Mr. Hale went on. 'He came to offer any assistance in his power,

I believe. But I could not see him. I told Dixon to ask him if he

would like to see you--I think I asked her to find you, and you

would go to him. I don't know what I said.' 'He has been a very agreeable acquaintance, has he not?' asked

Frederick, throwing the question like a ball for any one to catch

who chose.

'A very kind friend,' said Margaret, when her father did not

answer.

Frederick was silent for a time. At last he spoke: 'Margaret, it is painful to think I can never thank those who

have shown you kindness. Your acquaintances and mine must be

separate. Unless, indeed, I run the chances of a court-martial,

or unless you and my father would come to Spain.' He threw out

this last suggestion as a kind of feeler; and then suddenly made

the plunge. 'You don't know how I wish you would. I have a good

position--the chance of a better,' continued he, reddening like a

girl. 'That Dolores Barbour that I was telling you of,

Margaret--I only wish you knew her; I am sure you would like--no,

love is the right word, like is so poor--you would love her,

father, if you knew her. She is not eighteen; but if she is in

the same mind another year, she is to be my wife. Mr. Barbour

won't let us call it an engagement. But if you would come, you

would find friends everywhere, besides Dolores. Think of it,

father. Margaret, be on my side.' 'No--no more removals for me,' said Mr. Hale. 'One removal has

cost me my wife. No more removals in this life. She will be here;

and here will I stay out my appointed time.' 'Oh, Frederick,' said Margaret, 'tell us more about her. I never

thought of this; but I am so glad. You will have some one to love

and care for you out there. Tell us all about it.' 'In the first place, she is a Roman Catholic. That's the only

objection I anticipated. But my father's change of opinion--nay,

Margaret, don't sigh.' Margaret had reason to sigh a little more before the conversation

ended. Frederick himself was Roman Catholic in fact, though not

in profession as yet. This was, then, the reason why his sympathy

in her extreme distress at her father's leaving the Church had

been so faintly expressed in his letters. She had thought it was

the carelessness of a sailor; but the truth was, that even then

he was himself inclined to give up the form of religion into

which he had been baptised, only that his opinions were tending

in exactly the opposite direction to those of his father. How

much love had to do with this change not even Frederick himself

could have told. Margaret gave up talking about this branch of

the subject at last; and, returning to the fact of the

engagement, she began to consider it in some fresh light: 'But for her sake, Fred, you surely will try and clear yourself

of the exaggerated charges brought against you, even if the

charge of mutiny itself be true. If there were to be a

court-martial, and you could find your witnesses, you might, at

any rate, show how your disobedience to authority was because

that authority was unworthily exercised.' Mr. Hale roused himself up to listen to his son's answer.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024