The Haggens house, with its square chimneys, and a broad middle-aged2 look of comfort, like those who were sheltered under its roof, stood facing the whole southern country just where the two roads joined from the upper settlements. A double stream of travel and traffic flowed steadily3 by this well-known corner, toward the upper and lower landings of the tide river. From the huge square stone that floored a pointed4 porch of severely5 classic design could be seen a fine sweep of land from the Butlers' Hill on the left, over the high oak woods of a second height to the deep pasture valleys. Major Hight's new house and huge sentinel pines stood on a ridge6 beyond, with the river itself showing a gleam of silver here and there all along the low lands toward Portsmouth. Across the country westward7 was the top of Garrison8 Hill at Dover; to the south was the dark pine-forested region of the Rocky Hills. It was a wide and splendid prospect10 even on a bleak11 autumn day, and Major Haggens, the socially minded master of the house, was trying hard to enjoy it as he sat in the morning wind, wrapped in his red cloak and longing12 for proper companionship. He cast imploring14 glances across the way to the habitation of his only near neighbor, Mr. Rogers, but he could see the old gentleman sitting fast asleep at that ridiculous hour of the morning, behind a closed window. There was no one to be seen up the road, where Mr. Jenkins's place of business was apt to attract the idle, especially in the harvest time of his famous early apples. These were dull days; before the war there were few mornings of the year when the broad space before the major's house lacked either carriages or foot-travelers for half an hour. In winter the two roads were blocked as far as a man could see with the long processions of ox teams laden15 with heavy timber, which had come from fifty or even a hundred miles back in the north country. There were hundreds of trees standing16 yet in the great forests of the White Hills that were marked with the deeply cut King's arrow, but the winter snows of many years to come were likely to find these timber pines for the King's shipyards still standing.
The busy, quick-enriching days of the past seemed to be gone forever, and poverty and uncertainty17 had replaced them. There was no such market anywhere for Berwick timber as England had always been; the Berwick merchants would be prosperous no more; the town must live long now upon their hoarded18 gains, and then seek for some other means of living. The gay-hearted old major looked downcast, and gave a deep sigh. He had no such remembrance of the earlier wars, when Old England and New England had fought together against a common enemy. Those battles had been exciting enough, and a short and evident path to glory, where his fellow colonists19 had felt something of the happy certainties of the Old Testament20 Jews, and went out boldly to hew21 Agag in pieces and to smite22 the Amalekites hip13 and thigh23. It appeared now as if, with all its hardships, war had been a not unwelcome relief to a dull level of prosperity and the narrowness of a domestic horizon. War gave a man the pleasures of travel, it was a man's natural business and outlet24 of energy; but war with moral enemies, and for opinion's sake, lacked the old color, and made the faces of those who stayed at home grow sullen25. They were backbiting26 Hamilton in many a pious27 household, that morning, for giving a farewell feast to Paul Jones. 'T was all of a piece with Roundhead days, and christening a child by such names as must have depressed28 Praise-God Barebones, and little Hate-Evil Kilgore who was a neighbor of the major's, down the Landing hill.
The major's sound but lately unpracticed head was a little heavy from the last night's supper, and the world seemed to him badly out of joint29. He was a patriot30 at heart, but one who stood among the moderates. He seemed uneasy in his wooden armchair, and pushed the ferule of his stout31 old ivory-headed cane32 angrily into a crevice33 below one of the Corinthian pillars of the porch. His tall sister, who, by virtue34 of two years' precedence in age, resolutely35 maintained the position of superior officer, had already once or twice opened the door behind to advise him to come in out of the cold wind; the chill might very well send him an attack of gout in the stomach.
"I 've got no gout to send, nor any stomach to send it to," returned the major angrily. "What's the use of a stomach, when a man can get nothing decent to put into it, and has not even a dog to keep him company? I'd welcome even a tax gatherer!" The great door was shut again with decision enough to clack the oval brass36 knocker, and the major finished some protests against fate deep in his own disparaged37 interior, and punctuated38 his inarticulate grumbles39 by angry bobs of the head. He was really too cold, but he would not submit to Nancy, or let her think that she could rule him, as she seemed to wish.
Suddenly there was something moving down at the end of the street; it came up quickly over the slope into the full appearance of a horse and rider, and hope filled the major's once sorrowful mind.
