Part 6 (1/2)
Oliver disappeared in haste, and Josiah, with an apology to Miss Euphemia, followed him; while General Wolcott, casting off his hat and gloves, seated himself with Moppet on his knee, and Miss Bidwell appeared from the kitchen with fresh reinforcements of breakfast for the newcomers. Betty, busying herself by fetching cups and saucers from the china pantry, caught fragments of the conversation, and became aware that Miss Moppet was telling the story of her adventure at Great Pond, in the child's most dramatic fas.h.i.+on, and that Miss Euphemia was also adding her testimony to the tale as it went on. They were presently interrupted by the entrance of Oliver with his father's two aids, and the large mahogany table was surrounded by guests, whose appet.i.tes bid fair to do justice to Miss Bidwell's breakfast.
No sooner was the meal fairly under way than Oliver, eager to hear his father's opinion, began the story of his capture of the day before, and related how and where he had found Captain Yorke, and how safely he supposed he had imprisoned him in the north chamber, from which his clever and ready escape had been made. Oliver's narrative was interrupted by exclamations from the officers and questions from his father, who displayed keen interest in the matter.
”Father,” said Moppet, seeing that the most important point had been omitted in Oliver's story, and venturing to join in the conversation, as few children of that period would have done, ”Oliver's prisoner was my good kind gentleman who pulled me out of the pond, and I am very, very glad he has got away--aren't you?”
”I was indeed hard bestead, sir,” burst in Oliver. ”Here were Betty and Moppet insisting that I must let Captain Yorke go free because of his gallant act (which I fully appreciate), and the gentleman refusing his parole because he preferred to take the chances of war, while I felt it my sworn duty to detain him and to forward him to General Putnam without delay, as I know we are in need of exchange for several of our officers now held by Sir Henry Clinton, and this man is of Clinton's staff, and therefore a most valuable capture. Was I to blame for retaining him?”
General Wolcott hesitated, but as he was about to make reply his eye fell upon Betty, who confronted him across the table with parted lips and large, beseeching eyes so full of entreaty that he changed the words almost upon his lips.
”It is a delicate question, my son,” he said gravely, ”and one I would rather not discuss at the present moment. More especially”--and a half-quizzical smile lit up his grave but kindly face as he turned toward Miss Moppet and gently pinched her little ear,--”more especially as the gentleman has taken the law in his own hands and escaped from Wolcott Manor despite the fact that as it is the residence of a Continental officer and the sheriff of Litchfield County it might be supposed to have exceptional reasons for detaining him. Captain Seymour, I will be glad to sign the papers of which General Putnam has need, and we will go at once to my library, for you must be off by noon.”
Some two hours later, as Betty sat watching in her chamber window, she saw the horses led around to the front door, and shortly after knew from the sounds below that Pamela and Dolly wore bidding the young officers good-by; so, waiting until the sound of their horses' feet had died away in the distance, Betty, with outward composure but much inward dismay, tripped softly downstairs and knocked at the door of the library.
”Pray Heaven he be alone,” she sighed as she heard her father's voice bid her enter, and then she crossed the threshold and confronted him.
”Father,” she said, steadying herself by one small hand pressed downward on the table behind which he sat, ”I--that is--I have something to tell you.”
General Wolcott raised his head from the paper which he had been carefully reading and looked kindly at her.
”What is it, my child?” he asked rea.s.suringly, motioning her to a chair.
”I thought at breakfast that you had the air of being in distress.”
”Nay, I am hardly that,” replied Betty, clinging to the table, ”except so far as I may have incurred your censure, though I hope not your displeasure. Father, Oliver has told you of the escape of Captain Yorke, which causes him much chagrin and anger. Blame no one but me, for I myself released him.”
”You!” exclaimed General Wolcott.
”Yes, I,” said Betty, growing paler. ”If you had but been here or I known that you were so near us, there had been no such need for haste, and I would have been spared this confession.”
”How did you arrange the escape?” said her father quietly.
”It was this way,” faltered Betty, but gaining courage as she proceeded.
”Oliver would not listen, though I begged and plead with him to delay until your arrival. He was so eager to deliver his captive to General Putnam that I made no impression. Father, the Englishman had saved our Moppet's life at the risk of his own; _he_ did not pause to ask whether she was friend or foe when he rushed to her rescue--could we he less humane? I do not know what they do to prisoners,”--and Betty strangled a swift sob,--”but I could not bear to think of a gallant gentleman, be he British or American, confined in a prison, and so I resolved I would a.s.sist his escape. I waited until midnight, and then I spoke to him through the aperture in the great chimney and instructed him how to climb up through it by the pegs Reuben had left there, and I stole to the garret and waited until he came. Ruben did not see me pa.s.s the door of the north chamber, for he was asleep (do not tell this to Oliver, as it might bring reproof upon poor Reuben, who was too weary to be of much service as a sentinel), and I brought Captain Yorke safely down the stairs which lead from the garret to the b.u.t.tery. Once there, all was easy; I opened the door, and--and--I even offered him the mare, father, I was in such fear of his recapture; but he stoutly refused to take her.
This is all. If I am a traitor, dear father, punish me as I deserve, but never think me disloyal to you or to my country.”
There was a pause, as Betty's sweet, pa.s.sionate tones ceased; she stood with head thrown back, but downcast eyes, as fair a picture us ever greeted father's eye.
”A loyal traitor, Betty,” said General Wolcott slowly; ”and I think that it were well I should look after the condition of my chimneys.”
Scarcely daring to believe her ears, Betty looked up, and in another second she had thrown her arms around her father's neck, sobbing softly as he caressed her.
”'Twas a daring, mad scheme, my child,” said General Wolcott, his own eyes not quite guiltless of moisture; ”but bravely carried out; and looking at the matter much as you do, I cannot find it in my heart to censure you. Captain Yorke is doubtless a manly foe, and of such I have no fear. It shall be our secret, yours and mine, Betty; we will not even tell Oliver just now, else it might make sore feeling between you. For Oliver was right, and”--smiling kindly, ”so were you. Everything depends upon the point of view, my daughter; but let me beg you never to try your hand again to a.s.sist the escape of a British officer, or it might cost me the friends.h.i.+p of General Was.h.i.+ngton.”
”Father, dear father!” cried Betty, overjoyed to find judgment so lenient accorded her, ”I crave your pardon; 'twas alone for Moppet's sake.”
”Aye,” said General Wolcott, and then paused a brief second, for his wife's death, had been the forfeit paid for Moppet's birth, and this was one reason why the child had become the family idol. ”Now run away, for I must close these papers in time for Oliver, who rides dispatch to Fort Trumbull to-night. And, Betty,” as she stood glowing and smiling before him ”my child, you grow more like your mother every day.” and with a hasty movement General Wolcott turned away to conceal his emotion, as Betty went quickly from the room.
CHAPTER VI