The Chainbearer; Or, The Littlepage Manuscripts

s her so

lood look out; g

of curds a

er's

a separation of near two years. Kate laughed, and wept, and hugged me, just as she would have done five years earlier, though she was now a lovely young woman, turned of nineteen. As for aunt Mary, she shook hands, gave me a kind kiss or two, and smiled on me affectionately, in her own quiet, gentle manner. The house was in a

any me, having been at Satanstoe a day or two before; but my sister did. As the roads had been much neglected in the war, we went in the saddle, Kate being one of the most spirited horsewomen of my acquaintance. By this time, Jaap had got to be privileged, doing just such work as suited his fancy; or, it might b

dant with anything but a smile, or a welcome, let him come when and how he will? If there be not room, or preparation, the deficiencies must be made up in welcomes; or, when absolute impossibilities interpose, if they are not overcome by means of a quick invention, as most such "impossibilities" are, the truth is frankly told, and the pleasure is deferred to a more fortunate moment. It is not my intention to throw a vulgar and ignorant gi

, on a fine May

main, as so many landmarks in our history. These names are all that now remain among us of the monarchy; and yet have I heard my father say a hundred times, that when a young man, his reverence for the British throne was second only to his reverence for the Church. In how short a time has this feeling been changed thro

and our parents before us, from childhood. This loquacious housewife had her good and bad points, but habit had given her a sort of claim on our attentions, and I c

the instant she saw me-"I dreamt this no later than last w

rs. Light?" I asked, well knowing it was t

hat day; but you know, Mr. Mordaunt, or Major Littlepage, they tell me I ought now to call you-but you know, Mr. Mordaunt, how often reports turn out to

lying report to help

to suppose a body would believe 'em when asleep. Yes, Jaaf stopped a minute to water his horse this morning,

Light, as I supposed you always exc

I keep 'em all at a distance. Well, the times that I have seen, major, since you went off to the wars! and the changes

part of the Church of God, I trus

s spent more freely, and paid in better money, than the continental gentlemen. I've h

nd had more money than our people. It

ily long afore you knowed it yourselves. I know'd old Captain Hugh Roger, your great-grand'ther, and the old general, your grand'ther, and now I know the young general, and you! Well, this w

d. The name of Bayard was well known among us, belonging to a family of which there were several branches spread through the Middle States, as far south as Delaware; but I did not happen to know a single individual of them all. What,

tly commenced, "by saying there would now be l

her own meaning half the time. All the Bayards we know are the family at the Hick

at it belongs to some of the Bayards; but I never heard of any intimacy. On the contrary, I remember to have heard that there was

other says it all arose from a mis

it is peace, let us have peace; though old ene

settled just before he went to Europe, on his unfortunate visit to Sir Harry Bulstrode. No-no-my mother wi

l was flushed, and I fancy she had a secret consciousness of the fact; for she turned it from me a

it would have been awkward not to have known it, had I accidentally met with one of t

to tell me that I was to consider m

those of the name who

his especially peaceful bre

heavy demand on your affections. Your heart

accept as many friends as you please, but have place

not true, Mordaunt. One pl

brother you will one day give me. Well, name him, as s

neke has given you a brother already, and a very excellen

mind in the end. The sooner you tell me who the youth is, therefore, the sooner I shal

oses of her cheeks expand until they covered her temples. The little beaver she wore, and which became her amazingly, did not suffice to conceal these blushes, and I now really began to s

ill be a respectable man, if not absolutely without reproach," she answere

there is to be any, being altogether ex officio, as one may say, and coming as a matter of course; but you will e

and I fancied she looked gratifie

r-Priscilla Bayard can bea

llude to Miss Priscilla, by saying there would b

Mrs. Light's conceits. Put your

een the people of the 'Bush

exceedingly; and I

d to the young folk, or i

intain the said intimacy. As there is nothing to be ashamed of, however, but, on the contrary, much of which o

ike old Mr

zing

d Mrs.

