Part 11 (1/2)
”I am glad to meet you once more, Mr. Walden. I want to thank you for the good work you did yesterday afternoon. I have heard of it several times; the people are chuckling over it. But the soldiers of the Twenty-Ninth Regiment are as mad as hornets and threaten retaliation.
They are anxious to get hold of that fellow from the country who did it. I thought I would put you on your guard. I wish I knew who the young lady was, but no one can find out. Neither she nor her friends have made complaint to the selectmen, and of course you could not know.”
Robert thanked him. He said he did not antic.i.p.ate any trouble; if attacked he would try and give a good account of himself.
[Ill.u.s.tration: DOROTHY QUINCY]
They had strolled to the farthest part of the grounds. Returning, they saw Miss Newville surrounded by ladies and gentlemen; young and old alike were finding pleasure in her society. Major Evelyn, to whom Robert had been introduced, was telling how jolly it was in old England to follow the hounds in a fox hunt, leaping ditches, walls, and hedges, running Reynard to cover. Although courteously listening, her eyes glanced towards Robert and Doctor Warren.
”Pardon me, Major, but I must have a word with my good doctor who gives me pills and powders when I am sick,” she said graciously, tripping across the lawn.
”I have not served you with tea, doctor; what kind would you prefer?”
she said.
”Well, let it be Old Hyson, if you please.”
”And yours, Mr. Walden: it was the Old you had before. Will you not try a cup of Young Hyson for variety?”
”If you please, Miss Newville.”
A few moments and she was with them again.
”Old Hyson for old friends.h.i.+p, Young, for new acquaintance,” said the doctor, as he took the cup from her hand. ”You see, Mr. Walden, Miss Newville and I are old friends, and our relations at times are quite intimate. I am privileged to hold her hand, feel her pulse, and look at her tongue.”
”Do you not think, Mr. Walden, that the doctor is very rude to take a young lady's hand when she cannot help herself?”
”Of course it is rude, but I apprehend you do not object, under the circ.u.mstances,” Robert replied.
”Oh no, she likes it so well that she often asks when I will come again,” said the doctor.
Merry was the laughter.
”This is delicious tea,” he said, sipping the beverage.
”I am glad you like it.”
”It is all the more delicious, Miss Ruth, because I have it from your own gracious hand, and because it is probably the last I shall drink for many months.”
She gazed at him wonderingly.
”You know I am firm in my convictions as to what is right and just, and I have decided to quit drinking tea as a protest against what the king and Lord North are preparing to do. So this will be a memorial day for me. Pardon me, I did not mean to allude to it.”
”One need not beg pardon for having a conviction of what is right and just. If it is to be your last cup I'm glad I have the privilege of serving it,” she said.
One by one guests joined them, charmed by her presence, Major Evelyn hovering around her. More than once the eyes of Robert and Miss Newville met. Would she not think him rude? But how could he help looking at her?
While Miss Newville was serving other guests, with Berinthia and Miss Shrimpton Robert walked the garden once more, the great s.h.a.ggy watch-dog trotting in advance, as if they were guests to be honored by an escort.
The afternoon was waning. Guests were leaving, and it was time for Berinthia and Robert to take their departure.