Part 14 (1/2)
When they reached the Crow and Archer they found a group of traders a.s.sembled on the quay, gazing with a busy speculation towards the mouth of the river. By degrees the crowd increased, and the rumour soon spread abroad that the Olive Branch was in sight. A vessel was, indeed, discernible across the long flat of St. Inigoe's, just entering the river, and those who professed a knowledge of nautical affairs had no scruple in announcing her as the brigantine of c.o.c.klescraft. She was apparently an active craft, belonging to the smaller cla.s.s of sea-vessels, and manifestly a faster sailer than was ordinarily to be seen at that period. A fair and fresh breeze impelled her steadily towards her haven, and as she bounded over the glittering waters, the good folks of the little city were seen cl.u.s.tering in knots on every prominent cliff along the high bank, and counting the minutes which brought this messenger from the old world nearer to their salutation.
Meantime the Olive Branch began to show the sparkling foam which broke upon her bow; then to give forth voices from her deck, audible to the crowd; presently to lower sail; and at last, being stripped to her bare poles and naked rigging, she glided with lessening speed, slower and slower, until her extended cable showed that her anchor was dropt and her voyage at an end.
It was past noon when the brig came to her mooring, opposite the Town House wharf, and after a brief interval, c.o.c.klescraft, arrayed as we have before seen him, except that he had changed his sombrero for a ta.s.seled cap of cloth, landed on the quay, and soon became the lion of the Crow and Archer.
CHAPTER XIV.
Every white will have its black, And every sweet its sour.
OLD BALLAD.
The birth-day festival at the Rose Croft might be said appropriately to belong to the eminent dominion of the Lady Maria. It therefore lacked nothing of her zealous supervision. With the aid of father Pierre and some female auxiliaries she had persuaded the Collector--a task of no great difficulty--to sanction the proceeding, and she was now intent upon the due ordering and setting out of the preparations. The day was still a week off when, early after breakfast, on a pleasant morning the business-fraught lady was seen in the hall, arrayed in riding hood and mantle, ready to mount a quiet black-and-white pony that, in the charge of a groom, awaited her pleasure at the door. Natta, the little Indian girl, stood by entrusted with the care of a work-bag or wallet apparently well stuffed with the materials for future occupation,--the parcel-fragments which thrifty housewives and idleness-hating dames, down to this day, are accustomed to carry with them, for the sake of the appearance, at least, of industry. Just at this moment the Proprietary came into the hall, and seeing that his worthy sister was bound on some enterprise of more than usual earnestness, he added to his customary morning salutation a playful inquiry into the purport of her excursion.
”Ah, Charles,” she replied, ”there are doings in the province which are above the rule of your burgesses and councils. I hold a convocation at the Rose Croft to-day, touching matters more earnest than your state affairs. We have a merry-making in the wind, and I am looked to both for countenance and advice. It is my prerogative, brother, to be mistress of all revels.”
”G.o.d bless thine age, Maria!” was the affectionate reply of the Proprietary--”it wears a pleasant verdure and betokens a life of innocent thoughts and kind actions. May the saints bear thee gently onward to thy rest! Come, I will serve as your cavalier, and help you to your horse, sister.--See now, my arm has pith in it. Hither, Natta--there is the wench on the pillion--who could serve thee with a better grace than that?”
”Thanks--thanks, good brother!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the lady as the Proprietary lifted her to her seat, and then swung the Indian girl upon the pillion behind her. ”Your arm is a valiant arm, and is blessed by more than one in this province. It has ever been stretched forth in acts of charity and protection.”
”Nay, Maria, you are too old to flatter. Fie! I have no advancement to offer thee. In truth thou art sovereign here--though you go through your realm with but scant attendance for one so magnified. Why is not Albert in your train? I may well spare him--as he has a liking for such service.”
”Brother, I would not tax the Secretary. He hath a free foot for his own pleasure; and, methinks, he finds his way to the Rose Croft easily enough without my teaching. It is an ancient caution of mine, in such affairs, neither to mar nor make.”
”Heaven help thee for a considerate spinster!” said the Proprietary with a benignant smile as he raised his hands and shook them sportively towards his sister. ”Go thy ways, with thy whimsies and thy scruples;--and a blessing on them! I wish yours were our only cares:--but go thy ways, girl!” he added, as the lady set forth on her journey, and he withdrew from the door.