le person, and an exce

love Pris

e eye," the girl ans

Tom Bayard,

n to like the brother of another young woman, whom

ale blood always to remain stationary. She was surprisingly beautiful in her blushes, and as much like what I had often fancied my dear moth

of the Hickories, at my return? Are you the betrothed of Tom Bayar

s, you cannot expect me to explain them. She gets her reports from servants, and others of that class, and you know what such reports are usually worth. But,

ot have spoken, and did not speak, until we had ridden some distance. Af

ou will ever be very dear to me; and I own I should be hurt to be one of the last to learn your en

oments of my life, Mordaunt, when I coul

se when I put this feeling in connection with the landlady's remarks, and began to suspect there might be something beh

is Miss Bayar

my senior-very su

ference, which will do very

ducated during the revolution, can boast of much in

class, you me

n most young ladies o

he am

eke, he

appens in families, being its paragon in the way of all the

nd one few girls could sustain. I

excellent mother, Mordaunt; and I have heard you say, often, that

more at the young than at the old women. But, why a wife? Is it all settled between the ol

her heart, but I fanci

mpact between you and me to treat each other frankly on all occasions. This is one on which I esp

and myself, more than by falling in love with Pris Bayard. We all love her ourselves, and we wish you to be of the party, knowing that your love would probably lead to a connection we should all like, more than I can express. Ther

my case no effect, good or bad, will be produc

subject; and, as none of them know you, it is im-that is, no allusion-I mean-certainly not

and to your

sis. "Such a subject could ne

between the old ladies-t

nd mamma has an extreme sense of propriety, as you know y

k of contracting me, wh

such things. Ever since his return home, he ha

as not found words f

wn. Do you know, Mordaunt, that mamma has told me the whole of her story lately, and the reaso

other, nor aunt Mary, has made the allusion on our side, and neither Mr. Bayard, his wife, nor daughter, has been the party to whom the allusion h

an unkind feeling, that has ever passed, or indeed existed, between us. A finer study than the face of my sister offered for the next minute, was never presented to the eye of man; and I enjoyed it so much the more, from a strong conviction that, while so deeply confused, she was not unhappy. Native ingenuousness, maiden modesty, her habit of frank dealing with me, and a wish to continue so to deal, were all struggling together in her fine

interest, for I had supposed my mother would save me the confusion of telling it to you; but, now, there is n

my dear sister, is to say that

and my answer is deferred until you have met him. I would n

repay it, in kind. Depend on it, you shall know, in prope

only brother, and of a mere girl, who ought to place much dep

self, and competent to give good counsel from your own experience. To return

t," answered Kat

e the person

ng hope that you would see Priscilla with the eyes with which, I c

cause Tom Bayard to hang himself, if

her! I am sure I do

ey to the brother of the young lady, since he must have seen you were willi

by means of her wish of marrying me to her suitor's sister had been given Master Tom, and that my disapproval of the gentleman would cause her more concer

young man and paragon young wom

alled him by no such name; Tom Bayard is a good fellow

fellow in the bargain,

are yourself, if that w

a quarter; my question is sti

Pris at Satanstoe, to dine with my grandmother. She wrote me word, a day

ds to marry me, will ye, nill ye? I had thou

the visit, I had only accidentally favored a project of others. The conversation now changed, and for sever

discharged his commission of an avant-courier. From Kate's remark I had discovered we had been invited by letter to take this excursion, though the ceremony of sending the neg

our reins, and stopped to excha

Neck look, after so lon

ey do won'ers with 'e Neck, sah, if you just believe all young nigger say. But what yo

the impudence neither to own nor to deny the imputation, his weakness in favor of "wring-jaw

much as I want. Well, sah, while old Dick drink, 'e new landlady, who come from Connetick,

h you an

I go to Satanstoe, whar' I

ion or other-well, what was it?-Y

n Miss Katrinke, not her business to wait on

t lady say, when you told her you were going to Satanst

dat awful name?' she say, making face like as if she see a spook. 'You must mean Dibbleton,' s

all Hellgate, Hurlgate; after that, one may expect anything. Do you not know, Jaap, a Yankee is never satisfied, unless he is effecting changes? One half his time

n'. I'm sure anybody as has eyes, can see where his toe hab t

self doing the same, pursuing the discourse

place?" said Kate, after we had parted from the black. "It is a homely name, certainly; but it has be

ikely to overturn more important things than the name of our poor Neck. It is a spirit that assumes the respectable character of a love of liberty; and under that mask, it gives play to malice, envy, covetousness, rapacity, and all the lowest passions of our nature. Among other thin