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Файл:Satanstoe; or, The Littlepage Manuscripts
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SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
fast; and it could not be long before the great movements of
the year must commence. Several regiments had arrived in
the colonies, and various offi cers of note and rank had accompanied them. Among others who had thus crossed the Atlantic
for the fi rst time, was my Lord Howe, a young soldier of whom
fame spoke favourably, and from whom much was expected in
the course of the anticipated service of the year. While we
were talking over these things, Herman Mordaunt re-entered
the room, after a short absence, and he took me with him to
examine his preparations for transporting the ladies to Ravensnest. As we went along, the discourse was maintained, and
I learned many things from my older and intelligent companion, that were new to me.
«New lords, new laws, they say, Corny», continued Herman Mordaunt; «and this Mr. Pitt, the great commoner, as
some persons call him, is bent on making the British empire
feel the truth of the axiom. Everything is alive in the colonies,
and the sluggish period of Lord Loudon’s command is passed.
Gen. Abercrombie, an offi cer from whom much is expected, is
now at the head of the King’s troops, and there is every prospect of an active and most important campaign. The disgraces of the few last years must be wiped out, and the English name
be made once more to be dreaded on this continent. The Lord
Howe of whom Anneke spoke, is said to be a young man of
merit, and to possess the blood of our Hanoverian monarchs;
his mother being a half-sister, in the natural way, of his present Majesty».
Herman Mordaunt then spoke more fully of his own
plans for the summer – expressed his happiness at knowing
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
that Dirck and myself were to be what he called his neighbours – though, on a more exact computation, it was ascertained, that the nearest boundaries of the two patents, that of
Ravensnest, and that of Mooseridge, lay quite fourteen miles
apart, with a dense and virgin forest between them. Nevertheless, this would be making us neighbours, in a certain sense;
as gentlemen always call men of their own class neighbours,
when they live within visiting distance, or near enough to be
seen once or twice in a year. And such men are neighbours, in
the sense that is most essential to the term – they know each
other better; understand each other better; sympathize more
freely; have more of the intercourse that makes us judges of
motives, principles, and character, twenty-fold, than he who
lives at the gate, and merely sees the owner of the grounds
pass in and out, on his daily avocations. There is, and can be no
greater absurdity, than to imagine that the sheer neighbourhood, or proximity of position, makes men acquainted. That
was one of Jason Newcome’s Connecticut notions. Having
been educated in a state of society in which all associated on
a certain footing of intimacy, and in which half the diffi culties
that occurred were «told to the church», he was for ever fancying he knew all the gentry of Westchester, because he had
lived a year or two in the county; when, in fact, he had never
spoken to one in a dozen of them. I never could drive this
notion out of his head, however; for looking often at a man,
or occasionally exchanging a bow with him on the highway,
he would insist was knowing him, or what he called, being
«well acquainted;» a very favourite expression of the Danbury
man’s; though their sympathies, habits, opinions, and feelings,
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SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
created so vast a void between the parties, they hardly understood each other’s terms, and ordinary language, when they
did begin to converse, as sometimes happened. Notwithstanding all this, Jason insisted to the last that he knew every gentleman in the county, whom he had been accustomed to hear
alluded to in discourse, and when he had seen them once or
twice, though it were only at church. But Jason had a very fl attering notion, generally, of his own acquisitions on all subjects.
Herman Mordaunt had made careful provision for the contemplated journey; having caused a covered vehicle to be constructed, that could transport not only himself and the ladies,
but many articles of furniture that would be required during
their residence in the forest. Another conveyance, strong, spacious, and covered, was also prepared for the blacks, and another portion of the effects. He pointed out all these arrangements to me with great satisfaction, dwelling on the affection
and spirit of the girls with a pleasure he did not affect to conceal. For my own part, I have always been of opinion, that Anneke was solely infl uenced by pure, natural regard, in forming
her indiscreet resolution; while her father was governed by
the secret expectation that the movement would leave open
the means of receiving visits and communications from Bulstrode, during most of the summer. I commended the arrangements, made one or two suggestions of my own in behalf of
Anneke and Mary, and we returned to our several homes.
A day or two after this visit to the workshops, and the conversation related, the –th took up its line of march for
the north. The troops defi led through the narrow streets in
the neighbourhood of the barracks, half an hour after the ap-
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
pearance of the sun, preceded and followed by a long train of
baggage-wagons. They marched without tents, however, it being well understood that they were going into a region where
the axe could at any time cover thousands of men, in about
the time that a camp could be laid out, and the canvass spread.
