Barbara Ladd
Page 28
CHAPTER XXVIII.
After this Robert was careful, and so was permitted to be fairly happywhen he could keep the fires of jealousy banked down in his heart.Once in awhile they would begin to get the better of him; and then,after letting Barbara see just a glimpse of the flame, that she mightnot forget it was there, he would leave before she could find himtroublesome and work it under by hours of furious riding. He skilfullyavoided giving her any further excuse for discipline; and was even socunning, at times, as to pique her by his show of self-control. Inthis way he scored continually over the too confident Cary Patten, who,after a week or two of almost daily calls at the old Dutch house onState Street, would disappear and not be seen near Barbara for days.At such times Robert concluded that Cary had been tempting Providenceand suffering the usual disaster of those who so presume. As for JerryWaite, and young Paget, and the rest of the infatuated train, Robertthought that Barbara was quite too infernally nice to them all, andcursed them all hotly in his heart; but he could not refrain fromadmiring the neat manner in which she held them all in hand.
Early in the autumn, however, it became still more difficult forBarbara and Robert to keep silent on the great questions which they sodreaded to discuss. The First Continental Congress was in session atPhiladelphia, and its deliberations formed a theme to blister men'stongues. Made up of Tories, Radical Patriots or potential rebels, andModerates, in fairly even proportion, it satisfied neither Barbara norRobert. The latter, in spite of the fact that its New York delegateswere of his own party, viewed it with singularly clear eyes, and saw init not merely an instrument for the constitutional redress of justgrievances,--wherein it had his sympathy,--but a forerunner ofrevolt,--wherein it called forth his passionate reprobation. ToBarbara, on the other hand, this Continental Congress, of which she hadhoped so much, seemed a mean-spirited, paltering, blear-eyed thing,incapable of seeing what destiny had written large across thecontinent, or too timorous to acknowledge what it saw. The strain wasfurther increased by matters which touched them both personally. Withthe news that Connecticut, stirred up by false rumours of a strugglewith the royal troops in Boston, had thousands of her militia underarms, came a letter from Mistress Mehitable, saying that Doctor Johnwas among them, in command of a regiment, and that Doctor Jim waslooking after his patients. At this tidings Barbara's heart swelledwith mingled pride and anxiety. She pictured the heroic figure DoctorJohn would make, in his uniform, about to fight for the cause which sheheld so splendid and so righteous. At the same time she saw himalready in the fight, waving his sword amid the smoke and slaughter,and she shook with terror for him. Both Robert and Glenowen were withher when the letter came, and as she read it out her voice broke andthe tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Good for John Pigeon!" cried Glenowen, his eyes aglow.
Then there was a heavy stillness on the air, such as that whichsometimes portends an earthquake, and neither looked at Robert.Robert's face was very grave, but inspiration came to him, and he saidexactly the right thing.
"How lonely Doctor Jim and Mistress Mehitable must be! Second Westingsmust be perfectly desolate!"
The danger was averted. He had dwelt, not upon the point ofdifference, but the point of sympathy; and the difference sank againout of sight.
"Oh," murmured Barbara, "I almost feel as if I ought to go back to AuntHitty!"
"I know! But you can't, very well, sweetheart! For which I am mostthankful!" said Glenowen, promptly.
"And Mistress Mehitable has Doctor Jim," said Robert. "We need youmore than she does, dearest lady!"
With all the country seething as it was, nowhere else, perhaps, save inNew York, would it have been possible to keep up so long the pretenceof harmony between opposing factions. New York was full of"Moderates," men no less determined to resist the tyranny of Parliamentthan to retain the supremacy of the Crown. Extremes were thus held incheck; and men met in apparent social harmony whose opinions, once putin practice, would have hurled them at one another's throats. But tothe little company resorting at the old Dutch house on State Streetthere entered now a new element of disruption.
At a dance Barbara had met a slender, dark youth, a student at King'sCollege, who had made himself prominent by his radical eloquence at agreat mass-meeting of the Continental party. His scholarly breadth ofthought, combined with almost fanatical zeal, delighted her. And hehad the uncommon merit of expressing unforgettably the very views sheherself had long maintained. They became too interested inconversation to dance; and from that evening Mr. Alexander Hamiltoncame often to Glenowen's lodgings. He was a mere boy in years, butGlenowen felt his power at once,--and even Robert, who was notunnaturally prejudiced, was too honest not to admit that Barbara'syoung Mr. Hamilton was a very remarkable and accomplished youth.
