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trench, where he was using a pounding instrument with the zeal of a
paviour-- Bad luck to the likes of ye, say I, Misther Strides. If ye ve no
relish for a fortification, in a time of war, ye ve only to shoulther yer
knapsack, and go out into the open counthry, where ye ll have all to yer own
satisfaction. Is it forthify the house, will we? That we will, and not a hair
of the missuss s head, nor of the young ladies heads, nor of the masther s
head, though he s mighty bald as it is, but not a hair ofall their heads shall
be harmed, while Jamie, and Mike, and the bould ould serjeant, here, can have
their way. I wish I had the trench full of yer savages, and a gineral funeral
we d make of the vagabonds! Och! They re the divil s imps, I hear from all
sides, and no love do I owe them.
And yet you re the bosom friend of Nick, who s anything but what I call a
specimen of his people.
Is it Nick ye re afther? Well, Nick s half-civilized accorthin to yer
Yankee manners, and he s no spicimen, at all. Let him hear you call him by
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sich a name, if ye want throuble.
Joel walked away muttering, leaving the labourers in doubt whether he
relished least the work he was now obliged to unite in furthering, or Mike s
hit at his own peculiar people. Still the work proceeded, and in one week from
the day it was commenced, the stockade was complete, its gate excepted. The
entrance through the palisades was directly in front of that to the house, and
both passages still remained open, one set of gates not being completed, and
the other not yet being hung.
It was on a Saturday evening when the last palisade was placed firmly in the
ground, and all the signs of the recent labour were removed, in order to
restore as much of the former beauty of the Knoll as possible. It had been a
busy week; so much so, indeed, as to prevent the major from holding any of
that confidential intercourse with his mother and sisters, in which it had
been his habit to indulge in former visits. The fatigues of the days sent
everybody to their pillows early; and the snatches of discourse which passed,
had been affectionate and pleasant, rather than communicative. Now that the
principal job was so near being finished, however, and the rubbish was cleared
away, the captain summoned the family to the lawn again, to enjoy a delicious
evening near the close of the winning month of May. The season was early, and
the weather more bland, than was usual, even in that sheltered and genial
valley. For the first time that year, Mrs. Willoughby consented to order the
tea-equipage to be carried to a permanent table that had been placed under the
shade of a fine elm, in readiness for anyfête champêtre of this simple
character.
Come, Wilhelmina, give us a cup of your fragrant hyson, of which we have
luckily abundance, tax or no tax. I should losecaste , were it known how much
American treason we have gulped down, in this way; but, a little tea, up here
in the forest, can do no man s conscience any great violence, in the long run.
I suppose, major Willoughby, His Majesty s forces do not disdain tea, in these
stirring times.
Far from it, sir; we deem it so loyal to drink it, that it is said the port
and sherry of the different messes, at Boston, are getting to be much
neglected. I am an admirer of tea, for itself, however, caring little about
its collateral qualities. Farrel -- turning to his man, who was aiding Pliny
the elder, in arranging the table-- when you are through here, bring out the
basket you will find on the toilet, in my room.
True, Bob, observed the mother, smiling-- that basket has scarce been
treated with civility. Not a syllable of thanks have I heard, for all the fine
things it contains.
My mind has been occupied with care for your safety, dear mother, and that
must be my excuse. Now, however, there is an appearance of security which
gives one a breathing-time, and my gratitude receives a sudden impulse. As for
you, Maud, I regret to be compelled to say that you stand convicted of
laziness; not a single thing do I owe to your labours, or recollection of me.
Is that possible! exclaimed the captain, who was pouring water into the
tea-pot. Maud is the last person I should suspect of neglect of this nature;
I do assure you, Bob, no one listens to news of your promotions and movements
with more interest than Maud.
Maud, herself, made no answer. She bent her head aside, in a secret
consciousness that her sister might alone detect, and form her own conclusions
concerning the colour that she felt warming her cheeks. But, Maud s own
sensitive feelings attributed more to Beulah than the sincere and
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simple-minded girl deserved. So completely was she accustomed to regard Robert
and Maud as brother and sister, that even all which had passed produced no
effect in unsettling her opinions, or in giving her thoughts a new direction.
Just at this moment Farrel came back, and placed the basket on the bench, at
the side of his master.
Now, my dearest mother, and you, girls -- the major had begun to drop the
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