[Ill.u.s.tration: He was standing on the step of his high counting-desk.]
He was standing on the step of his high counting-desk as he spoke, and he peered over the little wooden railing at the men scattered about with pens or hammers or goods in their hands. There was a moment"s silence; then a middle-aged man quietly laid down the tools with which he was closing a box, and walked up to the desk. The next moment, every one in the place had followed him. Semple was amazed and angry, but he made no sign of either emotion. He counted to the most accurate fraction every one"s due, and let them go without one word of remonstrance.
But as soon as he was alone, he felt the full bitterness of their desertion, and he could not keep the tears out of his eyes as he looked at their empty places. "Wha could hae thocht it?" he exclaimed. "Allan has been wi" me twenty-seven years, and Scott twenty, and Grey nearly seventeen. And the lads I have aye been kindly to. Maist o" them have wives and bairns, too; it"s just a sin o" them. It"s no to be believed.
It"s fair witchcraft. And the pride o" them! My certie, they all looked as if their hands were itching for a sword or a pair o" pistols!"
At this juncture Neil entered the store. "Here"s a bonnie pa.s.s, Neil; every man has left the store. I may as weel put up the shutters."
"There are other men to be hired."
"They were maistly a" auld standbys, auld married men that ought to have had mair sense."
"The married men are the trouble-makers; the women have hatched and nursed this rebellion. If they would only spin their webs, and mind their knitting!"
"But they willna, Neil; and they never would. If there"s a pot o"
rebellion brewing between the twa poles, women will be dabbling in it.
They have aye been against lawfu" authority. The restraints o" paradise was tyranny to them. And they get worse and worse: it isna ane apple would do them the noo; they"d strip the tree, my lad, to its vera topmost branch."
"There"s mother."
"Ay, there"s your mother, she"s a gude example. She"s a Gordon; and thae Gordon women cried the "_slogan_" till their men"s heads were a" on Carlisle gate or Temple Bar, and their lands a" under King George"s thumb. But is she any wiser for the lesson? Not her. Women are born rebels; the "powers that be" are always tyrants to them, Neil."
"You ought to know, father. I have small and sad experience with them."
"Sae, I hope you"ll stand by my side. We twa can keep the house thegither. If we are a" right, the Government will whistle by a woman"s talk."
"Did you not say Katherine was coming back?"
"I did that. See there, again. Hyde has dropped his uniform, and sold a"
that he has, and is coming to fight in a quarrel that"s nane o" his.
Heard you ever such foolishness? But it is Katherine"s doing; there"s little doot o" that."
"He"s turned rebel, then?"
"Ay has he. That"s what women do. Politics and rebellion is the same thing to them."
"Well, father, I shall not turn rebel."
"O Neil, you take a load off my heart by thae words!"
"I have nothing against the king, and I could not be Hyde"s comrade."
[Ill.u.s.tration: Chapter heading]
XVI.
"_How glorious stand the valiant, sword in hand, In front of battle for their native land!_"
It was into this thundery atmosphere of coming conflict, of hopes and doubts, of sundering ties and fearful looking forward, that Richard and Katherine Hyde came, from the idyllic peace and beauty of their Norfolk house. But there was something in it that fitted Hyde"s real disposition. He was a natural soldier, and he had arrived at the period of life when the mere show and pomp of the profession had lost all satisfying charm. He had found a quarrel worthy of his sword, one that had not only his deliberate approval, but his pa.s.sionate sympathy. In fact, his first blow for American independence had been struck in the duel with Lord Paget; for that quarrel, though nominally concerning Lady Suffolk, was grounded upon a dislike engendered by their antagonism regarding the government of the Colonies.
It was an exquisite April morning when they sailed up New York bay once more. Joris had been watching for the "Western Light;" and when she came to anchor at Murray"s Wharf, his was the foremost figure on it. He had grown a little stouter, but was still a splendid-looking man; he had grown a little older, but his tenderness for his daughter was still young and fresh and strong as ever. He took her in his arms, murmuring, "_Mijn Katrijntje, mijn Katrijntje! Ach, mijn kind, mijn kind!_"
Hyde had felt that there might be some embarra.s.sment in his own case, perhaps some explanation or acknowledgment to make; but Joris waved aside any speech like it. He gave Hyde both hands; he called him "_mijn zoon_;" he stooped, and put the little lad"s arms around his neck. In many a kind and delicate way he made them feel that all of the past was forgotten but its sweetness.
