Part 30 (2/2)
Lisbeth appeared not to notice this allusion to her Tory principles, and exclaimed, as she looked with evident disgust at the squalid surroundings: ”Why will men be so cruel to men? I will tell General Howe some truths that will cause his ears to burn, and--”
”And shut the door against your return. You see I am selfish enough to look for another visit, though this pestilent hole is no place for you to visit. Howe will do nothing. When he was in command at New York our men literally rotted in the foul prison hulks lying in the harbour. It is a cheap and an easy way for killing us off.”
”Now, no lectures, Captain Enderwood. Howe shall know of this, and I believe will do something to improve it. Meanwhile, here is a little basket of food cooked by our old Nancy. You always praised Nancy's cooking when you came to 'The Hall' in the old days, so you are under obligations to eat every crumb of it, even if it isn't as good as the prison fare.”
”Good as the prison fare! Why, the c.o.c.kroaches that crawl around here are literally starving. It's a marvel you got past old Cunningham with this basket. Nothing infuriates him so, and this morning I saw him knock on the floor a bowl of broth brought to one of the prisoners.”
”Oh! I can't understand it.”
”No, and you never will until you get better acquainted with men like Cunningham, which G.o.d forbid. But tell me about the 'Mis-er-'”
”'Mischianza?' Oh, it was the most delightful affair ever known. You should have seen it. The floats on the river, the parades, the arches, the battles between the knights and all! Well, Major Andre was a true prophet when he said no Roman fete would equal it. I simply can't find words to describe ever so little of it.”
With you present I couldn't have realized its magnificence if I had seen it, was the thought in Enderwood's mind, but what he said was: ”They tell me it was gorgeous, and you may say with the old Roman, er--how do those Latin words go? Anyhow it was to the effect that he'd been a part of the doings, quite a big part at that.”
”I? Why, I was but a crumb at the banquet.”
Ah, Lisbeth! Those flas.h.i.+ng eyes, that colour such as ”blended rose”
never had, that lithe, rounded figure radiating vitality, bespeak too much of modesty in your words.
”Go on, Nat, old boy, faster! We must save the girl. Up and at 'em, Rangers! Cheated of promotion, and by a girl! Oh, Lisbeth, how could you do it! You knew I'd believe what you told me.”
”Who is that?” The girl's face is pale and her voice trembles.
”Another victim. I was about to ask you, if possible, to have a doctor sent here. Cunningham refused it. You know him, surely you do. It's poor Rodney Allison. He'll not ride many more races, I'm thinking, such as the night he rode and overtook your horse and stopped it.”
”Rodney! Don't you know me, your old playmate? Don't you know Lisbeth?
How hot his head is!”
The girl sat, as one dazed, with her cool hand on the lad's forehead.
He lay more quietly under her kindly touch.
”He hasn't got to suffer as long as the most of us. It will only be a question of a few days in this place,” said Lawrence, bitterly.
Lisbeth looked up, and Lawrence saw that her eyes glittered and her face looked hard. She bade him adieu and was gone before he could say more.
”She come in like an angel o' mercy an' went out with a face like Jezebel's. Guess she was feared she mought ketch the fever,” said one of the prisoners. Captain Enderwood swore at the poor old man, though the captain ever respected age and regarded profanity as the mark of a boor.
That night Rodney Allison slept in a clean bed in a neat room, with a doctor by his side and a nurse none other than Miss Danesford herself, while Captain Lawrence Enderwood, on parole, walked about the city and then took night watch at the side of his sick friend.
CHAPTER XXVIII
NEW VENTURES WITH OLD ACQUAINTANCES
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