[figure description] Page 196.[end figure description]

The savour of preparation, which had been noticed
by Captain Lawton, began to increase vastly
within the walls of the Cottage—Certain sweet
smelling odours, that rose from the subterraneous
territories of Cæsar, gave to the trooper the
most pleasing assurance, that his olfactory nerves,
which on such occasions were as acute as his eyes
on others, had faithfully performed their duty;
and for the benefit of enjoying the passing sweets
as they arose, the dragoon so placed himself
at a window of the building, that not a vapour,
charged with the spices of the east, could exhale
on its passage to the clouds, without first giving
its incense, by way of tribute, to his nose.
Lawton, however, by no means indulged himself
in this comfortable arrangement without first
making such preparations, to do meet honour to
the feast, as his scanty wardrobe would allow.
The uniform of his corps was always a passport
to the proudest tables, and this, though somewhat
tarnished by faithful service and unceremonious
usage, was properly brushed and decked out for
the occasion. His head, which nature had marked
with the blackness of a crow, now shone with
the spotless whiteness of the dove; and his hand,

[figure description] Page 197.[end figure description]

that so well became, by its bony and gigantic frame,
the sabre it wielded so indiscreetly, peered from
beneath a ruffle with something like maiden delicacy.
The improvements of the dragoon went
no farther, excepting that his boots shone with
more than holiday splendor, and his spurs glittered
in the rays of the sun like worthy offspring of
the hills of Potosi.

Cæsar moved through the apartments with a
face charged with an importance, vastly exceeding
that which had accompanied him in his melancholy
task of the morning. The black had early
returned from the message on which he had been
despatched by the pedlar, and obedient to the
commands of his mistress, promptly appeared to
give his services, where his allegiance was due—
so serious, indeed, was his duty now becoming
that it was only by odd moments he was enabled
to impart to his sable brother, who had been sent
in attendance on Miss Singleton to the Locusts,
any portion of the wonderful incidents of the momentous
night he had so lately passed through.
By ingeniously using, however, such moments as
might be fairly thought his own, Cæsar communicated
so many of the heads of his tale, as served
to open the eyes of his visitor to a width that
justly entitled them to the significant appellative
of saucer. Indeed, to such a state of amazement
had the gusto for the marvellous conducted
the sable worthies, that Miss Peyton found it necessary
to interpose her authority, in order to
postpone the residue of the history to a more befitting
opportunity.

“Ah! Miss Jin'nett,” said Cæsar shaking his
head, and looking all that he expressed, “'twas
awful to see Johnny Birch walk on a feet, when
he lie dead.”

This concluded the conversation for the present,

[figure description] Page 198.[end figure description]

though the black promised himself, and actually
put in execution his intention of having many a
good gossip on the solemn subject hereafter.

The ghost thus happily laid, the department of
Miss Peyton throve with additional success, and
by the time the afternoon's sun had travelled a
two hours journey from the meridian, the formal
procession from the kitchen to the parlour commenced
under the auspices of Cæsar, who led the
van, supporting a turkey on the palms of his withered
hands with the dexterity of a balance master.

Next followed the servant of Captain Lawton,
bearing, as he marched stiffly and walking wide,
as if allowing room for his steed, a ham of true
Virginian flavour;—being a present from the spinster's
wealthy brother in Accomac. The supporter
of this savory dish kept his eye on his trust
with military precision, and by the time he reached
his destination it might be difficult to say which
contained the most juice, his mouth or the Accomac
bacon.

Third in the line was to be seen the valet of
Colonel Wellmere, who carried in either hand
chickens fricassied, and oyster pattys.

After him marched the attendant of Dr. Sitgreaves,
who had instinctively seized an enormous
tureen, as most resembling matters he understood;
and followed on in place, until the
steams of the soup so completely bedimmed the
spectacles he wore as a badge of office, that on
arriving at the scene of action, he was compelled
to deposite his freight on the floor until, by removing
the glasses, he could see his way through
the piles of reserved china and plate-warmers
in safety.

Next followed another trooper, whose duty it
was to attend on Captain Singleton; and as if

[figure description] Page 199.[end figure description]

apportioning his appetite to the feeble state of his
master, he had contented himself with conveying
a pair of ducks, roasted until their tempting fragrance
began to make him repent his demolishing
so lately, a breakfast that had been provided for his
master's sister, with another prepared for himself.