"Jack40 Hamilton, by zounds!" laughed the old gentleman. "He 's late on his way up country. I 'll stretch a point: we 'll make it an hour earlier, and have our toddy now; it must be after ten."
Hamilton presently declared that he was too much belated; he must go to the far regions of Tow-wow, where he owned great tracts41 of woodland; he really must not vex42 his conscience by loitering.
"Here, you, Cuffee! here, 'Pollo, you lazy dog!" the major called, merely turning his head, so that his voice might reach round the house through the long yard to his barns; and after a moment's consideration, Hamilton dismounted unwillingly43. The gay creature he had ridden sidled away, and whinnied fretfully, as if she also objected to such an interruption of their plans.
"Keep her here; I shall not stop long," said the colonel to a black namesake of the great god Apollo, who was the first to arrive, and, although breathless, began to walk to and fro sentry44 fashion, as if by automatic impulse. The already heated young mare45 was nosing his shoulder with an air of intimacy46, and nipping at the edge of his frayed47 hat.
"You 'll be just far enough from both dinner and breakfast now," insisted the major, stamping along through the handsome cold hall of the house, with its elaborate panelings of clear, uupainted pine. "You 'll get to Tow-wow, or Lebanon, as the new folks want to call it, all the sooner for this delay. You 've pounded the first wind out of that colt already; you 'd have had her sobbing48 on Plaisted's Hill. What we can't find in eatables we 'll make up in drinkables. Nancy, Nancy, where 's my spirit case? You 're so precise I never can find anything where I leave it!"
"The case is on the top of the sideboard, directly in the middle, brother Tilly," said Miss Nancy, politely coming out of the room on the right, and looking after him, with her knitting in hand.
Mr. Hamilton turned, and she dropped a somewhat informal curtsy. She wore a plain turban which gave her a severe but most distinguished49 air. Miss Haggens was quite the great lady, and even more French in her appearance than the major himself.
"I was sorry to miss the gayeties last night," she said. "The major is boyish enough for anything, and can answer every beck and call, but I felt that I must not venture. I was sorry when it proved so fine an evening."
"No becks and calls to answer in these days," insisted the busy host. "'T would do you good, Nancy, as it did all the rest of us. Let's have it in the breakfast-room; I left a good fire there. If there's no hot water, I 'll heat some quick enough in a porringer."
Hamilton, following, seated himself slowly in an armchair by the fireplace. The processes of hospitality would be swifter if quietly acquiesced50 in, and now that the slim decanter of Santa Cruz was opened the odor was not unwelcome. He bad been busy enough since daybreak, but wore an amused look, though somewhat tired and worried, as the major flew about like a captive bumblebee. Miss Nancy's prim51 turban got shifted over one ear, and one white and two black handmaidens joined her in the course of such important affairs. At last the major reappeared, victorious52 and irate53, with a steaming porringer which had just begun to heat in the kitchen fireplace, and splashed it all the way along the floor. He went down stiffly on his knees in the breakfast-room to blow the coals, with such mighty54 puffs55 that a film of ashes at once covered the water and retarded56 its rise of temperature. Miss Nancy and Colonel Hamilton looked at each other across his broad back and laughed.
"There, there, major! The steam 's rising, and 't will do already," urged the colonel. "I'd rather not take my drink too hot, and go out again to face the wind."
"I felt the wind myself," acknowledged the major, looking up pleasantly. "My fore9 door, where I like to sit, is well sheltered, but I felt the wind." Miss Nancy so far descended57 from her usual lofty dignity as to make a little face, which Hamilton, being a man, did not exactly understand.
"I like to have the water boiling hot; then you can let it cool away, and the flavor 's well brought out," explained the major. Phoebe, the old slave woman who looked over his shoulder, now pronounced with satisfaction that the water was minnying, with the steam all in it, to which her master agreed. Miss Nancy put out a strong hand and helped him to his feet.
"You 've set your turban all awry58, sister," the major remarked politely by way of revenge, and the little company burst into a hearty59 laugh. Miss Nancy produced a gay china plate of pound cakes from the cupboard, and sat by in silence, discreetly60 knitting, until the toddy was not only made, but half gone down the gentlemen's throats.
"And so Roger Wallingford 's gone to sea, and those who would burn him in his house for a Tory are robbed of a great pleasure," she said at last. "I wonder what their feelings are to-day! My heart aches for his mother; 't will be a deathblow to all her pride."
"It will indeed," said Hamilton seriously.
