Part 20 (1/2)
BUCKTHORN. Yes; and later in the evening we'll have something else, together. This is a great day for all of us. I'm not your commander to-day, but your old comrade in arms--[_Laying his arm over_ BARKET'S _shoulder._]--and I'm glad I don't have to pull myself up now every time I forget my dignity. Ah! you and I will be laid away before long, but we'll be together again in the next world, won't we, Barket?
BARKET. Wid yer honour's permission. [_Saluting._
BUCKTHORN. Ha--ha--ha! [_Laughing._] If we do meet there I'm certain you'll salute me as your superior officer. There's old Margery, now.
[_Looking to door. Calls._] Margery! Tea for two!
MARGERY. [_Without._] The tay be waiting for ye, sur; and it be boilin' over wid impatience.
BUCKTHORN. Bring up a chair, Barket. [_Sitting in arm-chair._
BARKET. [_Having placed table and drawing up a chair._] Do you know, Gineral, I don't fale quite aisy in my moind. I'm not quite sure that Margery will let us take our tay together. [_Sits down, doubtfully._
BUCKTHORN. I hadn't thought of that. I--[_Glancing right._]--I hope she will, Barket. But, of course, if she won't--she's been commander-in-chief of my household ever since Jenny was a baby.
BARKET. At Fort Duncan, in Texas.
BUCKTHORN. You and Old Margery never got along very well in those days; but I thought you had made it all up; she nursed you through your wound, last summer, and after the battle of Cedar Creek, also.
BARKET. Yis, sur, bliss her kind heart, she's been like a wife to me; and that's the trouble. A man's wife is such an angel when he's ill that he dreads to get well; good health is a misfortune to him. Auld Margery and I have had anither misunderstanding.
BUCKTHORN. I'll do the best I can for both of us, Barket. You were telling me about the battle of--
BARKET. Just afther the battle of Sayder Creek began, whin Colonel Wist rode to the front to mate his raytrating rigiment--
_Enter_ OLD MARGERY, _tray, tea, &c. She stops abruptly, looking at_ BARKET. _He squirms in his chair._ BUCKTHORN _rises and stands with his back to the mantel._ OLD MARGERY _moves to the table, arranges things on it, glances at_ BARKET, _then at_ BUCKTHORN, _who looks up at ceiling, rubbing his chin, &c._ OLD MARGERY _takes up one of the cups, with saucer._
OLD MARGERY. I misunderstood yer order, sur. I see there's no one here but yerself. [_Going right._
BUCKTHORN. Ah, Margery! [_She stops._] Barket tells me that there has been a slight misunderstanding between you and him.
OLD MARGERY. Day before yisterday, the ould Hibernian dhrone had the kitchen upside down, to show anither old milithary vagabone loike himself how the battle of Sayder Creek was fought. He knocked the crame pitcher into the basket of clane clothes, and overturned some raspberry jam and the flat-irons into a pan of fresh eggs. There _has_ been a misunderstanding betwane us.
BUCKTHORN. I see there has. I suppose Barket was showing his friend how Colonel Kerchival West rode forward to meet his regiment, when he was already wounded dangerously.
OLD MARGERY. Bliss the poor, dear young man! He and I was always good frinds, though he was somethin' of a devil in the kitchen himself, whin he got there. [_Wiping her eye with one corner of her ap.r.o.n._]
And bliss the young Southern lady that was in love wid him, too.
[_Changing the cup and wiping the other eye with the corner of her ap.r.o.n._] Nothing was iver heard of ayther of thim after that battle was over, to this very day.
BUCKTHORN. Barket was at Kerchival's side when he rode to the front.
[OLD MARGERY _hesitates a moment, then moves to the table, sets down the cup and marches out._ BUCKTHORN _sits in the arm-chair again, pouring tea._] I could always find some way to get Old Margery to do what I wanted her to do.
BARKET. You're a great man, Ginerel; we'd niver have conquered the South widout such men.
BUCKTHORN. Now go on, Barket; you were interrupted.
BARKET. Just afther the battle of Sayder Creek began, whin--
_Enter_ JANNETTE _with card, which she hands to_ BUCKTHORN.