The white boy who belonged to the house
brought up the rear, groaning under the load of
sundry dishes of vegetables that the cook, by way
of climax, had unwittingly heaped on him.

But this was far from all of the preparations for
that day's feast. Cæsar no sooner deposited his
bird, which but the week before had been flying
amongst the highlands of Duchess, little dreaming
of so soon heading such a goodly assemblage, than
he turned mechanically on his heel, and took up his
line of march again for the kitchen. In this evolution
the black was imitated by his companions in
succession, and another procession to the parlour
followed in the same order. By this admirable
arrangement, whole flocks of pigeons, certain bevys
of quails, shoals of flat-fish, bass, and sundry
wood-cock, found their way into the presence of
the company above stairs.

A third attack brought suitable quantities of
potatoes, onions, beets, cold-slaw, rice, and all
the other minutiæ of a goodly dinner; and for a
time this completed the preparations.

The board now fairly groaned with American
profusion, and Cæsar, glancing his eye over the
show with a most approving conscience, after
moving every dish that had not been placed on the
table with his own hands, proceeded to acquaint
the mistress of the revels, that his task was happily
accomplished.

Some half hour before the martial array we
have just recorded took place, all the ladies had
disappeared, much in the same unaccountable

[figure description] Page 200.[end figure description]

manner that swallows flee the approach of winter.
But the spring-time of their return had arrived,
and the whole party were collected in an apartment
that, in consequence of its containing no
side-table, and being furnished with a chintz-covered
settee, was termed a withdrawing room.

The kind-hearted spinster had deemed the occasion
worthy, not only of extraordinary preparations
in the culinary department, but had seen proper
to deck her own person in garments suited to
the guests it was now her happiness to entertain.

On her head Miss Peyton wore a cap of exquisite
lawn, which was ornamented in front with a
broad border of lace, that spread from the face in
such a manner as to admit of a display of artificial
flowers, clustered in a tasteful group on the summit
of her fine forehead.

The colour of her hair was lost in the profusion
of powder with which it was covered; but a slight
curling of the extremities in some degree relieved
the formality of its starched arrangement, and gave
a look of feminine softness to the features.

Her dress was a rich, heavy silk of violet colour,
cut low around the bust, with a stomacher of
the same materials, that fitted close to the figure,
and exhibited the form, from the shoulders to the
waist, in its true proportions: below, the dress
was full, and sufficiently showed, that parsimony
in attire was not a foible of the day. A small
hoop displayed the beauty of the fabric to advantage,
and aided in giving majesty to the figure.

The tall stature of the spinster was heightened
by shoes of the same material with the dress,
whose heels added more than an inch to the liberality
of nature.

The sleeves were short and close to the limb,
until they fell off at the elbows in large ruffles,
that hung in rich profusion from the arm when

[figure description] Page 201.[end figure description]

extended; and duplicates and triplicates of lawn,
trimmed with Dresden lace, lent their aid in giving
delicacy to a hand and arm that yet retained their
whiteness and symmetry. A treble row of large
pearl closely encircled her throat, and a handkerchief
of lace partially concealed that part of
the person that the silk had left exposed, but which
the experience of forty years had warned Miss
Peyton should now be veiled.

Thus attired, and standing erect with the lofty
grace that distinguished the manners of that day,
the spinster would have looked into atoms a bevy
of modern belles.

The taste of Sarah had kept even pace with
the decorations of her aunt; and a dress, differing
in no respect from the one just described, but
in material and tints, exhibited her imposing form
to equal advantage. The satin of her robe was
of a pale blush colour. Twenty years did not,
however, require the skreen that was prudent in
forty, and nothing but an envious border of exquisite
lace hid, in some measure, what the satin left
exposed to the view. The upper part of the bust
and fine fall of the shoulders were blazing in all
their native beauty, and like the aunt, the throat
was ornamented by a treble row of pearl, to correspond
with which were rings of the same jewel
in the ears. The head was without a cap, and
the hair drawn up from the countenance so as to
give to the eye all the loveliness of a forehead
as polished as marble and as white as snow. A
few straggling curls fell gracefully in the neck,
and a bouquet of artificial flowers was also placed,
like a coronet, over her commanding brow.

