While she was making ready, Sally kept saying:
"I am coming, Fairy Prince, I am coming!"
And a sweet bird of hope was singing in her ears that all would yet be well with the brave Dream lad of her girlish years.
"I will serve the others too," she said, "for in good faith I love my country well."
At Great Bridge all was bustle1 and confusion. But the wounded had been carried into a long, low building, really a tobacco warehouse2, now turned into hospital barracks.
Doctor Hancocke, who had knowledge of diseases and wounds as well as of drugs and medicines, made himself both useful and welcome. He soon found Lionel among the badly wounded,[Pg 266] his hurt having come through a spent ball that hurled3 the young man against a gun-carriage with such force that his back was injured and one shoulder put out of joint4. Then, as fever had set in, the young man was in a bad way.
Sally could well have both laughed and cried at Mammy Leezer when they told her Lionel's case was thought to be serious.
She put on her most dragoon-like air, and seemed defying the whole army to tell her that again.
"Who say dat dat boy am hurt powerful bad?" she sniffed5. "Ain't they done been tole his ole Mammy am come? What's goin' to be de matter with my Mars' Lion once I gets to nussin' 'im? They better stop cackling, de whole caboodle ob dem, and leave my Mars' Lion 'lone6 with me!"
They were only too glad to have the capable old woman around. And in truth, so jealous was Mammy Leezer of her charge that she would allow no one to assist her day or night except Sally, even attending to the wounded[Pg 267] shoulder herself, which Doctor Hancocke felt satisfied she was treating with skill.
Sally was glad to see in how many ways she could make herself useful. She showed fine nerve and fettle, even helping7 to wind the bandages around a wound, and being left in charge of certain sick ones while older nurses attended to those who were more helpless.
For a few days she was allowed to sit by her Fairy Prince only while Mammy Leezer made his gruel8 and steeped certain herbs she had brought with her. Then Mammy trusted her to watch him while she stole away about ten minutes at a time to indulge in a comforting little smoke.
Lionel was said to be doing well, although he lay with closed eyes and did not seem to know any one. His father rode to Great Bridge on Lord Rollin, but did not long remain. He was not welcome in camp; there was nothing he could do, so he went away telling Mammy Leezer he should come soon again.
It was Sally's best hour of the day when[Pg 268] Mammy Leezer went to the cook-room to prepare gruel and she was left alone with her Fairy Prince.
One rosy10 afternoon in late December, she bent11 over him and gently pushed a lock back from his forehead. It would not stay, and for a moment she held the fair lock back.
To her surprise she all at once looked into the deep blue eyes, which were open and looking directly into her own.
"Who is it?" he whispered.
Sally flushed, dimpled, smiled; but for an instant could not turn her eyes away.
"Who is it?" asked a weak voice.
"Who is it?" came in a little stronger tone.
Just then Mammy came back, and the question reached her quick ear.
"I think he has come to himself," said Sally, as she made way for the delighted old woman.
"Who is it?" Lionel kept repeating, "who is it? What is the Fairy's name?"
"Now, honey, what you talkin' 'bout9?" said[Pg 269] Mammy, comfortably stirring the gruel she held. "Jus' you keep quiet and drink this, and your ole Mammy have you hoppin' about as spry as a skeeter in de twinklin' ob an eye."
"No, no, Mammy," cried the young man, in a weak voice, but masterful way, "who was it bent over me? I must know. They always thought me wandering in mind after my fall in the pine woods. I saw a Fairy face bending over me, and a fair creature gave me water. I saw the Fairy again, just a glimpse, and once more, just now. I'll take neither bite nor sup till I see her again!"
Sally had disappeared. She grew frightened at thought of having the Fairy Prince try to find her out, and off she ran as Mammy went up to the cot.
She was quietly feeding a man whose right arm was in a sling13, when Mammy Leezer's plump, rolling figure came toward her.
"Yo'll done hev to come and see Mars' Lion," said Mammy, "he's comin' 'roun' all right shor', for he's pert as a two-year-ole rooster![Pg 270] He won't take de grool from his ole Mammy, nor anyting, till he see de Fairy he done gone crazy 'bout. You better get some un else to feed dat man, and tote ober to Mars' Lion."
