University of Virginia Library

6. CHAPTER VI.

But such reflections, even if well founded, came too late for
remedy. The old man was gone beyond present reach, and
when I reflected that he had taken two of the gold pieces for his
own expenses, I began to feel a little reassured on the subject of
their value. When I got home, I told my father of the sale of
the horse, and the price, though I took precious good care to say
nothing of the gambling. The old man, though he himself had
taught me to play cards, was mighty strict against all play for
money. I showed him only the fifteen pieces that I got for Rainbow,
and the rest I put away quietly, meaning to spend them by
degrees upon the farm, as chances offered, so as to prevent him
from ever getting at the real truth. I felt myself pretty safe with
regard to the strange gentleman. I never counted on his coming
back to blow me, though, sometimes, when I wasn't thinking, an
odd sort of fear would come over me, and I would feel myself
trembling with the notion that, after all, he might return. I had
heard of rich people having strange ways of throwing away their
money, and taking a liking for poor people like myself; and then,
there was a serious earnest about the strange gentleman, in spite
of all his curiousnesses, that made me a little apprehensive, whenever
the recollection of him came into my head.

“But regular work, day after day, is the best physic for mind
and body; and, after three days had gone by, I almost ceased to
bother myself with the affair. I passed the time so actively that
I didn't think much about any thing. I took a trip down the
river, some eighteen miles, to a wheelwright's, and bought a prime
two-horse wagon, for ninety-five dollars, which made a considerable
hole in the price of Rainbow; and, one thing with another,
the week went by almost without giving me time to count if the
right number of days was in it. Sunday followed, and then
Monday. That Monday I was precious busy. I was always an
industrious man—doing something or other—making this, or

mending that. To be doing nothing was always the hardest work
for me. But that Monday I out-worked myself, and I was really
glad when I saw the sun sink suddenly down behind the woods.
I threw down the broad-axe, for I had been hewing out some
door-facings for a new corn-crib and fodder-house, and went
towards the gallery (piazza) where the old man was sitting, and
threw myself, at full-length, along the entrance, just at his feet.
I was mighty tired. My jacket was off, my sleeves rolled up,
my neck open, and the perspiration standing thick on my breast
and forehead. At that very moment, while I was lying in this
condition, who should I see ride into the opening, but the strange
old gentleman. I knew him at a glance, and my heart jumped
up into my mouth as if it was trying to get out of it. Behind
him came another person riding upon a pretty little bay filly.
Though it was darkening fast, I could make out that this other
person was a woman, and I never felt so scared in all my life. I
looked up at my father, and he at me. He saw that I was frightened,
but he hadn't time to ask me a question, and I shouldn't
have had the strength to answer if he had. Up rode the strange
old gentleman, and close behind him came the lady. Though I
was mightily frightened, I looked curiously at her. I could make
out that she was a small and delicate-framed person, but her face
was covered with a thick veil. I could see that she carried
herself well, sat her horse upright like a sort of queen, and when
the old man offered to take her off, yielded herself to him with a
slow but graceful stateliness, not unlike that of a young cedar
bending to the wind.

“For my part, though I could see this, I was never more confounded
in my life. I was completely horror-struck. To see the
old gentleman again was a shocking surprise; but that he should
really bring the lady that I had won, and that she should catch
me in that condition,—my coat off, my breast open, my face
covered with dust and perspiration! If the work made me sweat
before, this surprise increased it. I got up, and made out to get
a few steps towards the strangers. I said something by way of
apology for being caught in that shabby fix; but the old gentleman
stopped me.

“ `Never mind, no apologies, Mr. Rayner. The proofs of

labour are always honourable, and if the heart can show that it
works as well as the body, then the labourer is a gentleman.
How are you, and—this is your father?'

“I introduced him to the old man as the person who had bought
Rainbow, and we conducted them into the house.

“ `My ward, Mr. Rayner,' said the stranger, when we had
entered, `this is the young friend of whom I spoke to you.'

“At these words the young lady threw up her veil. I staggered
back at the sight. I won't talk of her beauty, my friend,
for two reasons; one of which is, that I haven't got words to
say what I thought and felt—what I think and feel now. The
other—but I needn't speak of the other reason. This one is
sufficient. The old gentleman looked at me inquiringly, and
then he looked at my father. I could see that there was a little
doubt and anxiety upon his face, but they soon passed away as he
examined the face of my father. There was something so good,
so meek, so benevolent about the looks of the old man, that
nobody could mistrust that all was right in the bottom of his heart.
As for my heart, the strange gentleman seemed to see into it quite
as quickly as into that of my father. He was not so blunt and
abrupt now in his manner of speaking to me as he had been when
we first met. His manner was more dignified and reserved.
There was something very lofty and noble about it, and in speaking
to the lady his voice sunk almost into a whisper.

“ `Mr. Rayner,' said he, looking to my father, `I trust that
you will give my ward a chamber for the night. I have heard
of you, sir, and have made bold to presume on your known benevolence
of character in making this application.'

“ `Our home is a poor one, stranger,' said the old man; `but
such as it is, it is quite at the service of the young lady.'

“ `Good!' said the other; `you are the man after my own
heart. I am known,' he continued, `where men speak of me at
all, as Mr. Eckhardt. My ward is the daughter of a very near
and dear friend. Her name is Herder—Rachel Herder. So
much is necessary for convenience in conversation; and now, sir,
if you can tell Rachel where she is to find her chamber, so that
she may arrange her dress, and get rid of the dust of travel, she
will be very much obliged to you.'

“All this was soon arranged and attended to, and while the
lady disappeared in our best chamber, Mr. Eckhardt proceeded
to disburthen the horses, on both of which were saddle-bags that
were stuffed almost to bursting. These were brought into the
house, and sent to the chamber after the lady. Then the stranger
sat down with my father, the two old men chatting quite
briskly together, while I stripped the horses of their saddles, and
took them to the stable. When I returned to the house I found
them as free-spoken and good-humoured as if they had been intimate
from the first day of clearing in that country.