Miss Singleton had yielded her brother to the
advice of Dr. Sitgreaves, who had succeeded in
getting his patient in a deep sleep after quieting
certain feverish symptoms that followed the

[figure description] Page 202.[end figure description]

agitation of the interview related. The sister was
persuaded by the observant mistress of the mansion
to make one of the party, and sat by the side
of Sarah; differing but little in appearance from
that lady, except in refusing the use of powder on
her raven locks, and that her unusually high forehead
and large and brilliant eye gave an expression
of thoughtfulness to her features, that
was possibly heightened by the paleness of her
cheek.

Last and least, but not the most unlovely in this
display of female charms, was the youngest daughter
of Mr. Wharton. Frances, we have already
mentioned, left the city before she had attained to
the age of fashionable womanhood. A few adventurous
spirits were already beginning to make
inroads in the barriers which custom had so long
drawn around the comforts of the fair sex; and
the maid had so far ventured in imitation, as to
trust her beauty to the height which nature had
given her. This was but little, but that little was
a master-piece. Frances several times had determined,
in the course of the morning, to bestow
more than usual pains in the decoration of her
person. Each time in succession, as she formed
this resolution, she spent a few minutes in looking
earnestly towards the north, and then she as invariably
changed it.

At the appointed hour, the maid appeared in the
drawing room, clothed in a vestment of pale blue
silk, of a cut and fashion much like that worn by her
sister. Her hair was left to the wild curls of nature,
its exuberance being confined to the crown of her
head by a long, low comb made of light tortoise
shell; a colour barely distinguishable in the golden
hue of her tresses. Her dress was without a plait
or a wrinkle, and fitted the form with an exactitude
that might lead one to imagine the arch girl

[figure description] Page 203.[end figure description]

more than suspected the beauties it displayed. A
tucker of rich Dresden lace softened the contour
of the figure. Her head was without ornament;
but around her throat was a necklace of gold
clasped in front with a rich cornelian.

Dr. Sitgreaves was a mineralogist among his
other qualities, and during the day he ventured a
remark on the beauty of the stone; and for a long
time the simple operator was at a loss to conjecture
what there was in the observation to call the
blood so tumultuously to the face of the maiden.
His surprise might haply have continued to the
hour of his death, had not Lawton kindly intimated
that it was indignation at his overlooking
the object on which the bauble reposed. The gloves
of kid which concealed the hands and part of the
arm, leaving enough of the latter in sight, however,
to proclaim its fair proportions, indicated
that there was no one present to tempt the flattering,
and perhaps unconscious display, of womanly
power.

Once, and once only, as they moved towards
the repast prepared with so much judgment and
skill by Cæsar, did Lawton see a foot thrust itself
from beneath the folds of her robe, and exhibit
its little beauties encased in a slipper of blue silk,
clasped close to the shape by a buckle of brilliants.
The trooper caught himself sighing as he
thought, though it was good for nothing in the stirrup,
how enchantingly it would grace a minuet.

As the black appeared on the threshold of the
room making a low reverence, which has been interpreted
for some centuries into “dinner waits,”
Mr. Wharton, clad in a dress of drab, and loaded
with enormous buttons, advanced formally to
Miss Singleton, and bending his powdered head to
near the level of the hand he extended, received
her's in return.

[figure description] Page 204.[end figure description]

Dr. Sitgreaves offered the same homage to Miss
Peyton, and met with equal favor; the lady first
pausing, with stately grace, to draw on her gloves.

Colonel Wellmere was honoured with a smile
from Sarah while performing a similar duty; and
Frances gave the ends of her taper fingers to Captain
Lawton with a manner, that said so much to
the corps, and so little to the man.

Much time, and some trouble was expended before
the whole party were, to the great joy of Cæsar,
comfortably arranged around the table with
proper attention to all points of etiquette and
precedence. The black well knew the viands
were getting cold, and felt his honour concerned
in the event.

