THE SPY - A Tale of the Neutral Ground (Historical Novel). Джеймс Фенимор Купер
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throwing his eyes again around the room, and letting them rest for an instant on Harper, “that Sumter and one or two more were all that were hurt, and that the rig’lars were all cut to pieces, for the militia were fixed snugly in a log barn.”
“Not very probable,” said Sarah, contemptuously, “though I make no doubt the rebels got behind the logs.”
“I think,” said the peddler coolly, again offering the silk, “it’s quite ingenious to get a log between one and a gun, instead of getting between a gun and a log.”
The eyes of Harper dropped quietly on the pages of the volume in his hand, while Frances, rising, came forward with a smile in her face, as she inquired, in a tone of affability that the peddler had never witnessed from her,—
“Have you more of the lace, Mr. Birch?”
The desired article was immediately produced, and Frances became a purchaser also. By her order a glass of liquor was offered to the trader, who took it with thanks, and having paid his compliments to the master of the house and the ladies, drank the beverage.
“So, it is thought that Colonel Tarleton has worsted General Sumter?” said Mr. Wharton, affecting to be employed in mending the cup that was broken by the eagerness of his sister-in-law.
“I believe they think so at Morrisania,” said Birch, dryly.
“Have you any other news, friend?” asked Captain Wharton, venturing to thrust his face without the curtains.
“Have you heard that Major Andre has been hanged?”
Captain Wharton started, and for a moment glances of great significance were exchanged between him and the trader, when he observed, with affected indifference, “That must have been some weeks ago.”
“Does his execution make much noise?” asked the father, striving to make the broken china unite.
“People will talk, you know, ‘squire.”
“Is there any probability of movements below, my friend, that will make traveling dangerous?” asked Harper, looking steadily at the other, in expectation of his reply.
Some bunches of ribbons fell from the hands of Birch; his countenance changed instantly, losing its keen expression in intent meaning, as he answered slowly, “It is some time since the rig’lar cavalry were out, and I saw some of De Lancey’s men cleaning their arms, as I passed their quarters; it would be no wonder if they took the scent soon, for the Virginia horse are low in the county.”
“Are they in much force?” asked Mr. Wharton, suspending all employment in anxiety.
“I did not count them.”
Frances was the only observer of the change in the manner of Birch, and, on turning to Harper, he had resumed his book in silence. She took some of the ribbons in her hand—laid them down again—and, bending over the goods, so that her hair, falling in rich curls, shaded her face, she observed, blushing with a color that suffused her neck,—
“I thought the Southern horse had marched towards the Delaware.”
“It may be so,” said Birch; “I passed the troops at a distance.”
Caesar had now selected a piece of calico, in which the gaudy colors of yellow and red were contrasted on a white ground, and, after admiring it for several minutes, he laid it down with a sigh, as he exclaimed, “Berry pretty calico.”
“That,” said Sarah; “yes, that would make a proper gown for your wife,
Caesar.”
“Yes, Miss Sally,” cried the delighted black, “it make old Dinah heart leap for joy—so berry genteel.”
“Yes,” added the peddler, quaintly, “that is only wanting to make Dinah look like a rainbow.”
Caesar eyed his young mistress eagerly, until she inquired of Harvey the price of the article.
“Why, much as I light of chaps,” said the peddler.
“How much?” demanded Sarah in surprise.
“According to my luck in finding purchasers; for my friend Dinah, you may have it at four shillings.”
“It is too much,” said Sarah, turning to some goods for herself.
“Monstrous price for coarse calico, Mister Birch,” grumbled Caesar, dropping the opening of the pack again.
“We will say three, then,” added the peddler, “if you like that better.”
“Be sure he like ‘em better,” said Caesar, smiling good-humoredly, and reopening the pack; “Miss Sally like a t’ree shilling when she give, and a four shilling when she take.”
The bargain was immediately concluded; but in measuring, the cloth wanted a little of the well-known ten yards required by the dimensions of Dinah. By dint of a strong arm, however, it grew to the desired length, under the experienced eye of the peddler, who conscientiously added a ribbon of corresponding brilliancy with the calico; and Caesar hastily withdrew, to communicate the joyful intelligence to his aged partner.
During the movements created by the conclusion of the purchase, Captain Wharton had ventured to draw aside the curtain, so as to admit a view of his person, and he now inquired of the peddler, who had begun to collect the scattered goods, at what time he had left the city.
“At early twilight,” was the answer.
“So lately!” cried the other in surprise: then correcting his manner, by assuming a more guarded air, he continued, “Could you pass the pickets at so late an hour?”
“I did,” was the laconic reply.
“You must be well known by this time, Harvey, to the officers of the
British army,” cried Sarah, smiling knowingly on the peddler.
“I know some of them by sight,” said Birch, glancing his eyes round the apartment, taking in their course Captain Wharton, and resting for an instant on the countenance of Harper.
Mr. Wharton had listened intently to each speaker, in succession, and had so far lost the affectation of indifference, as to be crushing in his hand the pieces of china on which he had expended so much labor in endeavoring to mend it; when, observing the peddler tying the last knot in his pack, he asked abruptly,
“Are we about to be disturbed again with the enemy?”
“Who do you call the enemy?” said the peddler, raising himself erect, and giving the other a look, before which the eyes of Mr. Wharton sank in instant confusion.
“All are enemies who disturb our peace,” said Miss Peyton, observing that her brother was unable to speak. “But are the royal troops out from below?”
“‘Tis quite likely they soon may be,” returned Birch, raising his pack from the floor, and preparing to leave the room.
“And the continentals,” continued Miss Peyton mildly, “are the continentals in the county?”
Harvey was about to utter something in reply, when the door opened, and
Caesar made his appearance, attended by his delighted spouse.
The race of blacks of which Caesar was a favorable specimen is becoming very rare. The old family servant who, born and reared in the dwelling of his master, identified himself with the welfare of those whom it was his lot to serve, is giving place in every direction to that vagrant class which has sprung up within the last thirty years, and whose members roam through the country unfettered by principles, and uninfluenced by attachments. For it is one of the curses of slavery, that its victims become incompetent to the attributes of a freeman. The short curly hair of Caesar had acquired from age a coloring of gray, that added greatly to the venerable cast of his appearance. Long and indefatigable applications of the comb had straightened the close curls of his forehead, until they stood erect in a stiff and formal brush, that gave at