Most of the party had already retired, but Marmaduke knew the habits of his friend too well to suggest an earlier adjournment.
So soon, however, as the proposal was made, the Judge eagerly availed himself of it, and the trio prepared to depart.
Mrs. Hollister attended them to the door in person, cautioning her guests as to the safest manner of leaving her premises.
“Lane on Mister Jones, Major,” said she “he’s young and will be a support to ye.
Well, it’s a charming sight to see ye, anyway, at the Bould Dragoon; and sure it’s no harm to be kaping a Christmas eve wid a light heart, for it’s no telling when we may have sorrow come upon us.
So good-night, Joodge, and a merry Christmas to ye all tomorrow morning.”
The gentlemen made their adieus as well as they could, and taking the middle of the road, which was a fine, wide, and well-beaten path, they did tolerably well until they reached the gate of the mansion-house: but on entering the Judge’s domains they encountered some slight difficulties.
We shall not stop to relate them, but will just mention that in the morning sundry diverging paths were to be seen in the snow; and that once during their progress to the door, Marmaduke, missing his companions, was enabled to trace them by one of these paths to a spot where he discovered them with nothing visible but their heads, Richard singing in a most vivacious strain:
“Come, let us be jolly, And cast away folly, For grief turns a black head to gray.”
CHAPTER XV.
“As she lay, on that day, in the Bay of Biscay, O!”
Previously to the occurrence of the scene at the
“Bold Dragoon,” Elizabeth had been safely reconducted to the mansion-house, where she was left as its mistress, either to amuse or employ herself during the evening as best suited her own inclinations.
Most of the lights were extinguished; but as Benjamin adjusted with great care and regularity four large candles, in as many massive candlesticks of brass, in a row on the sideboard, the hall possessed a peculiar air of comfort and warmth, contrasted with the cheerless aspect of the room she had left in the academy.
Remarkable had been one of the listeners to Mr. Grant, and returned with her resentment, which had been not a little excited by the language of the Judge, somewhat softened by reflection and the worship.
She recollected the youth of Elizabeth, and thought it no difficult task, under present appearances, to exercise that power indirectly which hitherto she had enjoyed undisputed.
The idea of being governed, or of being compelled to pay the deference of servitude, was absolutely intolerable; and she had already determined within herself, some half dozen times, to make an effort that should at once bring to an issue the delicate point of her domestic condition.
But as often as she met the dark, proud eye of Elizabeth, who was walking up and down the apartment, musing on the scenes of her youth and the change in her condition, and perhaps the events of the day, the housekeeper experienced an awe that she would not own to herself could be excited by anything mortal.
It, however, checked her advances, and for some time held her tongue-tied. At length she determined to commence the discourse by entering on a subject that was apt to level all human distinctions, and in which she might display her own abilities.
“It was quite a wordy sarmon that Parson Grant gave us to-night,” said Remarkable.
“The church ministers be commonly smart sarmonizers, but they write down their idees, which is a great privilege.
I don’t think that, by nater, they are as tonguey speakers, for an off-hand discourse, as the standing-order ministers.”
“And what denomination do you distinguish as the standing-order?” inquired Miss Temple, with some surprise.
“Why, the Presbyter’ans and Congregationals, and Baptists, too, for-til’ now; and all sitch as don’t go on their knees to prayer.”
“By that rule, then, you would call those who belong’ to the persuasion of my father, the sitting-order,” observed Elizabeth.
“I’m sure I’ve never heard ‘em spoken of by any other’ name than Quakers, so called,” returned Remarkable, betraying a slight uneasiness;
“I should be the last to call them otherwise, for I never in my life used a disparaging’ tarm of the Judge, or any of his family.
I’ve always set store by the Quakers, they are so pretty-spoken, clever people, and it’s a wonderment to me how your father come to marry into a church family; for they are as contrary in religion as can be.
One sits still, and, for the most part; says nothing, while the church folks practyse all kinds of ways, so that I sometimes think it quite moosical to see them; for I went to a church-meeting once before, down country.”
“You have found an excellence in the church liturgy that has hitherto escaped me.
I will thank you to inquire whether the fire in my room burns; I feel fatigued with my journey, and will retire.”
Remarkable felt a wonderful inclination to tell the young mistress of the mansion that by opening a door she might see for herself; but prudence got the better of resentment, and after pausing some little time, as a salve to her dignity, she did as desired.
The report was favorable, and the young lady, wishing Benjamin, who was filling the stove with wood, and the housekeeper, each a good-night, withdrew.
The instant the door closed on Miss Temple, Remark able commenced a sort of mysterious, ambiguous discourse, that was neither abusive nor commendatory of the qualities of the absent personage, but which seemed to be drawing nigh, by regular degrees, to a most dissatisfied description.
The major-domo made no reply, but continued his occupation with great industry, which being happily completed, he took a look at the thermometer, and then opening a drawer of the sideboard, he produced a supply of stimulants that would have served to keep the warmth in his system without the aid of the enormous fire he had been building.
A small stand was drawn up near the stove, and the bottles and the glasses necessary for convenience were quietly arranged.
Two chairs were placed by the side of this comfortable situation, when Benjamin, for the first time, appeared to observe his companion.
“Come,” he cried, “come, Mistress Remarkable, bring yourself to an anchor on this chair.
It’s a peeler without, I can tell you, good woman; but what cares I? blow high or blow low, d’ye see, it’s all the same thing to Ben.
The niggers are snug stowed below before a fire that would roast an ox whole.
The thermometer stands now at fifty-five, but if there’s any vartue in good maple wood, I’ll weather upon it, before one glass, as much as ten points more, so that the squire, when he comes home from Betty Hollister’s warm room, will feel as hot as a hand that has given the rigging a lick with bad tar.
Come, mistress, bring up in this here chair, and tell me how you like our new heiress.”
“Why, to my notion, Mr. Penguillum——”
“Pump, Pump,” interrupted Benjamin; “it’s Christmas eve, Mistress Remarkable, and so, dye see, you had better call me Pump.
It’s a shorter name, and as I mean to pump this here decanter till it sucks, why, you may as well call me Pump.”
“Did you ever!” cried Remarkable, with a laugh that seemed to unhinge every joint in her body.
“You’re a moosical creature, Benjamin, when the notion takes you.
But, as I was saying, I rather guess that times will be altered now in this house.”
“Altered!” exclaimed the major-domo, eyeing the bottle, that was assuming the clear aspect of cut glass with astonishing rapidity; “it don’t matter much, Mistress Remarkable, so long as I keep the keys of the lockers in my pocket.”
“I can’t say,” continued the housekeeper, “but there’s good eatables and drinkables enough in the house for a body’s content—a little more sugar, Benjamin, in the glass—for Squire Jones is an excellent provider.