For the first ten minutes all but the captain
of dragoons found themselves in a situation
much to their liking; but he felt himself a little
soured at the multiplicity of the questions and offers
of the host, which were meant to be conducive
to his enjoyments, but which in truth had an exactly
contrary effect. The captain could not eat
and answer in a breath, and the demands for the
latter somewhat interfered with the execution of
the former.

Next came the drinking with the ladies; but as
the wine was excellent, and the glasses of very
ample size, the trooper bore this interruption with
consummate good nature. Nay, so fearful was he
of giving offence, and omitting any of the nicer
points of punctilio, that having commenced this
courtesy with the lady who sat next him, he persevered
until not one of his fair companions could,
with justice, reproach him with partiality in this
particular.

His long abstemiousness from any thing like
generous wine might plead the excuse of Captain
Lawton, especially when exposed to so strong a

[figure description] Page 205.[end figure description]

temptation as was now before him. Mr. Wharton
had been one of a set of politicians in New-York,
whose principal exploits, before the war,
had been to assemble, and pass sage opinions on
the signs of the times, under the inspiration of
certain liquors which were made from a grape
that grew on the south side of the island of Madeira,
and found its way into the colonies of North
America by the way of the West Indies, sojourning
awhile in the Western Archipelago, by way
of trying the virtues of the climate. A large supply
of this cordial had been drawn from his store-house
in the city, and some of it now sparkled in
a bottle before the captain, blushing luxuriantly
in the rays of the sun, which were passing
obliquely through it.

If the meat and vegetables had made their entrance
with perfect order and propriety, their
exeunt was effected with far less. The point was
to clear the board something after the fabled tale
of the harpies, and by dint of scrabbling, tossing,
breaking, and spilling, the overflowing remnants
of the repast vanished from the room. And now
another series of processions commenced, by virtue
of which a goodly display of pasty with its
usual accompaniments, garnished the table.

Mr. Wharton poured out a glass of wine for the
lady who sat on his right hand, and pushing the
bottle to a guest, said, with a low bow—

“We are to be honoured with a toast from Miss
Singleton.”

Although there was nothing more in this movement
than occurred every day on such occasions,
yet the lady trembled, coloured, and grew
pale again, seemingly endeavouring to rally her
thoughts, until by her agitation she had excited
the interest of the whole party; when, by an

[figure description] Page 206.[end figure description]

effort, and in a manner as if she had strived in
vain to think of another, Isabella said faintly—

“Major Dunwoodie.”

The health was drank cheerfully by all but
Colonel Wellmere, who wet his lips, and drew
figures on the table with some of the liquor he
had spilt; and Frances thought deeply on the
manner of doing, what in itself would have excited
no suspicions.

At length Colonel Wellmere broke silence by
saying aloud to Captain Lawton—

“I suppose, sir, this Mr. Dunwoodie will receive
promotion in the rebel army, for the advantage
my misfortune gave him over my command.”

The trooper had supplied the wants of nature
to his perfect satisfaction; and perhaps, with the
exception of Washington and his immediate commander,
there was no mortal whose displeasure
he regarded a tittle: he was free to converse or
to fight; to him it mattered nought. First helping
himself, therefore, to a little of his favorite
bottle, he replied with admirable coolness—

“Colonel Wellmere, your pardon—Major Dunwoodie
owes his allegiance to the confederated
states of North America, and where he owes it he
pays it, and is no rebel; promoted I hope he may
be, both because he deserves it, and I am next in
rank in the corps; and I know not what you call
a misfortune, unless you deem meeting the Virginia
horse as such.”

“We will not differ about terms, sir” said the
colonel haughtily; “I spoke as duty to my sovereign
prompted; but do you not call the loss of a
commander a misfortune to a party?”

“It certainly may be so,” said the trooper with
great emphasis.

“Miss Peyton, will you favor us with a toast?”
cried the master of the house, anxious to stop a

[figure description] Page 207.[end figure description]

dialogue in which he might be called on for an
opinion.

The spinster bowed her head with infinite dignity
as she named “General Montrose;” and her
nephew smiled as he noticed the long absent
bloom stealing lightly over her fine features.

“There is no term more doubtful than that
word misfortune,” said the surgeon, regardless of
the nice manœuvres of the host: “some deem
one thing a misfortune, others its opposite: misfortune
begets misfortune: life is a misfortune;
for it may be the means of enduring misfortune;
and death is a misfortune, as it abridges the enjoyments
of life.”

