Part 5 (1/2)

”Never!” repeated Miss Wynne. ”Let us hope, sir, it may be a lesson to all future ministers.”

”A man was wanted in New York in place of Mr. Gage,” cried Mrs.

Ferguson. ”As to those New England Puritans, they were in rebellion before they came over, and have been ever since.”

”And what of New York, and this town, and Virginia?” said my Aunt Gainor, with her great nose well up.

”I would have put an end to their disloyal ways, one and all,” cried Mrs. Ferguson.

”It is curious,” said Mr. Galloway, ”that the crown should be so thwarted. What people have more reason to be contented?”

”Contented!” said Miss Wynne. ”Already they talk of taxes in which we are to have no voice. Contented! and not a s.h.i.+p dare trade with France.

It amazes me that there is a man in the plantations to sit quiet under it.”

”I am of your opinion, madam,” said Mr. Macpherson, ”and I might go still further.”

”They consider us as mere colonials, and we may not so much as have a bishop of our own. I would I had my way, sir.”

”And what would you do, Mistress Wynne?” asked Mr. Chew.

”I would say, 'Mr. Attorney-General, give us the same liberty all the English have, to go and come on the free seas!'”

”And if not?” said Montresor, smiling.

”And if not,” she returned, ”then--” and she touched the sword at his side. I wondered to see how resolute she looked.

The captain smiled. ”I hope you will not command a regiment, madam.”

”Would to G.o.d I could!”

”I should run,” he cried, laughing. And thus pleasantly ended a talk which was becoming bitter to many of this gay company.

Destiny was already sharpening the sword we were soon to draw, and of those who met and laughed that day there were sons who were to be set against fathers, and brothers whom war was to find in hostile ranks. A young fellow of my age, the son of Mr. Macpherson, sat below us on the steps with the girls. He was to leave his young life on the bastion at Quebec, and, for myself, how little did I dream of what I should get out of the devil-pot of war which was beginning to simmer!

Very soon I was sent with Rebecca Franks and Miss Chew to gather flowers. Miss Franks evidently despised my youth, and between the two little maids I, being unused to girls, had not a pleasant time, and was glad to get back to the porch, where we stood silent until bidden to be seated, upon which the girls curtseyed and I bowed, and then sat down to eat cakes and drink syllabub.

At last my aunt put on her safeguard petticoat, the horses came, and we rode away. For a while she was silent, answering the captain in monosyllables; but just beyond the ferry his horse cast a shoe, and went so lame that the officer must needs return to Woodlands leading him, there to ask a new mount.

For yet a while my aunt rode on without a word, but presently began to rally me as to Miss Chew. I had to confess I cared not for her or the other, or, indeed, for maids at all.

”It will come,” said she. ”Oh, it will come soon enough. Peggy Chew has the better manners. And, by the way, sir, when you bow, keep your back straight. Mr. Montresor has a pretty way of it. Observe him, Hugh. But he is a fool, and so are the rest; and as for Bessy Ferguson, I should like to lay a whip over her back like that,” and she hit my horse sharply, poor thing, so that I lost a stirrup and came near to falling.

When the beast got quiet I asked why these nice people, who had such pleasant ways, were all fools.

”I will tell you,” she said. ”There are many and constant causes of trouble between us and the king. When one ends, like this Stamp Act, another is hatched. It was the best of us who left England, and we are trained to rely on ourselves, and have no need of England. You will live to see dark days, Hugh--just what, G.o.d alone can tell; but you will live to see them, and your life will have to answer some questions. This may seem strange to you, my lad, but it will come.”

What would come I knew not. She said no more, but rode homeward at speed, as she liked best to do.

Thus time went by, until I was full sixteen, having been at the college a year later than was usual. I had few battles to fight, and contrived to keep these to myself, or to get patched up at my Aunt Wynne's, who delighted to hear of these conflicts, and always gave me a s.h.i.+lling to heal my wounds. My dear, fair-haired Jack, Aunt Gainer thought a girl-boy, and fit only to sell goods, or, at best, to become a preacher.

His father she used and disliked.