The feeding was really through with, and Sally, trembling and flushing, went back to the side of her Fairy Prince.
He held out his hand, and Sally put hers into it.
"Let me look at you," he said.
Sally went nearer.
"Yes, it is the very face! The one that bent over me in the woods. Tell me," he said, "did you not give me water when I lay stunned14 one day near Lover's Lane?"
"Yes," said Sally.
"And tell me," he asked again, his face getting flushed and his voice rising, "have I not seen your face since, just for an instant? But the eyes, the dimples, the mouth are the same. When was it?"
[Pg 271]"Do fo' de goodness sake tell 'im ebberyting you know, and hab done with it!" she said, in a low tone, twitching16 Sally's sleeve. "It won't do to cross 'im nohow; he'll be down with de fever jinks, first ting we know."
Sally bent over him, her dark eyes meeting his blue ones.
"They told of your being a prisoner," she said, simply, "and I thought it a shame. I wanted to help the country, so I brought you Hotspur. You saw me hiding in a tree. Now please let me go," and she tried to draw away her hand.
But the Fairy Prince took the hand in both his own and softly kissed it.
His face paled, and he calmed down as he said:
"Promise me you will not go away."
"I promise not to go away until I must," said Maid Sally.
Then Mammy fed her "babby," and gave him a soothing17 dose of steeped skullcap, which drowsy18 herb soon had him in a quiet sleep.
[Pg 272]Sally went about in a Fairy-like dream.
The back of her right hand seemed to have been touched with a golden wand where the Fairy Prince had kissed it.
Yet she was puzzling over the question how best to answer when her Prince would seek to know more about her, as he surely would.
Tell her own story she never could, at least not the first part of it. At length she murmured:
"Oh, my good Fairy, please tell me once more what had I better do?"
And the Fairy answered:
"Why not tell Mammy Leezer the truth about the pine woods, and let her repeat it? She loves the Fairy Prince with all her heart, and would dress up the story in rosiest19 colors.
"What if you were a poor little girl then, or thought to be? Mammy knew you had a fine father, and will say so. And what if the Fairy Prince finds out that twice you were in a tree when he needed help? Fairies are supposed to lurk20 in forests and midst trees and flowers.
[Pg 273]"Mammy can begin the story, you must finish it. Tell him of your love for Ingleside, but not of the rocky seat. It would not be maidenly22 or needful. Tell him your name, and hide not the fact of his relationship."
Maid Sally took her good Fairy's advice, and at the story Mammy Leezer cried, "Sho' now!" and "Bress yo' dear lil heart!" and "Lorr de massy sakes alive!" until Sally knew how her music-full voice and flowery speech would set forth23 all that she would pour into the ears of the listening Prince.
Then for several days, the young Lionel, who never tired of the whole pleasing story, was set and determined24 to have Maid Sally near him every moment that he could.
But good Parson Kendall had talked and prayed with hurt and troubled men, while Doctor Hancocke had given medicines and good advice, and nursing dames25 of kind hearts and willing hands had waited on the sick.
Now a fortnight had slipped away since the battle of Great Bridge, the wounded men were[Pg 274] doing well, a number had been taken to their homes, and Parson Kendall and Doctor Hancocke were about to return homeward.
The Fairy Prince, still too weak for removal, rebelled at thought of missing the sweet face of his dear Fairy Girl.
But Parson Kendall was firm as a rock.
In vain Mammy Leezer said, with rolling eyes and fearful air:
"I dunno what de consekens will be, ef dat lil missy go 'way!"
The good parson believed that Sally had gone forth in time of need, and now that she was no longer really needed, she should return to other duties. And Sally knew that he was right.
So, very early one morning, Sally threw her Fairy Prince a kiss when he was sleeping and nobody saw, for Mammy had advised that he should know nought26 of her going until she must tell him she had gone, and long after midnight she was back with Goodwife Kendall, who received her with a warm embrace, so truly glad was she to have the maiden21 back again.
[Pg 275]It was a week later that Parson Kendall said to Sally, as he again met her in the hall:
"My dear young damsel, I have but just parted from Sir Percival Grandison, who hath been here to make inquiries27 concerning thyself.