Hutting was the usual mode of placing an army under cover in
the forest; and a dozen marches would take the battalion to
the point where it was intended it should remain, as a support to two or three other corps still further in advance, and to
keep open the communications.
Bulstrode, however, did not quit Albany in company with
his regiment. I had been invited, with Guert and Dirck, to
breakfast at Herman Mordaunt’s that morning; and, as we approached the door, I saw the Major’s groom walking his own
and his master’s horse, in the street, near by. This was a sign we
were to have the pleasure of Bulstrode’s company at breakfast.
Accordingly, on entering the room, we found him present, in
the uniform of an offi cer of his rank, about to commence
a march in the forests of America. I thought him melancholy,
as if sad at parting; but my most jealous observation could detect no sign of similar feeling on the part of Anneke. She was
not quite as gay as usual, but she was far from being sad.
«I leave you, ladies, with the deepest regret», said Bulstrode, while at table, «for you have made this country more
than a home to me – you have rendered it dear».
This was said with feeling; more than I had ever seen Bulstrode manifest before, and more than I had given him credit for possessing. Anneke coloured a little; but there was no
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SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
tremor in the beautiful hand, that held a highly-wrought little
tea-pot suspended over a cup, at that very moment.
«We shall soon meet again, Harry», Herman Mordaunt remarked, in a tone of strong affection; «for, our party will not be
a week behind you. Remember, we are to be good neighbours,
as well as neighbours; and, if the mountain will not come to
Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain».
«Which means, Mr. Bulstrode», said Mary Wallace, with
one of her sweet smiles, and one that was as open and natural as childhood itself, «that you are Mahomet, and we are
the mountain. Ladies can neither travel, with comfort, in a wilderness, nor visit a camp, with propriety, if they would».
«They tell me, I shall not be in a camp at all», answered
the soldier; «but in good, comfortable log-barracks, that have
been built for us by the battalion we relieve. I am not without hopes, they will be such as even ladies will not disdain to
use, on an emergency. There ought to be no Mahomet, and no
mountain, between such old and intimate friends».
The conversation then turned on the plans and expectations of the respective parties; and the usual promises were
made, of being sociable and good neighbours, as had just been
suggested. Herman Mordaunt evidently wished to consider
Bulstrode as one of his family; a feeling that might excuse itself to the world, on the score of consanguinity; but which, it
was easy enough, for me, to see, had its origin in a very different cause. When Bulstrode rose to take his leave, I wished
myself away, on account of the exhibition of concern it produced; while the desire to watch the effect on Anneke, would
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
have kept me rooted to the fl oor, even had it been proper that
I should retire.
Bulstrode was more affected than I could have thought
possible. He took one of Herman Mordaunt’s hands into his
own, and pressed it warmly, for some little time, before he
could speak at all.
«God only knows what this summer is to see, and whether
we are ever to meet again, or not», he then said, «but, come
what may, the past, the happy past, is so much gained from
the commonplace. If you never hear of me again, my dear kinsman, my letters to England will give you a better account of
my gratitude, than anything I can say in words. They have
been written as your kindnesses have been bestowed; and they
faithfully pourtray the feelings to which your hospitality and
friendship have given rise. In a possible event, I have requested
that every one of them may be sent to America, for your special
perusal –»
«Nay, my dear Harry, this is foreboding the very worst»,
interrupted Herman Mordaunt, dashing a tear from his eye,
«and is making a very short separation, a more serious matter
than one ought –»
«Nay, sir, a soldier, who is about to be posted within striking distance of his enemy, can never speak, with confi dence, of
separations that are to be short. This campaign will be decisive,
for me», – glancing towards Anneke –» I must return a conqueror, in one sense, or I do not wish to return at all. But, God
bless you, Herman Mordaunt, as your own countrymen call
you; a thousand years could not efface from my heart, the remembrance of all your kindness».
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SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
This was handsomely expressed; and the manner in which
it was uttered, was as good as the language. Bulstrode hesitated
a moment – looked at the two girls in doubt – and fi rst approached Mary Wallace.
«Adieu, excellent Mary Wallace», he said, taking her offered hand, and kissing it with a freedom from emotion, that
denoted it was only friendship and respect which induced
the act –» I believe, you are a severe critic on Catos and
Scrubs; but, I forgive all your particular backbitings, on account of your general indulgence and probity. You may meet
with a thousand mere acquaintances, before you fi nd another
who shall have the same profound respect for your many virtues, as myself».