“It is a misfortune that our mess has no such
wine as this,” interrupted the trooper abruptly,
and laying in a stock to supply the deficiency.

“We will pledge you a sentiment in it, sir, as
it seems to suit your taste,” said Mr. Wharton, still
uncertain what would be the termination of all
these misfortunes.

Filling to the brim, Lawton said, looking hard
at the English colonel—“a clear field and no favor.”

“I drink your toast, Captain Lawton,” said
the surgeon gravely; “inasmuch as courtesy requires
no less at my hands; but I wish never to
see your troop nearer to an enemy than long pistol-shot.”

“Let me tell you, Mr. Archibald Sitgreaves,”
said the dragoon hastily, “that's a damned unneighbourly
wish.”

The ladies bridled, and Miss Peyton made a
motion to withdraw, which was instantly obeyed
by her fair bevy of juniors.

The suddenness of the movement somewhat
appalled the trooper, and he stammered out an
apology to Frances, who stood next him, which

[figure description] Page 208.[end figure description]

the laughing maid received very good-naturedly
out of regard to the coat he wore, although she
knew it would afford matter of triumph to her sister
for a month to come.

“'Tis unneighbourly to wish a man at such a
distance from his friends,” said the captain good-humouredly,
in a manner that spoke his willingness
to atone; it was, however, too late, and the
ladies retired with much dignity amidst the bows
and compliments of all but the chop-fallen dragoon.
The discomfiture produced an utter stagnation
in the thoughts of the trooper; and Mr.
Wharton, making a profusion of apologies to his
guests, arose and left the room, followed by his
son, and together both quitted the house. The
retreat of the ladies was the signal for the appearance
of the surgeon's segar box, which, having
comfortably established it in a corner of his mouth
in a certain knowing way, caused not the slighest
interruption to the following discourse—

“If any thing can sweeten captivity and wounds,
it must be the happiness of suffering in the society
of the ladies who have left us,” said the colonel
gallantly, feeling something of the kind due to the
hospitality he experienced, and, perhaps, also,
moved by a softer sentiment.

The doctor cast a glance of silent observation
on the black scarf around the neck of the Englishman,
and knocking the ashes from his segar with
his little finger, in the manner of an adept, replied—

“Sympathy and kindness have, doubtless, their
genial influence on the human system. The connexion
is intimate between the moral and physical
feelings; but still, to accomplish a cure, and
restore nature to the healthy tone it has lost from
disease or accident, requires more than can flow
from unguided sympathies. In such cases, the

[figure description] Page 209.[end figure description]

lights”—the surgeon accidentally caught the eye
of the trooper, which was fast regaining its complacency—
taking two or three hasty puffs in huge
disdain, he essayed to finish the sentence—“yes,
in such cases, the knowledge that flows from the—
the lights.”

“You were saying, sir,” said Colonel Wellmere,
sipping his wine.

“Yes, sir,” said the operator, turning his back
abruptly on Lawton; “I was saying that a bread
poultice would not set a broken arm.”

“More is the pity,” cried the trooper, venturing
again to trust the sound of his own voice.

“Now, Colonel Wellmere, to you, as a man of
education,” said the surgeon with great earnestness,
“I can with safety appeal.” The Colonel
bowed complacently. “You must have noticed
the dreadful havoc made in your ranks by the
men who were led by this gentleman;” the colonel
looked grave again; “how when blows lighted
on their frames, life was invariably extinguished
beyond all hope of scientific reparation—how certain
yawning wounds were inflicted, that must prove
fatal to the art of the most experienced practitioner;
now, sir, to you I triumphantly appeal, to
know whether your detachment would not have
been as effectually defeated, if the men had all
lost a right arm for instance, as if they had all lost
their heads.”

“The triumph of your appeal is somewhat
hasty, sir,” said Wellmere, nettled at the unfortunate
conjunction of terms in the doctor's question.

“Is the cause of liberty advanced a step by
such injudicious harshness in the field?” continued
the surgeon, disregarding the other's equivocation,
and bent on the favorite principle of his
life.

