"Some among them have not yet glanced askance at you," remarked Lady Johnson, placid above her sewing.
"Do you mean those suckling babes in the orchard yonder? Oh, la! When the Major leaves, I shall choose the likeliest among "em to amuse me.
Not that I would cross Penelope," she added gaily, "or flout her. No.
But these boys perplex her. They are too ardent, and she too kind."
"What!" I exclaimed, feeling my face turn hot.
"Why, it is true enough," remarked Lady Johnson. "Yonder child has no experience, and is too tender at heart to resent a gallantry over-bold.
Which is why I keep my eye upon these youngsters that they make not a fool of a girl who is easily confused by flattery, and who remains silent when dusk and the fleeting moment offer opportunities to impudent young men, which they seldom fail to embrace."
"And seldom fail to embrace the lady, also," added Claudia, laughing.
"_You_ were different, Jack."
"I saw that ensign, Dudley, kiss her behind the lilacs," added Lady Johnson, "and the girl seemed dumb, and never even upbraided the little beast. Had she complained to me I should have made him certain observations, but could not while she herself remained mute. Because I do not choose to have anybody think I go about eavesdropping."
"Penelope Grant appears to find their company agreeable," said I, in a voice not like my own, but a dry and sullen voice such as I never before heard issue out o" my own mouth.
"Penelope likes men," observed Lady Johnson, sewing steadily upon her baby"s garments of fine linen.
"Penelope is not too averse to a stolen kiss, I fear," said Claudia, smiling. "Lord! Nor is any pretty woman, if only she admit the truth!
No! However, there is a certain shock in a kiss which silences maiden inexperience and sadly confuses the unaccustomed. Wait till the girl gains confidence to box some impertinent"s ear!"
I knew not why, yet never, I think, had any news sounded in my ears so distastefully as the news I now had of this girl, I remembered Nick"s comment,--"Like flies around a sap-pan." And it added nothing to my pleasure or content of mind to turn and gaze upon that disquieting scene in the orchard yonder.
For here, it seemed, was another Claudia in the making,--still unlearned in woman"s wiles; not yet equipped for those subtle coquetries and polished cruelties which destroy, yet naturally and innocently an enchantress of men. And some day to be conscious of her power, and certain to employ it!
Flora came, wearing a blue and orange bandanna, and the great gold hoops in her ears glittering in the sun.
Each day, now, it appeared, Lady Johnson retired for an hour"s repose whilst Claudia read to her; and that hour had arrived.
"You dine with us, of course," said Lady Johnson, going, and looking at me earnestly. Then there was a sudden flash of tears; but none fell.
"My dear, dear Jack," she murmured, as I laid my lips against both her hands.... And so she went into the house, Claudia lingering, having shamelessly pressed my hand, and a devil laughing at me out of her two eyes.
"Is there news of Sir John to comfort us?" she whispered, making a caress of her voice as she knew so well how to do.
"And if I have any, I may not tell you, Claudia," said I.
"Oh, la! Aid and comfort to the enemy? Is it that, Jack? And if you but wink me news that Sir John is safe?"
"I may not even wink," said I, smiling forlornly.
"Aye? So! That"s it, is it! A wink from you at me, and pouf!--a courtmartial! Bang! A squad of execution! Is that it, Jack?"
"I should deserve it."
"Lord! If men really got their deserts, procreation would cease, and the world, depopulated, revert to the forest beasts. Well, then--so Sir John is got away?"
"I did not say so."
"You wear upon your honest countenance all the news you contain, dear Jack," said she gaily. "It was always so; any woman may read you like a printed page--if she trouble to do it.... And so! Sir John is safe at last! Well, thank G.o.d for that.... You may kiss my cheek if you ask me."
She drew too near me, but I had no mind for more trouble than now possessed me, so let her pretty hand lie lightly on my arm, and endured the melting danger of her gaze.
She said, while the smile died on her lips, "I jest with you, Jack. But you _are_ dear to me."
"Dear as any trophy," said I. "No woman ever willingly lets any victim entirely escape."
"You do not guess what you could do with me--if you would," she said.
"No. But I guess what you could do to me, again, if you had an opportunity."
"Jack!" she sighed, looking up at me.
But the gentle protest alarmed me. And she was too near me; and the fresh scent of her hair and skin were troubling me.
And, more than that, there persisted a dull soreness in my breast,--something that had hurt me unperceived--an unease which was not pain, yet, at times, seemed to start a faint, sick throbbing like a wound.
Perhaps I a.s.sumed that it came from some old memory of her unkindness; I do not remember now, only that I seemed to have no mind to stir up dying embers. And so, looked at her without any belief in my gaze.
There was a silence, then a bright flush stained her face, and she laughed, but as though unnerved, and drew her hand from my arm.
"If you think all the peril between us twain is yours alone, Jack Drogue," she said, "you are a very dolt. And I think you _are_ one!"
And turned her back and walked swiftly into the house.
I took my rifle from where it stood against a veranda post, settled my war-belt, with its sheathed knife and hatchet, readjusted powder-horn and bullet pouch, and, picking up my cap of silver mole-skin, went out into the orchard.
Behind me padded my Saguenay in his new paint, his hooped scalps swinging from his cincture, and the old trade-rifle covered carefully by his blanket, except the battered muzzle which stuck out.
I walked leisurely; my heart was unsteady, my mind confused, my features, unless perhaps expressionless, were very likely grim.
I went straight to the group around the twisted apple-tree, where Penelope sat knitting, and politely made myself a part of that same group, giving courteous notice by my att.i.tude and presence, that I, also, had a right to be there as well as they.
All were monstrous civil; some offered snuff; some a pipe and pouch; and a friendly captain man engaged me in conversation--gossip of Johnstown and the Valley--so that, without any awkwardness, the gay and general chatter around the girl suffered but a moment"s pause.
The young officer who had writ verses, now read them aloud amid lively approbation and some sly jesting:
IN PRAISE
"Flavilla"s hair, Beyond compare, Like sunshine brightens all the earth!
Old Sol, beware!
She cheats you, there, And robs your rays of all their worth!
"Impotent blaze!