Thus, as I sat there on my cot, scenes of my life came jostling me like long-absent comrades, softening my mood until I fell to thinking of those honoured parents I had never seen save in the gray dreams which mazed my sleep. For the day that brought life to me had robbed my honoured mother of her life; and my father, Captain Cardigan, lying with Wolfe before Quebec, sent a runner to Sir William enjoining him to care for me should the chance of battle leave me orphaned.
So my father, with Wolfe"s own song on his lips:
"Why, soldiers, why Should we be melancholy boys?
Why, soldiers, why?
Whose business "tis to die--"
fell into Colonel Burton"s arms at the head of Webb"s regiment, and his dying eyes saw the grenadiers wipe out the disgrace of Montmorency with dripping bayonets. So he died, with a smile, bidding Webb"s regiment G.o.d-speed, and sending word to the dying Wolfe that he would meet him a minute hence at Peter"s gate in heaven.
Thus came I naturally by my hatred for the French, nor was there in all France sufficient wampum to wipe away the feud or cover the dear phantom that stood in my path as I pa.s.sed through life my way.
Now, as I sat a-thinking by the window, below me the robins in all the trees had begun their wild-wood vespers--hymns of the true thrush, though not rounded with a thrush"s elegance.
The tree-shadows, too, had grown in length, and the afternoon sun wore a deeper blazonry through the hill haze in the west.
Fain to taste of the freedom which was now mine, I went out and down the stairs, pa.s.sing my lady Silver Heels strapped to a back-board and in a temper with her sampler.
"Oh, Micky," she said, "my bones ache, and Mistress Molly is with the baby, and the key is there on that bra.s.s nail."
"It would be wrong if I released you," said I, piously, meaning to do it, nevertheless.
"Oh, Micky," she said, with a kind of pitiful sweetness which at times she used to obtain advantages from me.
So I took the key and unlocked the stocks, giving her feet a pinch to let her know I was not truly as soft-hearted as she might deem me, nor too easily won by woman"s beseeching.
And now, mark! No sooner was she free than she gave me a slap for the pinch and away she flew like a tree-lynx with the pack in cry.
"This," thought I, "is a woman"s grat.i.tude," and I locked the stocks again, wishing Silver Heels"s feet were in them.
"Best have it out at once with Mistress Molly," thought I, and went to the nursery. But before I could knock on the door, Mistress Molly heard me with her ears of a Mohawk, and came to the door with one finger on her lips.
Truly the sister of Thayendanegea was a stately and comely lady, and a beauty, too, being little darker than some French ladies I have seen, and of gracious and n.o.ble presence.
Bearing and mien were proud, yet winning; and, clothed always as befitted the lady of Sir William Johnson, none who came into her presence could think less of her because of her Mohawk blood or the relation she bore to Sir William--an honest one as she understood it.
She ruled the Hall with dignity and with an authority that none dreamed of opposing. At table she was silent, yet gracious; in the nursery she reigned a beloved and devoted mother; and if ever a man"s wife remained his sweetheart to the end, Molly Brant was Sir William"s true-love while his life endured.
"Why did you release Felicity from the stocks, Michael?" said she, in a whisper.
So her quick Indian ear had heard the click of that lock!
"I had come to tell you of it, Aunt Mary," said I.
She looked at me keenly, then smiled.
"A sin confessed is half redressed. I had meant to release Felicity some time since, but the baby had fretted herself to sleep in my arms and I feared to put her down. But, Michael, remember in future to ask permission when you desire to play with Felicity."
"Play with Felicity!" I said, scornfully. "I am past the playing age, Aunt Molly, and I only released her because I thought her back ached."
Mistress Molly looked at me again, long and keenly.
"Little savage," she said, gently, "mock at my people no more. I should chide you for misusing Peter, but--I will say nothing. You make my heart heavy sometimes."
"I do honour and love you, Aunt Molly!" I said; "it was not that I mocked at Peter, but his breeches were so tight that I wondered if Vix could bite him. I shall now go to the garden and allow Peter to kick my shins. Anyway, I gave him all my quills and a plummet and a screw."
She laughed silently, bidding me renounce my intention regarding Peter, and so dismissed me, with her finger on her lips conjuring silence.
So I pursued my interrupted way to the garden where the robins carolled in every young fruit-tree, and the blue shadows wove patterns on the gra.s.s.
Peter and Esk were on the ground playing at marbles, with Silver Heels to judge between them.
Esk, perceiving me, cried out: "Knuckle down at taws, Micky! Come on!
Alleys up and fen dubs!"
"Fen dubs your granny!" I replied, scornfully, clean forgetting my new dignity. "Dubs all, and bull"s-eyes up is what I play, unless you want to put in agates?" I added, covetously.
Esk shook his head in alarm, muttering that his agates were for shooters; but fat Peter, sprawling belly down at the ring, offered to put up an agate against four bull"s-eyes, two agates, and twelve miggs, and play dubs and span in a round fat.
The proposition was impudent, unfair, and thoroughly Indian. I was about to spurn it when Silver Heels chirped up, "Micky doesn"t dare."
"Put up your agate, Peter," said I, coolly, ignoring Silver Heels; and I fished the required marbles from my pocket and placed them in the ring.
"My shot," announced Peter, hurriedly, crowding down on the line, another outrage which, considering the presence of Silver Heels, I pa.s.sed unnoticed.
Peter shot and clipped a migg out of the ring. He shot again and grazed an agate, shouting "Dubs!" to the derision of us all.
Then I squatted down and sent two bull"s-eyes flying, but, forestalled by Peter"s hysterical "Fen dubs!" was obliged to replace one. However, I shot again and it was dubs all, and I pocketed both of my agates and Peter"s also.
This brought on a wrangle, which Silver Heels settled in my favour.
Then I sat down and, with deadly accuracy, "spun," from which comfortable position, and without spanning, I skinned the ring, leaving Peter grief-stricken, with one migg in his grimy fist.
"You may have them," said I, condescendingly, dropping my spoils into Silver Heels"s lap.
She coloured with surprise and pleasure, scarcely finding tongue to say, "Thank you, Micky."
Peter, being half Indian, demanded more play. But I was satiated and, already remembering my dignity, regretted the lapse into children"s pastimes. I quieted Peter by giving him the remainder of my marbles, explaining that I had renounced such games for manlier sport, which statement, coupled with my lavish generosity, impressed Peter and Esk, if it had not effect upon Silver Heels.
I sat down on the stone bench near the bee-hives and drew from my pocket the jack-knife given me by Silver Heels as a bribe to silence.
"Come over here, Silver Heels," I said, with patronizing kindness.
"What for?" she demanded.
"Oh, don"t come then," I retorted, whereat she rose from the gra.s.s with her skirt full of marbles and came over to the stone bench.
After a moment she seated herself, eying the knife askance. I had opened the blade. Lord, how I hated to give it back!
"Take it," said I, closing the blade, but not offering it to her.