[figure description] Page 210.[end figure description]

“I am yet to learn that the cause of liberty is
in any manner advanced by the services of any
gentleman in the rebel army,” said the colonel
promptly.

“Not liberty,” said the appalled operator in
astonishment; “Good God, for what then are we
contending?”

“Slavery, sir; yes, even slavery,” cried the
Englishman with confidence in his infallibility—
“you are putting the tyranny of a mob on the
throne of a kind and lenient prince—where is the
consistency of your boasted liberty?”

“Consistency,” repeated the surgeon, looking
around him a little wildly at hearing such sweeping
charges against a cause he had so long thought
to be holy.

“Ay, sir, your consistency. Your congress of
sages have published a manifesto, wherein they
set forth the equality of political rights.”

“'Tis true, sir, and it is done most ably.”

“I say nothing of its ability; but if true, why
not set your slaves at liberty?” cried Wellmere,
in a tone that plainly showed he had transferred
the triumph to his own standard.

Every American feels humbled at the necessity
of vindicating his country from the inconsistency
and injustice of this practice; his emotions are
much like those of a man who is compelled to exonerate
himself from a disgraceful charge, although
he may know the accusation to be false.
At the bottom, Sitgreaves had much good sense,
and thus called on, he took up the cudgels of argument
in downright earnest.

“We deem it a liberty to have a voice in the
councils by which we are governed. We think it
a hardship to be ruled by a people who live at a
distance of three thousand miles from us, and who
cannot, and who do not, feel a single political

[figure description] Page 211.[end figure description]

interest in common with ourselves. I say nothing
of oppression; the child was of age, and was entitled
to the privileges of majority. In such cases,
there is but one tribunal to which to appeal for a
nation's rights—it is power, and we now make the
appeal.”

“Such doctrines may suit your present purposes,”
said Wellmere with a sneer of contempt;
“but I apprehend it is opposed to all the opinions
and practices of civilized nations.”

“It is in conformity with the practices of all
nations,” said the surgeon, returning the nod, and
drinking to Lawton, who enjoyed the good sense
of his comrade as much as he disliked what he
called “medical talk.” “Who would be ruled
when he can rule—the only rational ground to
take is, that every community has a right to govern
itself, so that in no manner it violates the laws of
God.”

“And is holding your fellow creatures in bondage,
in conformity to those laws?” asked the colonel
impressively.

The surgeon took another glass, and hemming
once, returned to the combat.

“Sir,” said he, “slavery is of very ancient origin,
and seems to have been confined to no particular
religion or form of government; every
nation of civilized Europe does, or has held their
fellow creatures in this kind of duresse.

“You will except Great Britain, sir,” cried the
colonel proudly.

“No, sir,” continued the surgeon confidently,
feeling that he was carrying the war out of his
own country; “I cannot except Great Britain.
It was her children, her ships, and her laws, that
first introduced the practice into these states; and
on her institutions the judgment must fall. It is
true, we continue the practice; but we must come

[figure description] Page 212.[end figure description]

gradually to the remedy, or create an evil greater
than that which we endure at present: doubtless,
as we advance, the manumission of our slaves will
accompany us, until happily these fair regions will
exist, without a single image of the creator that is
held in a state, which disqualifies him to judge of
that creator's goodness.”

It will be remembered that Doctor Sitgreaves
spoke forty years ago, and Wellmere was unable
to contradict his prophetic assertion.

Finding the subject exceeding his comprehension,
the Englishman retired to the apartment where
the ladies had assembled, and seated by the side
of Sarah and her aunt, found a more pleasing employment
in relating the events of fashionable life
in the metropolis, and recalling the thousand little
anecdotes of their former association. Miss Peyton
was a pleased listener, as she dispensed the
bounties of the tea-table with precise grace, and
Sarah frequently bowed her blushing countenance
to the needle work in her lap, as her face glowed
at the flattering remarks of her companion.

The dialogue we have related established a
perfect truce again between the surgeon and his
comrade, and the former having paid a visit to
Singleton, they took their leave of the ladies, and
mounted; the former to visit the wounded at the
encampment, and the latter to rejoin his troop.
But their movement was arrested at the gate by
an appearance, which we will relate in the succeeding
chapter.

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