Part 19 (1/2)
”How much do you value their words? Must a thing be true for them to say it? The real manhood is shown in the strength of restraint, not the weakness of yielding to the impulse of the moment. And you can be strong if you choose, Douw!”
While I still pondered these words Teunis Van Hoorn returned to me, having finished his consultation with Watts, whom I now saw whispering to Sir John and the others who cl.u.s.tered about Cross.
The doctor was in good spirits. He sidled up to me, uttering aloud some merry commonplace, and then adding, in a low tone:
”I was a match for him. He insisted that they were the aggrieved party, and chose swords. I stuck to it that we occupied that position, and had the right to choose pistols. You are no Frenchman, to spit flesh with a wire; but you _can_ shoot, can't you? If we stand to our point, they must yield.”
I cast a swift glance toward the sweet, pleading face at my side, and made answer:
”I will not fight!”
My kinsman looked at me with surprise and vexation.
”No,” I went on, ”it is not our way here. You have lived so long abroad that duelling seems a natural and proper thing. But we stay-at-homes no more recognize the right of these English fops to force their fighting customs upon us than we rush to tie our hair in queues because it is their fas.h.i.+on.”
I will not pretend that I was much in love with the line of action thus lamely defended. To the contrary, it seemed to me then a cowardly and unworthy course; but I had chosen it, and I could not retreat.
There was upon the moment offered temptation enough to test my resolution sorely.
Many of the ladies had in the meantime left the room, not failing to let it be seen that they resented the wrangling scene which had been thrust upon them. Mistress Daisy had crossed the floor to where Lady Johnson stood, with others, and this frightened group were now almost our sole observers.
Philip Cross shook himself loose from the restraining circle of friends, and strode toward me, his face glowing darkly with pa.s.sion, and his hands clinched.
”You run away, do you?” he said. ”I have a mind, then, to thrash you where you stand, you canting poltroon! Do you hear me?--here, where you stand!”
”I hear you,” I made answer, striving hard to keep my voice down and my resolution up. ”Others hear you, too. There are ladies in the room. If you have any right to be among gentlemen, it is high time for you to show it.
You are acting like a blackguard.”
”Hear the preaching Dutchman!” he called out, with a harsh, scornful laugh, to those behind him. ”He will teach me manners, from his hiding-place behind the petticoats.--Come out, you skunk-skin pedler, and I'll break that sword of yours over your back!”
Where this all would have ended I cannot tell. My friends gathered around beside me, and at my back. Cross advanced a step or two nearer to me, his companions with him. I felt, rather than saw, the gestures preceding the drawing of swords. I cast a single glance toward the group of women across the room--who, huddled together, were gazing at us with pale faces and fixed eyes--and I dare say the purport of my glance was that I had borne all I could, and that the results were beyond my control--when suddenly there came an unlooked-for interruption.
The dignified, sober figure of Abraham Ten Broeck appeared in our wrathful circle. Some one had doubtless told him, in the outer hall, of the quarrel, and he had come to interfere. A hush fell over us all at his advent.
”What have we here, gentlemen?” asked the merchant, looking from one to another of our heated faces with a grave air of authority. ”Are you well advised to hold discussions here, in what ought to be a pleasant and social company?”
No ready answer was forthcoming. The quarrel was none of my manufacture, and it was not my business to explain it to him. The Tories were secretly disgusted, I fancy, with the personal aspects of the dispute, and had nothing to say. Only Cross, who unfortunately did not know the new-comer, and perhaps would not have altered his manner if he had known him, said uncivilly:
”The matter concerns us alone, sir. It is no affair of outsiders.”
I saw the blood mount to Mr. Ten Broeck's dark cheeks, and the fire flash in his eyes. But the Dutch gentleman kept tight bit on his tongue and temper.
”Perhaps I am not altogether an outsider, young sir,” he replied, calmly.
”It might be thought that I would have a right to civil answers here.”
”Who is he?” asked Cross, contemptuously turning his head toward Sir John.
Mr. Ten Broeck took the reply upon himself. ”I am the uncle and guardian of your boy-host,” he said, quietly. ”In a certain sense I am myself your host--though it may be an honor which I shall not enjoy again.”