And surely that hour Lysbet had the reward of her faithful affection.
She had always admired Hyde; and she was proud and happy to have him in her home, and to have him call her mother. The little Joris took possession of her heart in a moment. Her Katherine was again at her side. She had felt the clasp of her hands; she had heard her whisper "_mijn moeder_" upon her lips.
They landed upon a Sat.u.r.day, upon one of those delightsome days that April frequently gives to New York. There was a fresh wind, full of the smell of the earth and the sea; an intensely blue sky, with flying battalions of white fleecy clouds across it; a glorious sunshine above everything. And people live, and live happily, even in the shadow of war. The stores were full of buyers and sellers. The doors and windows of the houses were open to the spring freshness. Lysbet had heard of their arrival, and was watching for them. Her hair was a little whiter, her figure a little stouter; but her face was fair and rosy, and sweet as ever.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Lysbet and Catherine were unpacking]
In a few hours things had fallen naturally and easily into place. Joris and Bram and Hyde sat talking of the formation of a regiment. Little Joris leaned on his grandfather"s shoulder listening. Lysbet and Katherine were busy unpacking trunks full of fineries and pretty things; occasionally stopping to give instructions to Dinorah, who was preparing an extra tea, as Batavius and Joanna were coming to spend the evening.
"And to the elder and Janet Semple I have sent a message, also," said Lysbet; "for I see not why anger should be nursed, or old friendships broken, for politics."
Katherine had asked at once, with eager love, for Joanna; she had expected that she would be waiting to welcome her. Lysbet smiled faintly at the supposition. "She has a large family, then, and Batavius, and her house. Seldom comes she here now."
But about four o"clock, as Katherine and Hyde were dressing, Joanna and Batavius and all their family arrived. In a moment, their presence seemed to diffuse itself through the house. There was a sense of confusion and unrest, and the loud crying of a hungry baby determined to be attended to. And Joanna was fulfilling this duty, when Katherine hastened to meet her. Wifehood and motherhood had greatly altered the slim, fair girl of ten years before. She had grown stout, and was untidy in her dress, and a worried, anxious expression was continually on her countenance. Batavius kept an eye on the children; there were five of them beside the baby,--fat, rosy, round-faced miniatures of himself, all having a fair share of his peculiar selfish traits, which each expressed after its individual fashion.
Hyde met his brother-in-law with a gentlemanly cordiality; and Batavius, who had told Joanna "he intended to put down a bit that insolent Englishman," was quite taken off his guard, and, ere he was aware of his submission, was smoking amicably with him, as they discussed the proposed military organization. Very soon Hyde asked Batavius, "If he were willing to join it?"
"When such a family a man has," he answered, waving his hand complacently toward the six children, "he must have some prudence and consideration. I had been well content with one child; but we must have our number, there is no remedy. And I am a householder, and I pay my way, and do my business. It is a fixed principle with me not to meddle with the business of other people."
"But, sir, this is your business, and your children"s business also."
"I think, then, that it is King George"s business."
"It is liberty"--
"Well, then, I have my liberty. I have liberty to buy and to sell, to go to my own kirk, to sail the "Great Christopher" when and where I will.
My house, my wife, my little children, n.o.body has touched."
"Pray, sir, what of your rights? your honour?"
"Oh, indeed, then, for ideas I quarrel not! Facts, they are different.
Every man has his own creed, and every man his own liberty, so say I.--Come here, Alida," and he waved his hand imperiously to a little woman of four years old, who was sulking at the window, "what"s the matter now? You have been crying again. I see that you have a discontented temper. There is a spot on your petticoat also, and your cap is awry. I fear that you will never become a neat, respectable girl--you that ought to set a good pattern to your little sister Femmetia."
Evidently he wished to turn the current of the conversation; but as soon as the child had been sent to her mother, Joris resumed it.
"If you go not yourself to the fight, Batavius, plenty of young men are there, longing to go, who have no arms and no clothes: send in your place one of them."
"It is my fixed principle not to meddle in the affairs of other people, and my principles are sacred to me."
"Batavius, you said not long ago that the colonists were leaving the old ship, and that the first in the new boat would have the choice of oars."
"Bram, that is the truth. I said not that I would choose any of the oars."