Cap went up to him and said, in a consoling voice: "Come, thank heaven that you are not going to die this bout! I'm glad

you repented and told the truth; and I hope you may live long enough to

offer heaven a truer repentance than that which is the mere effect of

fright! For I tell you plainly that if it had not been for the grace of

the Lord, acting upon my heart last night, your soul might have been in

Hades now!"

Craven Le Noir shut his eyes, groaned and fell back overpowered by the

reflection.

"Now, please your worship, may I go home?" asked Cap, demurely, popping

down a mock courtesy to the magistrate.

"Yes--go! go! go! go! go!" said that officer, with an expression as

though he considered our Cap an individual of the animal kingdom whom

neither Buffon nor any other natural philosopher had ever classified,

and who, as a creature of unknown habits, might sometimes be dangerous.

Cap immediately availed herself of the permission, and went out to look

for her servant and horses.

But Jem, the first moment he had found himself unwatched, had put out

as fast as he could fly to Hurricane Hall, to inform Major Warfield of

what had occurred.

And Capitola, after losing a great deal of time in looking for him,

mounted her horse and was just about to start, when who should ride up

in hot haste but Old Hurricane, attended by Wool.

"Stop there!" he shouted, as he saw Cap.

She obeyed, and he sprang from his horse with the agility of youth, and

helped her to descend from hers.

Then drawing her arm within his own, he led her into the parlor, and,

putting an unusual restraint upon himself, he ordered her to tell him

all about the affair.

Cap sat down and gave him the whole history from beginning to end.

Old Hurricane could not sit still to hear. He strode up and down the

room, striking his stick upon the floor, and uttering inarticulate

sounds of rage and defiance.

When Cap had finished her story he suddenly stopped before her, brought

down the point of his stick with a resounding thump upon the floor and

exclaimed: "Demmy, you New York newsboy! Will you never be a woman? Why the demon

didn't you tell me, sirrah? I would have called the fellow out and

chastised him to your heart's content! Hang it, miss, answer me and

say!"

"Because you are on the invalid list and I am in sound condition and

capable of taking my own part!" said Cap.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024