They shall never imprison the Leather-Stocking.”
“Well, Mr. Edwards,” said Lippet, dropping all reserve from his manner, “you are called a curious man; but if you can tell me how a jury is to be prevented from finding a verdict of guilty, if this case comes fairly before them, and the proof is clear, I shall acknowledge that you know more law than I do, who have had a license in my pocket for three years.”
By this time the reason of Edwards was getting the ascendency of his feelings, and, as he began to see the real difficulties of the case, he listened more readily to the conversation of the lawyer.
The ungovernable emotion that escaped the youth, in the first moments of his surprise, entirely passed away; and, although it was still evident that he continued to be much agitated by what he had heard, he succeeded in yielding forced attention to the advice which the other uttered.
Notwithstanding the confused state of his mind, Oliver soon discovered that most of the expedients of the lawyer were grounded in cunning, and plans that required a time to execute them that neither suited his disposition nor his necessities.
After, however, giving Mr. Lippet to under stand that he retained him in the event of a trial, an assurance that at once satisfied the lawyer, they parted, one taking his course with a deliberate tread in the direction of the little building that had a wooden sign over its door, with
“Chester Lippet, Attorney-at-law,” painted on it; and the other pacing over the ground with enormous strides toward the mansion-house.
We shall take leave of the attorney for the present, and direct the attention of the reader to the client.
When Edwards entered the hall, whose enormous doors were opened to the passage of the air of a mild evening, he found Benjamin engaged in some of his domestic avocations, and in a hurried voice inquired where Judge Temple was to be found.
“Why, the Judge has stepped into his office, with that master carpenter, Mister Doolittle; but Miss Lizzy is in that there parlor.
I say, Master Oliver, we’d like to have had a bad job of that panther, or painter’s work—some calls it one, and some calls it t’other—but I know little of the beast, seeing that it is not of British growth.
I said as much as that it was in the hills the last winter for I heard it moaning on the lake shore one evening in the fall, when I was pulling down from the fishing-point in the skiff.
Had the animal come into open water, where a man could see where and how to work his vessel, I would have engaged the thing myself; but looking aloft among the trees is all the same to me as standing on the deck of one ship, and looking at another vessel’s tops.
I never can tell one rope from another—”
“Well, well,” interrupted Edwards;
“I must see Miss Temple.”
“And you shall see her, sir,” said the steward; “she’s in this here room.
Lord, Master Edwards, what a loss she’d have been to the Judge!
Dam’me if I know where he would have gotten such another daughter; that is, full grown, d’ye see.
I say, sir, this Master Bumppo is a worthy man, and seems to have a handy way with him, with firearms and boat-hooks.
I’m his friend, Master Oliver, and he and you may both set me down as the same.”
“We may want your friendship, my worthy fellow,” cried Edwards, squeezing his hand convulsively; “we may want your friendship, in which case you shall know it.”
Without waiting to hear the earnest reply that Benjamin meditated, the youth extricated himself from the vigorous grasp of the steward, and entered the parlor.
Elizabeth was alone, and still reclining on the sofa, where we last left her.
A hand, which exceeded all that the ingenuity of art could model, in shape and color, veiled her eyes; and the maiden was sitting as if in deep communion with herself.
Struck by the attitude and loveliness of the form that met his eye, the young man checked his impatience, and approached her with respect and caution.
“Miss Temple—Miss Temple,” he said, “I hope I do not intrude; but I am anxious for an interview, if it be only for a moment.”
Elizabeth raised her face, and exhibited her dark eyes swimming in moisture.
“Is it you, Edwards?” she said, with a sweetness in her voice, and a softness in her air, that she often used to her father, but which, from its novelty to himself, thrilled on every nerve of the youth; “how left you our poor Louisa?”
“She is with her father, happy and grateful,” said Oliver,
“I never witnessed more feeling than she manifested, when I ventured to express my pleasure at her escape.
Miss Temple, when I first heard of your horrid situation, my feelings were too powerful for utterance; and I did not properly find my tongue, until the walk to Mr. Grant’s had given me time to collect myself.
I believe—I do believe, I acquitted myself better there, for Miss Grant even wept at my silly speeches.”
For a moment Elizabeth did not reply, but again veiled her eyes with her hand.
The feeling that caused the action, however, soon passed away, and, raising her face again to his gaze, she continued with a smile:
“Your friend, the Leather-Stocking, has now become my friend, Edwards; I have been thinking how I can best serve him; perhaps you, who know his habits and his wants so well, can tell me——”
“I can,” cried the youth, with an impetuosity that startled his companion.
“I can, and may Heaven reward you for the wish, Natty has been so imprudent as to for get the law, and has this day killed a deer.
Nay, I believe I must share in the crime and the penalty, for I was an accomplice throughout.
A complaint has been made to your father, and he has granted a search—”
“I know it all,” interrupted Elizabeth; “I know it all.
The forms of the law must be complied with, however; the search must be made, the deer found, and the penalty paid.
But I must retort your own question. Have you lived so long in our family not to know us?
Look at me, Oliver Edwards.
Do I appear like one who would permit the man that has just saved her life to linger in a jail for so small a sum as this fine?
No, no, sir; my father is a judge, but he is a man and a Christian.
It is all under stood, and no harm shall follow.”
“What a load of apprehension do your declarations remove!” exclaimed Edwards:
“He shall not be disturbed again! your father will protect him!
I have assurance, Miss Temple, that he will, and I must believe it.”