"Yes, I can."
In the evening Phyllis called on the Bishop again. He was walking in his garden enjoying the cool breeze, and when he saw her carriage he went to meet her. A glance into her face was sufficient. He led her into the little parlor under the fig-tree. "So you are in trouble, Phyllis?"
"Yes, father. The conversation you advised had unfortunately taken place before I got an opportunity to speak to John. There has been a quarrel."
"What was said?"
"I scarcely know how the conversation began; but Richard told John, that people were talking about his intimacy with me; and that, as marriage was impossible between us, the intimacy must cease."
"What else?"
"I do not know; many hard things were said on both sides, and John went away in a pa.s.sion."
"Go home and see your brother, and make some concessions to his claim upon your love. Tell him that you will not marry John for two years; that will give John time to prepare in some measure for your comfort.
Promise in addition any thing that is reasonable. I fear Richard"s temper, but I fear John"s more; for the anger of a patient man is a deep anger, and John has been patient, very. Don"t you be impatient, Phyllis. Wait for time to carry you over the stream, and don"t fling yourself into the flood, and perish."
"Two years!"
"But reflect--a quarrel becomes a duel here very readily--dare you provoke such a possibility?"
"Dear father, pray for me."
"I will. Trust G.o.d, and every rod shall blossom for you. Be patient and prudent. Birds build their nests before they mate, and love needs the consecration of a home. Tell John to make one for you, and then to come and speak to Richard again. I don"t say, wait for riches; but I do say, wait for comforts. Comforts keep men innocent, bind them to virtue by the strong cords of friends, families, homes, and the kindnesses of kindred."
But when Phyllis arrived at home Richard was not there. He had gone to the plantation, and left word for his sister that he might not return until late the following day. Phyllis was very wretched. She could hardly trust the message. It was possible that Richard had considered flight from temptation the wisest course, and that he expected John would leave during his absence. On the other hand, it was just as likely that John would not leave, and that the quarrel would be renewed at the hotel, or upon the street, under circ.u.mstances where every influence would be against the young men.
She was sure that if she had John"s promise to keep peace with Richard, that he would not break it; but she did not know whether he was still in the village or had gone away altogether. If the latter, she would certainly receive some message from him; and, if no message came, she must conclude that he was waiting for an opportunity to see her.
Harriet was sure that he was at the village "hotel." "Dime done seen him thar," she said, positively, "and Ma.s.s"r John no sich fool as go "way widout talkin" up for himself. I was "stonished dis afternoon, Miss Phill, he took Ma.s.s"r Richard"s worryin" dat quiet-like; but I could see de bearin"s ob things mighty plain."
"You heard the quarrel, then, Harriet?"
"Couldn"t help hearin" ob it, Miss Phill, no way; "case I right thar.
I was in de dinin"-room fixin" up de clean window curtains, and de young gen"lemen were on de p"azza. Ca.s.sie never do fix de curtains right; she"s not got de hang ob dem, Miss Phill; so I jist made up my mind to do "em myself; and while I was busy as a honey-bee "bout dem, Ma.s.s"r Richard, he walk proud-like up to Ma.s.s"r John, and say, "he want to speak a few words wid him." Den I kind ob open my ears, case, Miss Phill, when gen"lemen want to "say a few words," dey"re most ob de time onpleasant ones."
"Did Master John answer?"
"He looked kind ob "up-head," and says he, "Dat all right. I"se nothin"
"gainst you sayin" dem." So Ma.s.s"r Richard he tell him dat he hear some talk down town, and dat he won"t have you talked "bout, and dat as thar was to be no marryin" "tween you two, Ma.s.s"r John better go "way." "Did Master Richard say "go away," Harriet?"
"Dat"s jist what he say--"go "way," and Ma.s.s"r John he flash up like, and say, he sorry to be turn"d out ob de ole home, and dat he"ll go as soon as he see you. Den Ma.s.s"r Richard, he git up in one ob his white-hot still tempers, and he say, "No gen"lemen need more "an one word;" and Ma.s.s"r John say, "No gen"leman eber say dat one word;"
and Ma.s.s"r Richard say, "Sir, you in my house, and you "sume on dat position;" and Ma.s.s"r John say he "mighty soon be in some oder house, and den Ma.s.s"r Richard not hab sich "cuse;" and, wid dat, he stamp his foot, and walk off like both sides ob de argument "long to him."