This was handsomely said, too; and it caused Mary Wallace to remove the handkerchief from her eyes, and to utter
her adieus cordially, and with some emotion. Strangers say that
our women want feeling – passion; or, if they have it, that it is
veiled behind a mask of coldness, that takes away from its loveliness and warmth; that they are girlish and familiar, where
they might better be reserved; and distant, and unnatural,
where feeling and nature ought to assert their sway. That they
have less manner, in all respects, in that of self-control, and
perhaps of self-respect, in their ordinary intercourse, and in
that of acting, where it may seem necessary so to do, I believe to
be true; buts he who denies an American girl a heart, knows
nothing about her. She is all heart; and the apparent coldness
is oftener the consequence of not daring to trust her feelings,
and her general dislike to everything artifi cial, than to any
want of affections. Two girls, educated, however, as had been
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
Anneke and Mary Wallace, could not but acquit themselves
better, in such a scene, than those who had been less accustomed to the usages of polite life, which are always more or
less, the usages of convention.
On the present occasion, Mary Wallace was strongly affected; it would not have been possible, for one of her gentle
nature and warm affections, to be otherwise, when an agreeable companion, one she had now known intimately near two
years, was about to take his leave of her, on an errand that he
himself either thought, or affected so well to seem to think,
might lead to the most melancholy issue. She shook hands
with Bulstrode, warmly; wished him good fortune, and various
other pleasant things; thanked him for his good opinion, and
expressed her hope, as well as her belief, that they should all
meet again before the summer was over, and again be happy in
each other’s society.
Anneke’s turn came next. Her handkerchief was at her eyes;
and, when it was removed, the face was pale, and the cheeks
were covered with tears. The smile that followed, was sweetness itself; and, I will own, it caused me a most severe pang.
To my surprise, Bulstrode said nothing. He took Anneke’s
hand, pressed it to his heart, kissed it, left a note in it, bowed,
and moved away. I felt ashamed to watch the countenance of
Miss Mordaunt, under such circumstances, and turned aside,
that observation might not increase the distress and embarrassment she evidently felt. I saw enough, notwithstanding, to
render me more uncertain than ever, as to the success of my
own suit. Anneke’s colour had come and gone, as Bulstrode
stood near her, acting his dumb-show of leave-taking; and, to
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me, she seemed far more affected than Mary Wallace had been.
Nevertheless, her feelings were always keener and more active
than those of her friend; and, that which my sensitiveness took
for the emotion of tenderness, might be nothing more than
ordinary womanly feeling and friendship. Besides, Bulstrode
was actually her relative.
We men all attended Bulstrode to his horse. He shook us
cordially by the hand; and, after he had got into the saddle,
he said –» This summer will be warmer than is usual, even in
your warmy-cold climate. My letters from home give me reason to think that there is, at last, a man of talents at the head of
affairs; and the British empire is likely to feel the impulse he
will give it, at its most remote extremities. I shall expect you
three young men to join the –th, as volunteers, as soon as
you hear of our moving in advance. I wish I had a thousand
like you; for that affair of the river tells where a man will be
found when the time comes. God bless you, Corny!» leaning
forward in his saddle, to give me another shake of the hand;
«we must remain friends, coute qui couté».
There was no withstanding this frankness, and so much
good-temper. We shook hands most cordially; Bulstrode raised
his hat and bowed; after which he rode away, as I fancied, at
a slow, thoughtful, reluctant pace. Notwithstanding the kindness of this parting, I had more cause than ever to regret Bulstrode had appeared among us; and the scenes of that morning
only confi rmed me in a resolution, previously adopted, not to
urge Anneke to any decision, in my case, at a moment when
I felt there might be so much danger it would he adverse.
CHAPTER XX
“Come, let a proper text be read,
An’ touch it aff wi’ vigour,
How graceless Ham leugh at his dad,
Which made Canaan a nigger.”
BURNS
Ten days after the departure of the –th, Herman Mordaunt
and his family, with our own party, left Albany, on the summer’s business. In that interval, however, great changes had taken place in the military aspect of things. Several regiments of
King’s troops ascended the Hudson, most of the sloops on
the river, of which there could not have been fewer than
thirty or forty, having been employed in transporting them
and their stores. Two or three corps came across the country, from the eastern colonies, while several provincial regiments appeared; everything tending to a concentration at this
point, the head of navigation on the Hudson. Among other
men of mark, who accompanied the troops, was Lord Viscount Howe, the nobleman of whom Herman Mordaunt had
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