the former having paid a visit toSingleton, they took their leave of the ladies, and mounted; the formerto visit the wounded at the encampment, and the latter to rejoin histroop. But their movements were arrested at the gate by an occurrencethat we shall relate in the next chapter.