72. CHAPTER LXXII.
A CONTRE TEMPS.
Shortly after Randolph left Slysir, his Lordship, happening
to see Wiry Willy, beckoned him into the library.
“Willy,” said his Lordship, “you see I am a prisoner
again. I am not bruised, as before. Walk round behind
me, Willy. Now do you observe anything odd in my
dress?”
“I think your Lordship's pantaloons,” said Willy, “may
be a trifle too tight—but that defect is mainly concealed by
the coat.”
“That will do, sir. You speak like a costumer. But the
letter, Willy—you remember the letter?”
“The letter? Oh, yes! Miss Edith gave it me, and I
placed it—excuse me, and I will get it immediately.”
“A letter from Edith!” said Slysir, when Willy had gone
out. “By Jupiter! Her Ladyship and her Grace, may
have their fascinations, after all! Ah, you have returned!”
said he, on perceiving Wiry Willy standing at his elbow.
“Now the letter, Willy!”
“Here it is, precisely as it came from her hand,” said he,
delivering it.
“Why, you rascal—”
“Rascal, sir?” said Willy.
“Why, this is my letter, sir!”
“I know it,” said Willy, with imperturbable gravity;
“and have you it not in your possession?”
“In my possession? What does it mean, sir?”
“It means that when I delivered your letter, the one to
whom it was addressed, seeing your Lordship's seal, returned
it, unopened.”
“That's not probable. The idea of any lady, and especially
an American lady, returning a Lord's letter unopened!
Why, feminine curiosity would be irresistible!”
“Nevertheless, your Lordship, if you will read the line in
pencil mark and the initials below the seal, will discover that
I have spoken the truth.”
“By Jupiter,” said his Lordship, with his glass to his
eye, “this is most extraordinary.”
“And if your Lordship be not yet satisfied,” said Willy,
“I am sure you will be very soon, for Miss Edith is to be
married to General Blount within an hour from this time.”
“Stupid fellow! Sure that such an occurrence will be
satisfactory to me! Stay! Why are you in such great
haste?”
“I am sent in quest of the good Dr. Love, to come to the
chapel and marry them. I hope your Lordship will be present
on the occasion.” Willy then sped away without marking
his Lordship's countenance.
“Come, Slysir,” said General Crook, who entered and
grasped his Lordship's arm—“come with me to the chapel.
Blount is to be married. Why do you seem disconcerted?”
“Do I?”
“Crook, I am an unhappy man! But there is no remedy.
Pray do not publish to all the world that I am in a borrowed
garment. It may be the effect of habit; but the idea of
being in any man's breeches but my own makes me very
miserable.”
“Will you accept them? Then they will be your own.
But, really, you are too large for my breeches.”
“Come—let us go to the chapel. I see the bridal party
entering the President's carriage.”
They repaired to the chapel. Senator Langdon stood by
the altar in readiness to give away his daughter. Edith,
arrayed in beauty, gazed through her veil alternately at
Blount and Alice. The former exhibited on his lofty forehead
the calm majestic expression which had ever distinguished
him, even in days of buoyant youth; the latter,
veiled, seemed, indeed, like marble. The lips were not red
like the bride's; and she stood as collected and motionless
as a statue, her eyes fixed on the stained-glass window,
whose variegated hues seemed concentrated on her head,
and revealed the death-like pallor of her countenance.
After a considerable pause, the wonder felt at the absence
of the minister and of President Randolph, began to be
whispered from one to another.
“I hope the minister won't be—” said Lord Slysir, and
then paused.
“Don't be uncharitable,” said Crook; “Blount has
waited, and watched, and fairly won her. He shall wear
her. But, what's that? Look at him! What does he
hear? His glance, for a moment, as his eyes were raised,
reminded me of the animated expression which has distinguished
him on the field of battle. But he saw nothing,
heard nothing, and he is perfectly composed again. See,
now, his smile! From the lion to the lamb, from the eagle
to the dove, such are the characteristic transitions of the
truly great! I, ass as I sometimes think myself, have observed
it. But I bray whenever I please, and sometimes I
kick like the devil! Yet Randolph and Blount understand
me, and can control me. I love them both, and I have a universal
love for womankind. How beautiful, but cold, is the
President's daughter! And even Edith begins to hang her
head, as if in fear the parson cannot be found! Gad, I'm
determined there shall be no disappointment. I am a magistrate
in my own country, and I'll marry them myself, in
expiation of my offence. Did your Lordship know it was
I who interrupted the ceremony at Washington, when the
General first led that lovely creature to the altar? I
have reproached myself for it ever since, and will make
amends.”
“Yes, she told me herself.”
“And did she blame me?”
“No, General. She said you were not aware of what
was going on at the church.”
“That was true! By George! if I had known it, I
should have delayed the attack on the President! And
now I am one of Randolph's lieutenants! What changes
in politics and in war!”
“And love!” said Slysir — “for here comes a disturbance!”
Crook turned his eyes towards the door, where a sudden
commotion among the half-dozen slaves that were gazing in,
had arisen.
“Go! scatter and conceal yourselves like partridges in
the stubble!” cried crazy Charlotte, to the negroes that
scampered away. “Where is the good shepherd?” she
continued, striding towards the chancel, in her cuirass and
painted helmet, and waving her spear. “Here are the
lambs, but where is the good shepherd?”
“Sit down, Charlotte,” said Mr. Langdon, “and be a
witness of the marriage of my daughter. The minister has
been sent for, and will arrive in a few minutes.”
“A few minutes! Know you not what may happen in a
few minutes? I saw him myself, a few minutes ago, holding
up the head of a poor youth in a barn, who had received
a fatal wound in his side. And a few minutes have sufficed
to launch the noble boy into eternity! He was whispering
a loving message for his mother! Could the Reverend
man of God neglect the dying to wait upon the living?
Then came Randolph like the rushing of a mighty wind—”
“Where is he, good Charlotte?” asked Alice, throwing
aside her veil.
“Pale daughter of the President!” said she, “he was
spurring towards the mansion to announce—”
At that moment a discharge of cannon and musketry
startled the whole party, for it seemed in fearful proximity.
Then the earth was shaken with a deep rumbling sound, as
if all the cavalry were approaching.
“Blount!” exclaimed Crook, throwing aside the arm of
Lord Slysir which had been thrust within his own. “It is
a surprise! The enemy are upon us!”
“Away! Away!” cried Charlotte.
“To the carriage!” said Blount, leading the ladies out,
and followed by Senator Langdon. “It is Ruffleton himself,
no doubt,” he continued, as he hurried them into the
carriage.
The next moment Randolph dashed up to the chapel door.
“Fly!” said he to the coachman, “to yonder house on the
hill. Come, Blount—come, Crook—I have ordered Valiant
and Carleton to converge in this direction. We shall check
the enemy at this point until the ladies are beyond the reach
of danger.”
A moment after, all had disappeared, excepting Lord
Slysir, who remained within the church, gazing at the place
from which Alice and Edith had so suddenly vanished.
