Saul drew a long breath, and held his hands to the fire as if he felt again the sharp suffering of that night.
"And the man?" asked Emily, softly, as if reluctant to break the silence.
"He _was_ a man! In times like that men talk like brothers and show what they are. Lying there, slowly freezing, Joe c.u.mmings told me about his wife and babies, his old folks waiting for him, all depending on him, yet all ready to give him up when he was needed. A plain man, but honest and true, and loving as a woman; I soon saw that as he went on talking, half to me and half to himself, for sometimes he wandered a little toward the end. I"ve read books, heard sermons, and seen good folks, but nothing ever came so close or did me so much good as seeing this man die. He had one chance and gave it cheerfully.
He longed for those he loved, and let "em go with a good-by they couldn"t hear. He suffered all the pains we most shrink from without a murmur, and kept my heart warm while his own was growing cold. It"s no use trying to tell that part of it; but I heard prayers that night that meant something, and I saw how faith could hold a soul up when everything was gone but G.o.d."
Saul stopped there with a sudden huskiness in his deep voice, and when he went on it was in the tone of one who speaks of a dear friend.
"Joe grew still by and by, and I thought he was asleep, for I felt his breath when I tucked him up, and his hand held on to mine. The cold sort of numbed me, and I dropped off, too weak and stupid to think or feel. I never should have waked up if it hadn"t been for Joe. When I came to, it was morning, and I thought I was dead, for all I could see was that great field of white mounds, like graves, and a splendid sky above. Then I looked for Joe, remembering; but he had put my coat back over me, and lay stiff and still under the snow that covered him like a shroud, all except his face. A bit of my cape had blown over it, and when I took it off and the sun shone on his dead face, I declare to you it was so full of heavenly peace I felt as if that common man had been glorified by G.o.d"s light, and rewarded by G.o.d"s "Well done."
That"s all."
No one spoke for a moment, while the women wiped their eyes, and Saul dropped his as if to hide something softer than tears.
"It was very n.o.ble, very touching. And you? how did you get off at last?" asked Randal, with real admiration and respect in his usually languid face.
"Crawled off," answered Saul, relapsing into his former brevity of speech.
"Why not before, and save yourself all that misery?"
"Couldn"t leave Joe."
"Ah, I see; there were two heroes that night."
"Dozens, I"ve no doubt. Those were times that made heroes of men, and women, too."
"Tell us more;" begged Emily, looking up with an expression none of her admirers ever brought to her face by their softest compliments or wiliest gossip.
"I"ve done my part. It"s Mr. Randal"s turn now;" and Saul drew himself out of the ruddy circle of firelight, as if ashamed of the prominent part he was playing.
Sophie and her friend had often heard Randal talk, for he was an accomplished _raconteur_, but that night he exerted himself, and was unusually brilliant and entertaining, as if upon his mettle. The Ba.s.sets were charmed. They sat late and were very merry, for Aunt Plumy got up a little supper for them, and her cider was as exhilarating as champagne. When they parted for the night and Sophie kissed her aunt, Emily did the same, saying heartily,--
"It seems as if I"d known you all my life, and this is certainly the most enchanting old place that ever was."
"Glad you like it, dear. But it ain"t all fun, as you"ll find out to-morrow when you go to work, for Sophie says you must," answered Mrs. Ba.s.set, as her guests trooped away, rashly promising to like everything.
They found it difficult to keep their word when they were called at half past six next morning. Their rooms were warm, however, and they managed to scramble down in time for breakfast, guided by the fragrance of coffee and Aunt Plumy"s shrill voice singing the good old hymn--
"Lord, in the morning Thou shalt hear My voice ascending high."
An open fire blazed on the hearth, for the cooking was done in the lean-to, and the s.p.a.cious, sunny kitchen was kept in all its old-fashioned perfection, with the wooden settle in a warm nook, the tall clock behind the door, copper and pewter utensils shining on the dresser, old china in the corner closet and a little spinning wheel rescued from the garret by Sophie to adorn the deep window, full of scarlet geraniums, Christmas roses, and white chrysanthemums.
The young lady, in a checked ap.r.o.n and mob-cap, greeted her friends with a dish of buckwheats in one hand, and a pair of cheeks that proved she had been learning to fry these delectable cakes.
"You do "keep it up" in earnest, upon my word; and very becoming it is, dear. But won"t you ruin your complexion and roughen your hands if you do so much of this new fancy-work?" asked Emily, much amazed at this novel freak.
"I like it, and really believe I"ve found my proper sphere at last.