Understanding the sharp divergence of opinion in the little circle,Hamilton kept a curb upon his tongue save at convenient seasons. Butto his eager and convicted spirit this soon became too difficult. Oneevening, when there were none to hear him but Barbara, Robert, andGlenowen, the torrent of his boyish ardour overflowed. He depicted themomentous changes toward which each fateful hour was hurrying them. Hedeclared it was no more than a matter of days ere all America would bein the throes of a righteous revolution. He prophesied the birth of agreat republic, that should establish Liberty in her New World home,and scourge kings, thrones, and tyrannies into the sea. Glenowen hadlooked at him warningly, but in vain. Barbara, troubled at first, grewsuddenly hot and resentful at the thought that Robert should be blindto the splendid dream. She applauded aggressively.
Robert's brows were knit, but he had no emotion save distress.
"I pray you pardon me, dear lady, and you, Mr. Glenowen, if I take mydeparture at once," said he, at the first pause. "Knowing mysentiments as you both do, fully, you will understand that I could notin honour stay and listen to such doctrines as these of Mr. Hamilton'sand not oppose them with all my force."
He bent over Barbara's hand, but she petulantly snatched it awaywithout letting him kiss it. Then, having shaken hands heartily withGlenowen, and bowed stiffly to Hamilton, he withdrew in great troubleof mind, feeling that now, in truth, had come to an end the trucebetween his honour and his love. He walked the streets half the night,and in the morning, white and dejected, but determined to know theworst at once, he went around to State Street at the earliest momentpermissible after breakfast. Barbara received him coldly. But he madehaste to face the issue.
"Surely, dearest lady, you see that I had no alternative but to go!" hepleaded. "I could not quarrel with him, seeing that he was your guest.Yet I could not sit and listen to his treason!"
"I think the same treason as he uttered, if treason it be! And utterit, too, when I see fit!" said Barbara.
"That's different!" said Robert, and paused.
It was on Barbara's lips to ask, "How?--Why?" but she refrained, lestshe should complicate the discussion.
"That's different," he repeated, "because you are a woman, and becauseI love you. But indeed, my lady, I intended no discourtesy to Mr.Hamilton. If discourtesy there were, surely it was his. I would nothave attacked what he holds sacred. Yet my sentiments are not lesswell known than his. He knew that I was pledged to the king's side."
Barbara bit her lips hard. This was just what she had taken such painsnot to know. Her heart was bitter enough against him for his viewsthemselves; it was still more bitter against him now for forcing her toconfess knowledge of those views.
"A little discourtesy, one way or the other, what would that matter?"she asked, scornfully. "There's just one thing that matters to me now,Robert. War is coming. Have you chosen your side?"
"My side has chosen me, dear lady!" he answered, sorrowfully.
"Listen, Robert," she went on, "I have tried not to know that you holdopinions which I hate, and loathe, and despise. It means everything tome, when I say I love my country and hate the enemies of my country. Ibelieve in patriotism."
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p; "And I believe, also, in honour and loyalty, oh, my dearest lady!"
"Your own stupid ideas of honour and loyalty!" cried Barbara, withfierce impatience. "I tell you, Robert, the enemy of my country cannotbe my friend."
"But if I am the enemy of your country, so is Doctor Jim!" protestedRobert.
Barbara flushed with annoyance. She did not like an unanswerableargument.
"I love Doctor Jim!" she shot back at him, with cruel implication.
"And I love you, Barbara!" answered Robert, also with meaning. Shetossed her head scornfully.
"A fig for such love!" she cried. "Years ago, when you were just aboy, and could not have your opinions fixed" ("About the age of yourMr. Hamilton!" he interjected, rashly), "I remember asking you, for mysake, to teach yourself the right things, Robert, and join our side,and be faithful to your own country. What do you do? It's not as ifit were a mere difference of opinion,--but _I_ am _right_! I am withall the great and wise of old, who have taught that patriotism is aman's highest duty. Yet what have you done, Robert? You vow you loveme! Indeed! And you prefer a stupid, far-off, half-crazy tyrant, whomyou call your king, and whom you have never seen, to your country,which has borne and cherished you--and to me!"
"Oh, Barbara!" cried Robert, desperately. "What are king or country,what are heaven and earth, to me, compared with you? But what would mylove be worth to you if, for the sake of my own happiness, I could be arebel and a traitor? Should I be worthy to love you, despising myself?What would you think of me, if I could sell my honour at your bidding!"
"I think our ideas of honour are different, Robert!" retorted Barbara."But I am not going to quarrel with you now. I am disappointed in you,that's all. And you need not expect that after this we are going to besuch friends as we have been. Remember that. But--you may come andsee us sometimes, of course; and I will dance with you sometimes, ofcourse--if you ask me! Only--it is all so different!" and she couldnot choke down a little weary sigh.
Robert was on his knees in an instant, kissing her hands; but sherepulsed him resolutely.
"No, you have chosen for yourself," she said, not unkindly. "It hurtsme, truly. But I mean what I say! Now, you must go, for I have muchto do before dinner. Good-bye!"