"He declareth, doth Sir Percival, that you have bewitched his son, and that nought will do but thou must repair to Ingleside and sit beside him. The young man hath been brought by easy stages to his home, but wearies all the time for his 'Fairy Girl.'
"Beshrew me, but I fear thou mayest be in very truth a kind of witch!"
"I have laid thy whole story before Sir Percival, part of which he already knew, and right pleased hath he been to find that the young maid who has so drawn29 the fancy of his son is of good mind, a lady born, and of kinship with his wife, the Lady Gabrielle.
"So prepare thyself, Maid Sara Duquesne,[Pg 276] and in an hour the coach will come to bear thee to Ingleside."
And to fair Ingleside went Maid Sally.
The doors opened wide to receive her. For the Lady Gabrielle Grandison said that no lack of welcome should be shown one of her own name and family.
The Lady Rosamond Earlscourt received her but coldly, but Lucretia was kind and gentle in her greeting.
Never before that she could remember had Sally entered so grand a room as the one in which sat the Fairy Prince well wrapped about with gaily30 flowered comforters, the wide arm-chair drawn up before a great blazing fire.
Sir Percival Grandison arose from a seat near his son as Sally came forward, nor did he longer wonder that the warm-hearted Southern lad, who was almost a man, had lost his heart to the lovely, blushing maiden.
Goodwife Kendall knew what she was doing in arraying Maid Sally in a skirt of crimson31[Pg 277] bombazine, an overdress of rich silk, and a crimson velvet32 bodice laced over quillings of white muslin, when she went forth to meet her relatives.
Like a ripe, tropical flower looked the maid as she bowed before Sir Percival.
The Fairy Prince again took her hand in both of his and kissed it.
And while the struggle went on between king's men and colonists33, fair Maid Sally became a frequent guest at Ingleside.
The Fairy Prince would have it so.
She knew that when the spring should come, he would go forth under him who was to be the great commander-in-chief, George Washington, to again do battle for his beloved country. Nor would she have him stay.
And then came a brave, welcome day, when Sir Percival Grandison became convinced that the colonists were right in resisting the king's rule, and boldly said so.
The character of Washington, too, so calm, so grand, and determined, was that of a man to[Pg 278] be trusted, and Sir Percival took his stand with the American cause, once and for all.
In February, Lady Rosamond Earlscourt took her departure for England, intending to remain there.
Early in June the Fairy Prince was to join a company under the commander-in-chief.
Ah, but that month of May! sweet, sweet May!
The birds sang as never before. The garden bloomed as never bloomed a garden before since the world was young.
Once Sally peered over the wall. The upper stone of her rocky seat had fallen to the ground.
"I shall want it no more," she thought.
There was a fine party and feast at Ingleside shortly before Lionel was to go away.
Mammy Leezer did her best. There was porcupine35 marmalade, sorghum36 foam37, salads, nut and cheese cakes, macaroon paste, floating-island, syllabub, and sangaree.
[Pg 279]Sally was all in white, white blossoms in her red gold hair, white blossoms at her breast.
As she roamed with Lionel about the lawn after the other guests had gone, and they stopped for a moment at the summer-house, the young man said:
"I think of you always, dear, as my Fairy Girl."
And Maid Sally replied:
"I saw you in this garden once and called you my Fairy Prince."
"Promise me you will never have any Fairy Prince in your heart but me!" he cried.
"I promise I will never have any Fairy Prince in my heart but you," said Maid Sally.
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1
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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2
warehouse
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| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
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3
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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4
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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5
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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6
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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7
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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8
gruel
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| n.稀饭，粥 | |
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9
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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10
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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11
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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12
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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13
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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14
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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15
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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16
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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17
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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18
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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19
rosiest
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| adj.玫瑰色的( rosy的最高级 )；愉快的；乐观的；一切都称心如意 | |
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20
lurk
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| n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏 | |
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21
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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22
maidenly
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| adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
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23
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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24
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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25
dames
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| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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26
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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27
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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28
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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29
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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30
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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31
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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32
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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33
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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34
arbor
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| n.凉亭；树木 | |
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35
porcupine
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| n.豪猪， 箭猪 | |
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36
sorghum
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| n.高粱属的植物，高粱糖浆，甜得发腻的东西 | |
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37
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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