At the Rose Croft, the approaching merry-making had superseded all other family topics, both in parlour and kitchen. The larder was already beginning to exhibit the plentiful acc.u.mulations which, in a place of strength, might portend a siege: the stable boys were ever on the alert, with their cavalry, to do rapid errands to the town, and Michael Mossbank, the gardener, was seen in frequent and earnest consultation with John Pouch, a river-side cotter, touching supplies of fish and wild fowl.
Whilst the elder sister Alice despatched the graver duties of the housekeeping, she had consigned to Blanche the not less important care of summoning the guests, and the maiden was now seated at the table with pen in hand registering the names of those who had been, or were to be invited to the feast,--or in other words making a census of pretty nearly the whole t.i.thable population of St. Mary's and its dependencies.
”A plague upon it for a weary labour!” she exclaimed as she threw down the pen and rested her chin upon the palm of her hand. ”I know I shall forget somebody I ought not to forget--and shall be well rated for it.
And then again I shall be chid for being too free with my fellows.h.i.+p.--What a world of names is here! I did not think the whole province had so many. There is Winnefred Hay, the Viewer's sister,--they have tales about her which, if they be true, it is not fit she should be a crony of mine--and yet I don't believe them, though many do.--Truly the Viewer will be in a grand pa.s.sion if I slight her!
Sister Alice, give me your advice.”
”Bid her to the feast, Blanche. We should be slow to believe these rumours to the injury of a neighbour. Winnefred Hay, is not over discreet--and gives more semblance to an evil opinion than, in truth, her faults deserve: but the townspeople are scarce better in this quickness to censure--especially such as look to the tobacco viewing.
Lawrence Hay's place has something to do with that scandal.”
”I am glad, sister Alice, you give me an argument to indulge my own secret wish,” replied Blanche; ”for I like not to believe harsh reports against any of our province. And so, that is at an end. Alack!--here is another matter for counsel: Grace Blackiston says Helen Clements is too young to be at my gathering:--she has two years before her yet at school, and has only begun embroidering. Oh, but I would as soon do a barefoot penance for a month as disappoint her!--she is the wildest of all for a dance, and looks for it, I know,--though she says never a word, and has her eyes on the ground when we talk about it.--Ha, let Grace Blackiston prate as she will, Helen shall be here! Fairly, my gossip,--I will be mistress in my own house, I promise you!”
”There is room for all thy friends, young and old,” said Alice; ”and you should not stint to ask them for the difference of a span or so in height. You are not quite a woman yourself, Blanche,--no, nor Grace neither--although you perk yourselves up so daintily.”
”Would you have the gauger's wife, sister?” inquired Blanche, with a face of renewed perplexity. ”I think my dear Lady Maria would be pleased if I bid the dame--for the gauger is a good friend of his Lords.h.i.+p--hot-headed, they say, but that does not make him the worse--and his dame takes it kindly to be noticed.”
”Even as you will, Blanche,--it is a mark of gentle nurture not to be too scrupulous with thy questions of quality--a kind neighbour will never disgrace your courtesy. But one thing, child, your father will look to:--see that you avoid these Coodes and Fendalls and even the Chiseldines. There is a feud between them and the Proprietary,--and my Lord's friends are warm in the matter,--your father amongst the rest.”
”I warrant you they get no bid from me,” said Blanche, as the colour mantled in her cheek. ”I hate them stock and branch--yes, as my good lady hates them.”
Blanche had scarcely uttered these words before the good lady herself rode past the window. The maiden bounded forth to receive her, and Alice with less precipitation followed.
”I come with pony and pillion,” said the visiter as she was a.s.sisted to the ground, and bustled into the parlour. ”I could not rest until I saw Blanche, to know if all her biddings were abroad. My pretty bird, pray look you to your task--you have no time to lose: there are the families beyond Patuxent--and our friends across the bay,--besides many at home that I know have not heard from you yet. And here, sweet, I have brought you some trinketry which you shall wear at the feast: a part is for Grace Blackiston, and a part for you. Thou shalt have the choice, Blanche:--but whisht!--not a word of it to Grace, because I think she hath a conceit to be jealous of thy favour.”