CHAPTER XI--ON THE ROAD
"The rolling world is girdled with the sound, Perpetually breathed from all who dwell Upon its bosom, for no place is found Where is not heard, 'Farewell.'"
--Celia Thaxter.
As the little caravan turned from Chestnut Street into Seventh so thatshe could no longer see her home Peggy's lips quivered, and it was withdifficulty that she refrained from bursting into tears.
"Give not way to idle grief at our parting," her mother had admonishedher. "Thee will have need of all thy fortitude to attend thy cousin, and'twere sinful to waste thy strength in weeping."
With this counsel in mind the girl struggled bravely against heremotion, and presently, wiping her eyes, turned toward the nurse. Foryouth is ever buoyant, and it is not natural for it to give way long tosadness. They had passed the Bettering House by this time and were wellon their way toward the lower ferry.
"Thee will think me but a dull companion, I fear, friend nurse," shesaid. "But I grieve to leave my mother even for so short a time. Intruth, I have but recently returned home after a long absence."
"Partings are always sad, my child, even when they are but for a fewdays," replied Nurse Johnson sympathetically. "I felt just so when Ibade my sister farewell this morning. We had not seen each other for tenyears until I came for this visit, and 'tis like to be as long againbefore we get another glimpse of each other if this fearful warcontinues. In times such as these separation from loved ones is fraughtwith more than the usual sorrow; for one never knows what will happen.But you have borne up bravely, child. I feared a scene. Most girls wouldhave treated me to such. You have the making of a good nurse, Peggy,with such control."
"'Tis another time that I merit not thy praise," explained the maiden."'Tis all due to mother. She cautioned me about giving way to myfeelings, thinking that I would need my strength for the journey."
"Your mother is right," said Nurse Johnson soberly. "The way is long andwe shall have much ado to beguile the tediousness of it. As a beginning,can you tell me if those earthworks yonder are the remains of Britishentrenchments?"
"Yes," answered the girl. "Traces of their lines are still discoverablein many places about the city. If thee rode out the Bristol road at allthee must have seen a large redoubt which commands the Delaware. Itsparapet is considered of great elegance, though there are those thatcontend that the parapet was constructed with more regard to ornamentthan for fortification. Just this side of the battery are the barracksthey built."
"And were you in the city when they held possession?"
"No. Mother and I were at Strawberry Hill, our farm on the Wissahickon.Thee should have seen our city before the enemy held it, friend nurse.There were great trees all along the banks of the Schuylkill here whichwere called the Governor's Woods. The English cut them down forfire-wood, and to help build their fortifications. And so many of ourbeautiful country places were burned."
"'Tis so all over the land, my child," returned the nurse sadly. "Warleaves a train of wrecked and desolated homes wherever it is waged. Weof Virginia have been fortunate so far to escape a wholesale ravage ofthe state. True, there have been some predatory incursions, but thestate as a whole has not been overrun by the enemy. If General Greenecan continue to hold Lord Cornwallis' attention in the Carolinas we maynot suffer as those states have."
Thus she spoke, for no one imagined at this time that Virginia wouldsoon become the center of activities. And so chatting they crossed theriver, and by noon were in Chester, where they baited their horses andrefreshed themselves for the afternoon journey.
It was spring. The smooth road wound beneath the budding foliage of theforest. The air was fresh and balmy, and laden with the perfume offlowers and leaves. The sky was blue, and Peggy followed with delightthe flight of a hawk across its azure. Robins flew about merrily, withred breasts shaken by melodious chirpings, and brilliant plumageburnished by the sunlight. The maiden began to feel a keen enjoyment ofthe drive, and chatted and laughed with an abandon foreign to her usualquiet demeanor.
They lay at Wilmington, Delaware, that night, and early the next morningwere up and away again. Mindful of her new diary Peggy recorded herimpressions of the country through which she passed for the benefit ofher friends of The Social Select Circle.
"The country is beautiful," she wrote enthusiastically on the fourth dayof her journey after passing from Wilmington through Newcastle, and Headof the Elk, and crossing the Susquehanna River. "Though it seems to memore sandy than Pennsylvania. I think this must arise from being so nearthe coast. The Susquehanna is very broad at this crossing, but it cannotcompare with the Delaware for limpidness and whiteness. Nor are itsbanks so agreeable in appearance. To-morrow we enter Baltimore, which Ilong to see, for Nurse Johnson says 'tis a monstrously fine city.