"Then what, Harriet?"
"Ma.s.s"r Richard tear roun" to de stables, and he tole Moke to saddle up Prince, and whilst de poor boy doin" his best, he storm roun" at dis thing and dat thing, till Prince work himself up in a fury, too, and I "spects dey"s both tired out by dis time. Prince he jist reared and kicked and foamed at de mouth, and did all de debil"s own horse could do to fling Ma.s.s"r Richard, and Ma.s.s"r Richard, he de whitest white man any body eber seen. Ki! but de whip come down steady, Miss Phill."
"O, Harriet, how wretched you do make me."
"Dar isn"t a bit need to worry, Miss Phill. Prince done tried himself wid Ma.s.s"r Richard "fore dis, and he allus come in de stable meek as a lamb. When Ma.s.s"r Richard"s got dat dumb debil in him, he"d ride a ragin" lion, and bring him home like a lamb."
"It"s not that, Harriet; it"s not that. But if he meet Master John there will be trouble--and O, the sin of it."
"Dat am true as preachin", Miss Phill."
"If I could only see John Millard."
"I"ll mighty soon go for him, ef you say so."
"No; that will not do."
For Phyllis was aware that such a messenger would only make more trouble. Harriet was known to be her maid, and John was known to be her lover. To do anything which would give cause for ill-natured remarks was to find Richard the excuse which would permit him active interference. "I must avoid the appearance of evil," she said, anxiously. "What must I do?"
"Clar" I don"t know, Miss Phill. "Pears like you"se on a bery dangerous road. I reckon you"d best pray for de grace to choose de cleanest, safest steppin"-stones."
"Yes; that is best, Harriet."
But Phyllis was not one of those rash beings who rush into the presence of G.o.d without thought or solemnity. Slowly bending, body and soul, she communed with her own heart and was still, until it burned within her, and the supplication came. When she rose from her knees, she was resigned in all things to G.o.d"s will, no matter what self-denial it involved; and she was not unhappy. For, O believe this truth, the saddest thing under the sky is a soul incapable of sadness! Most blessed are those souls who are capable of lodging so great a guest as Sorrow, who know how to regret, and how to desire, and who have learned that with renunciation life begins.
And Phyllis foresaw that renunciation would be the price of peace.
At the commencement of the inquiry with her own soul she had refused to entertain the idea. She had tried to find reasons for seeking some other human adviser than Bishop Elliott, because she feared that he would counsel hard things to her. Ere she slept, however, she had determined to go to him very early in the morning.
But while she was drinking her coffee John Millard entered the room.
He took her hands, and, looking sorrowfully into her face, said, "Phyllis, my dearest, it was not my fault."
"I believe you, John."
"And you love me, Phyllis?"
"I shall always love you, for I believe you will always try to deserve my love. But we must part at present. I was just going to ask the Bishop to tell you this. I can trust you, John, and you can trust me.
He will tell you what you ought to do. And don"t think hard of me if I say "good-bye" now; for though Richard went to the plantation last night, he may be back any hour, and for my sake you must avoid him."
"Phyllis; you are asking a very hard thing. Richard has said words which I can scarcely ignore. Two or three men have inquired if I was going to put up with them?"
"What kind of men?"
"Captain Lefferts and Jim Wade and--"
"Nay, you need say no more. Will you sacrifice my happiness to the opinion of Captain Lefferts and Jim Wade? Are you their slave? Richard is not himself now; if you permit him to force a fight upon you, you will both sorrow for it all your lives."
"I will go and see the Bishop, and do whatever he tells me. If I need a defender from ill words--"
"You may safely leave your good name in his care, John. And who would dare to dispute a word he said? Dear John, I knew I could trust you.
Goodbye, my love!"
He drew her to his breast and kissed her, and with a look of fervent, sorrowful love, was leaving the room, when Richard entered by another door. He intercepted the glance, and returned it to John with one of contemptuous defiant anger. It did not help to soothe Richard that John looked unusually handsome. There was a fire and persuasion in his face, a tenderness and grace in his manner, that was very irritating, and Richard could neither control his hands nor his tongue.
He began at once to feel for his pistol. "Why is John Millard here?" he asked of Phyllis. "Answer me that."