Domestic life seems so pleasant to me that I feel as if I"d better keep it up for the rest of my life," answered Sophie, making a pretty picture of herself as she cut great slices of brown bread, with the early sunshine touching her happy face.
"The charming Miss Vaughan in the role of a farmer"s wife. I find it difficult to imagine, and shrink from the thought of the wide-spread dismay such a fate will produce among her adorers," added Randal, as he basked in the glow of the hospitable fire.
"She might do worse; but come to breakfast and do honor to my handiwork," said Sophie, thinking of her worn-out millionnaire, and rather nettled by the satiric smile on Randal"s lips.
"What an appet.i.te early rising gives one. I feel equal to almost anything, so let me help wash cups," said Emily, with unusual energy, when the hearty meal was over and Sophie began to pick up the dishes as if it was her usual work.
Ruth went to the window to water the flowers, and Randal followed to make himself agreeable, remembering her defence of him last night.
He was used to admiration from feminine eyes, and flattery from soft lips, but found something new and charming in the innocent delight which showed itself at his approach in blushes more eloquent than words, and shy glances from eyes full of hero-worship.
"I hope you are going to spare me a posy for to-morrow night, since I can be fine in no other way to do honor to the dance Miss Sophie proposes for us," he said, leaning in the bay window to look down on the little girl, with the devoted air he usually wore for pretty women.
"Anything you like! I should be so glad to have you wear my flowers.
There will be enough for all, and I"ve nothing else to give to people who have made me as happy as cousin Sophie and you," answered Ruth, half drowning her great calla as she spoke with grateful warmth.
"You must make her happy by accepting the invitation to go home with her which I heard given last night. A peep at the world would do you good, and be a pleasant change, I think."
"Oh, very pleasant! but would it do me good?" and Ruth looked up with sudden seriousness in her blue eyes, as a child questions an elder, eager, yet wistful.
"Why not?" asked Randal, wondering at the hesitation.
"I might grow discontented with things here if I saw splendid houses and fine people. I am very happy now, and it would break my heart to lose that happiness, or ever learn to be ashamed of home."
"But don"t you long for more pleasure, new scenes and other friends than these?" asked the man, touched by the little creature"s loyalty to the things she knew and loved.
"Very often, but mother says when I"m ready they will come, so I wait and try not to be impatient." But Ruth"s eyes looked out over the green leaves as if the longing was very strong within her to see more of the unknown world lying beyond the mountains that hemmed her in.
"It is natural for birds to hop out of the nest, so I shall expect to see you over there before long, and ask you how you enjoy your first flight," said Randal, in a paternal tone that had a curious effect on Ruth.
To his surprise, she laughed, then blushed like one of her own roses, and answered with a demure dignity that was very pretty to see.
"I intend to hop soon, but it won"t be a very long flight or very far from mother. She can"t spare me, and n.o.body in the world can fill her place to me."
"Bless the child, does she think I"m going to make love to her,"
thought Randal, much amused, but quite mistaken. Wiser women had thought so when he a.s.sumed the caressing air with which he beguiled them into the little revelations of character he liked to use, as the south wind makes flowers open their hearts to give up their odor, then leaves them to carry it elsewhere, the more welcome for the stolen sweetness.
"Perhaps you are right. The maternal wing is a safe shelter for confiding little souls like you, Miss Ruth. You will be as comfortable here as your flowers in this sunny window," he said, carelessly pinching geranium leaves, and ruffling the roses till the pink petals of the largest fluttered to the floor.
As if she instinctively felt and resented something in the man which his act symbolized, the girl answered quietly, as she went on with her work, "Yes, if the frost does not touch me, or careless people spoil me too soon."
Before Randal could reply Aunt Plumy approached like a maternal hen who sees her chicken in danger.
"Saul is goin" to haul wood after he"s done his ch.o.r.es, mebbe you"d like to go along? The view is good, the roads well broke, and the day uncommon fine."
"Thanks; it will be delightful, I dare say," politely responded the lion, with a secret shudder at the idea of a rural promenade at 8 A.M.
in the winter.
"Come on, then; we"ll feed the stock, and then I"ll show you how to yoke oxen," said Saul, with a twinkle in his eye as he led the way, when his new aide had m.u.f.fled himself up as if for a polar voyage.
"Now, that"s too bad of Saul! He did it on purpose, just to please you, Sophie," cried Ruth presently, and the girls ran to the window to behold Randal bravely following his host with a pail of pigs" food in each hand, and an expression of resigned disgust upon his aristocratic face.