"Well, well, it is honorable at least to serve your country," said

Herbert, soothingly.

"If a foreign foe invaded her shores, yes; but what had I to do with

invading another's country?--enlisting for a war of the rights and

wrongs of which I know no more than anybody else does? Growing

impatient because fortune did not at once empty her cornucopia upon my

head! Oh, fool!"

"You blame yourself too severely, Traverse. Your act was natural enough

and justifiable enough, much as it is to be regretted," said Herbert,

cheerfully.

"Come, come, sit on this plank bench beside me--if you are not ashamed

to be seen with a private who is also a donkey--and tell me all about

it. Show me the full measure of the happiness I have so recklessly

squandered away," exclaimed Traverse, desperately.

"I will sit beside you and tell you everything you wish to know, on

condition that you stop berating yourself in a manner that fills me

with indignation," replied Herbert, as they went to a distant part of

the dusty enclosure and took their seats upon a rude bench.

"Oh, Herbert, bear with me; I could dash my wild, impatient head

against a stone wall!"

"That would not be likely to clear or strengthen your brains," said

Herbert, who thereupon commenced and told Traverse the whole history of

the persecution of Clara Day at the Hidden House; the interception of

her letters; the attempt made to force her into a marriage with Craven

Le Noir; her deliverance from her enemies by the address and courage of

Capitola; her flight to Staunton and refuge with Mrs. Rocke; her appeal

to the court, and finally her success and her settlement under the

charge of her matronly friend at Willow Heights.

Traverse had not listened patiently to this account. He heard it with

many bursts of irrepressible indignation and many involuntary starts of

wild passion. Toward the last he sprang up and walked up and down,

chafing like an angry lion in his cage.

"And this man," he exclaimed, as Herbert concluded; "this demon! this

beast! is now our commanding officer--the colonel of our regiment."

"Yes," replied Herbert, "but as such you must not call him names;

military rules are despotic; and this man, who knows your person and

knows you to be the betrothed of Clara Day, whose hand and fortune he

covets for his son, will leave no power with which his command invests

him untried to ruin and destroy you! Traverse, I say these things to

you that being 'forewarned' you maybe 'forearmed.' I trust that you

will remember your mother and your betrothed, and for their dear sakes

practise every sort of self-control, patience and forbearance under the

provocations you may receive from our colonel. And in advising you to

do this I only counsel that which I shall myself practise. I, too, am

under the ban of Le Noir for the part I played in the church in

succoring Capitola, as well as for happening to be 'the nephew of my

uncle,' Major Warfield, who is his mortal enemy."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024