"I was sore afraid of his joining the other side only yesterday," said the major, "but this news has lain heavy as lead on me all the morning. There are those aboard the Ranger61 who will only have him for a spy. I heard a whisper of this last night, before we parted. I was even glad to think that the poor boy has plenty of old family friends in England, who can serve him if worst comes to worst."
"'T was in my mind, too," agreed the colonel. "John Lord was hinting at trouble, in my counting-room, this morning early. I fancied him more than half glad on his own account that Wallingford is gone; the lads have looked upon each other as rivals, and I have suspected that 't was Roger who was leading in the race." The colonel's wind-freshened cheeks brightened still more as he spoke62, and looked up with an expectant smile at Miss Nancy, who did not reply except by giving two or three solemn nods of her turbaned head.
"Everybody loves the boy," she said presently, "but 't is of his dear mother I am thinking most. 'T is a sad heart alone in her great house to front the winter weather. She told me last week that she had a mind not to make the usual change to her house in town. There were like to be disturbances63, and she had no mind for anything but quiet. I shall write, myself, to her young cousins in Boston, or to the Sherburnes, who are near friends, and beg them to visit her; 'tis none so cheerful in Boston either, now. We were always together in our youth, but age makes us poor winter comrades. Sit ye down," said Miss Nancy Haggens affectionately, as Hamilton rose and put by his empty glass. "And how is our dear Mary?" she asked, as she rose also, finding him determined64. There was an eager look in the old lady's eyes.
"I have not seen my sister," answered Hamilton, looking grave. "I was very early by the riverside with my old brig Pactolus going downstream, and everything and everybody tardy65. I shall lay her up for the winter by Christian66 Shore; but, as things look now, I fear 't is the last voyage of the good old vessel67. I stood and watched her away, and when she made the turn past Pine Point it seemed as if her old topmasts were looking back at me wishfully above the woods."
The major made a sound which was meant for sympathy; he was very warm and peaceful now before the fire.
"My sister will not be long seeking such a friend as you," said Hamilton, with sudden change of tone, and looking at Miss Nancy with an unwonted show of sentiment and concern in his usually impassive face. "I slept but little last night, and my fears, small and great, did not sleep at all. 'T is heavy news from the army, and I am perplexed68 as to Mary's real feelings. The captain counts upon success; as for the step that Roger Wallingford has taken, it has no doubt averted69 a very real danger of the moment."
"She must go at once to see his mother. I wish that she might go to-day. You may tell Mary this, with the love of an old friend," said Miss Nancy warningly. "She has great reserve of feeling with all her pretty frankness. But young hearts are not easy reading."
"I must be gone all day," said Hamilton gravely.
For once the major listened and had no opinion ready. All the troubles of life had been lifted in the exercise of such instant hospitality.
"We must leave all to Time," he announced cheerfully. "No man regrets more than I our country's sad situation. And mark ye both: the captain of the Ranger's got all the makings of a hero. Lord bless me," he exclaimed, as he followed Hamilton along the hall, "I could have shed tears as I caught his fire, at thinking I was too old and heavy to ship with him myself! I might be useful yet with his raw marines and in the land attacks. I felt last night, as our talk went on, that I should be as good for soldiering as ever."
"Brother Tilly!" Miss Nancy was crying from the breakfast-room in despair. "Oh, don't go out into the wind, and you so warm with your toddy! Wait, I command you, Tilly! Phoebe 's coming with your hat and cloak!" But the old campaigner was already out beyond the lilacs in the front yard, with the rising northwester lifting his gray locks.
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1
distresses
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| n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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hoarded
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| v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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hew
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| v.砍；伐；削 | |
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smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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backbiting
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| 背后诽谤 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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disparaged
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| v.轻视( disparage的过去式和过去分词 )；贬低；批评；非难 | |
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punctuated
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| v.（在文字中）加标点符号，加标点( punctuate的过去式和过去分词 )；不时打断某事物 | |
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39
grumbles
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| 抱怨( grumble的第三人称单数 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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40
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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41
tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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42
vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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43
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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46
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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47
frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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49
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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50
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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52
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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53
irate
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| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
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54
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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55
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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56
retarded
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| a.智力迟钝的，智力发育迟缓的 | |
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57
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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58
awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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59
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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60
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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61
ranger
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| n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员 | |
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62
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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63
disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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64
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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65
tardy
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| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
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66
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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67
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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68
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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69
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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