They are of the same tribe; their fathers and mothers are one.
Learn to wait, my son, you are a Delaware, and an Indian warrior knows how to be patient.”
This figurative address seemed to have great weight with the young man, who gradually yielded to the representations of Marmaduke, and eventually consented to his proposal.
It was, however, to be an experiment only; and, if either of the parties thought fit to rescind the engagement, it was left at his option so to do.
The remarkable and ill-concealed reluctance of the youth to accept of an offer, which most men in his situation would consider as an unhoped-for elevation, occasioned no little surprise in those to whom he was a stranger; and it left a slight impression to his disadvantage.
When the parties separated, they very naturally made the subject the topic of a conversation, which we shall relate; first commencing with the Judge, his daughter, and Richard, who were slowly pursuing the way back to the mansion-house.
“I have surely endeavored to remember the holy man dates of our Redeemer, when he bids us ‘love them who despitefully use you,’ in my intercourse with this incomprehensible boy,” said Marmaduke.
“I know not what there is in my dwelling to frighten a lad of his years, unless it may he thy presence and visage, Bess.”
“No, no,” said Richard, with great simplicity, “it is not Cousin Bess.
But when did you ever know a half-breed, ‘Duke, who could bear civilization?
For that mat ter, they are worse than the savages themselves!
Did you notice how knock-kneed he stood, Elizabeth, and what a wild look he had in his eyes?”
“I heeded not his eyes, nor his knees, which would be all the better for a little humbling.
Really, my dear sir, I think you did exercise the Christian virtue of patience to the utmost.
I was disgusted with his airs, long before he consented to make one of our family.
Truly we are much honored by the association!
In what apartment is he to be placed, sir; and at what table is he to receive his nectar and ambrosia?”
“With Benjamin and Remarkable,” interrupted Mr. Jones; “you sorely would not make the youth eat with the blacks!
He is part Indian, it is true; but the natives hold the negroes in great contempt.
No, no; he would starve before he would break a crust with the negroes.”
“I am but too happy, Dickon, to tempt him to eat with ourselves,” said Marmaduke, “to think of offering even the indignity you propose.”
“Then, sir,” said Elizabeth, with an air that was slightly affected, as if submitting to her father’s orders in opposition to her own will, “it is your pleasure that he be a gentleman.”
“Certainly; he is to fill the station of one.
Let him receive the treatment that is due to his place, until we find him unworthy of it.”
“Well, well, ‘Duke,” cried the sheriff, “you will find it no easy matter to make a gentleman of him.
The old proverb says that ‘it takes three generations to make a gentleman.’
There was my father whom everybody knew my grandfather was an M.D., and his father a D.D.; and his father came from England, I never could come at the truth of his origin; but he was either a great mer chant in London, or a great country lawyer, or the youngest son of a bishop.”
“Here is a true American genealogy for you,” said Marmaduke, laughing.
“It does very well till you get across the water, where, as everything is obscure, it is certain to deal in the superlative.
You are sure that your English progenitor was great, Dickon, whatever his profession might have been?”
“To be sure I am,” returned the other.
“I have heard my old aunt talk of him by the month.
We are of a good family, Judge Temple, and have never filled any but honorable stations in life.”
“I marvel that you should be satisfied with so scanty a provision of gentility in the olden time, Dickon.
Most of the American genealogists commence their traditions like the stories for children, with three brothers, taking especial care that one of the triumvirate shall be the pro genitor of any of the same name who may happen to be better furnished with worldly gear than themselves.
But, here, all are equal who know how to conduct themselves with propriety; and Oliver Edwards comes into my family on a footing with both the high sheriff and the judge.”
“Well, ‘Duke, I call this democracy, not republicanism; but I say nothing; only let him keep within the law, or I shall show him that the freedom of even this country is under wholesome restraint.”
“Surely, Dickon, you will not execute till I condemn!
But what says Bess to the new inmate?
We must pay a deference to the ladies in this matter, after all.”
“Oh, sir!” returned Elizabeth, “I believe I am much like a certain Judge Temple in this particular—not easily to be turned from my opinion.
But, to be serious, although I must think the introduction of a demi-savage into the family a somewhat startling event, whomsoever you think proper to countenance may be sure of my respect.”
The Judge drew her arm more closely in his own and smiled, while Richard led the way through the gate of the little court-yard in the rear of the dwelling, dealing out his ambiguous warnings with his accustomed loquacity.
On the other hand, the foresters—for the three hunters, notwithstanding their difference in character, well deserved this common name—pursued their course along the skirts of the village in silence.
It was not until they had reached the lake, and were moving over its frozen surface toward the foot of the mountain, where the hut stood, that the youth exclaimed:
“Who could have foreseen this a month since!
I have consented to serve Marmaduke Temple—to be an inmate in the dwelling of the greatest enemy of my race; yet what better could I do?
The servitude cannot be long; and, when the motive for submitting to it ceases to exist, I will shake it off like the dust from my feet.”
“Is he a Mingo, that you will call him enemy?” said Mohegan.
“The Delaware warrior sits still, and waits the time of the Great Spirit.