"'And is thee going to tell us naught but about the country, Peggy?' Ihear thee complain, Betty Williams. Know then, thou foolish Betty, thatthe 'Silent Knight,' as thee dubbed him, hath not yet broken thatsilence. Each morning he bows very gravely and deeply. Oh, a most ornateobeisance! Thee should see it. This I return in my best manner, and theceremony for the day is over. If he hath aught to communicate he seekshis mother at the inns where we stop for refreshments. Truly he is a ladbeset by shyness.
"'And where is thy tongue, Peggy?' I hear thee ask.
"Well, it may be that I shall use it if he does not speak soon. Suchshyness doth engender boldness in us females. Will that please thee,thou saucy Betty?"
"Although," soliloquized Peggy when she had made this entry, "it may notbe shyness at all, but wisdom. I have heard mother say that wise men arenot great talkers, so when the young man does speak I make no doubt butthat his words will be full of matter. I must remember them verbatim,and set them down for the edification of The Circle."
They reached Baltimore that night instead of the next day; at so late anhour there was no time to see the little city. It was one of the mostimportant places in the new states at this time, ranking afterPhiladelphia and Boston in size, and growing rapidly, having been made aport of entry the year before. There was a quarter composed entirely ofAcadian families speaking nothing but French, Nurse Johnson told her,and Peggy made a particular note of the fact for Betty's delectation.
"Perchance when I return I can see more of it," said the maidenphilosophically as they were getting ready for their departure early thenext morning.
"I hope that you can, my dear," said Nurse Johnson. "'Twill be a hardride to-day, for we want to make Colchester by nightfall. I have acousin there with whom we can stop, which will be vastly morepleasurable than to stay at an ordinary. If we do not make the placeto-night there would be no time for visiting to-morrow."
The roads were good and hard, and the riding pleasant in the earlymorning. But as the day advanced the atmosphere became sultry, and Peggywas conscious of more fatigue than she had felt at any time through thejourney.
"Fairfax must change with you, and let you ride Star for a time," spokeMrs. Johnson, regarding her with solicitude. "I am sure that will restyou."
"I think it will," answered Peggy. "I do feel just a little weary of thecarriage, friend nurse. Perhaps thy son would like the change also? Itmust be lonely for him riding all alone."
Nurse Johnson laughed as she caught the girl's look.
"You must not mind his not talking," she said. "I think he hath neverspoken to a girl in his life. Still, he is a good son, for all hisshyness."
The change to Star's back was made, and they started forward at renewedspeed. Peggy's spirits rose as she found herself on the little mare, andshe rode ahead of the vehicle sometimes, or sometimes alongside of itchatting gayly. So pleasantly did the time pass that none of themnoticed that the sky had become overcast with clouds. A heavy drop ofrain falling upon her face compelled the girl's attention.
"Why, 'tis raining," she exclaimed in surprise.
"There's going to
be a thunder-storm," cried Nurse Johnson viewing theclouds in dismay. "How suddenly it hath come up. Fairfax, we must put inat the nearest plantation. Let Peggy get back in with me so that shewill not get wet. Then we must make speed."
The lad got out of the vehicle obediently, and approached the girl toassist her from the horse. As she sprang lightly to the ground, he gazedat her earnestly for a moment as though realizing the necessity ofspeech, and said:
"It looks like rain."
As he spoke the far horizon was illuminated by a succession of luridflashes of lightning which shone with fiery brilliancy against the blackmasses of thunder-clouds. The muttering of thunder told that the stormwas almost upon them. The fact was so evident that no living being coulddeny it. The lad's observation differed so from what she had expectedfrom him that there was no help for it, and Peggy gave way to a peal ofmerry laughter.
"I cry thee pardon, Friend Fairfax," she gasped. "It doth indeed looklike rain."
For a second the young fellow stood as though not realizing the fullimport of what he had said, and then, as heavy drops began to patterrapidly through the trees, the girl's merriment infected him and he tooburst into laughter.
"It is raining," he corrected himself, which remark but added to thegirl's mirth.
"Where are we?" asked his mother as Peggy took her place beside her.
"We are near His Excellency's plantation, mother."
"His Excellency?" cried Peggy. "Do you mean General Washington's house,friend nurse?"
"To be sure, Peggy," said Mrs. Johnson glancing about her. "Mount Vernonlies just beyond us on our left. We must put in there."