CHAPTER XVI--THE TABLES TURNED
"Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago Blushed--at the praise of their own loveliness."
--Byron.
Instantly the little town was all commotion. From every quarter men camerunning in answer to the call, ready to defend their homes from theinvader; while women huddled together in groups, or gathered theirtreasures and fled with them to the forest. Mustered at length, themilitia, pitifully few in numbers, sallied forth to meet the enemy. Fromthe southward came the strains of martial music as the Britishapproached, and mothers, wives, and sisters waited in breathlesssuspense the result of the encounter.
The sound of a few shots was borne presently on the breeze, followed bythe rush of running men, and the militia which had marched forth sobravely but a short time before, came flying back, panic stricken.
"There are thousands of them," cried the panting men. "We could notstand against the whole British army." On they ran, while from the otherdirection came the first division of Major-General Phillips' army, theQueen's Rangers, under Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, which marched in withdrums beating, and colors flying.
At the first alarm Peggy had paused abruptly, hardly knowing what to do.Her first impulse had been to return to the cottage, but rememberingthat Fairfax was with the militia, and Nurse Johnson somewhere about thehospital, she hesitated. As she did so there came a peremptory voicefrom the bed:
"Mistress Peggy!"
"Well, my cousin?" Peggy went back to Clifford reluctantly.
"Are my people truly coming?"
"They seem to be," answered the girl.
"And where were you going?"
"I really don't know," answered she. "I would be alone at NurseJohnson's cottage, which I would like not. Solitude is conducive tofear, and I wish ever to present a brave front in the presence of theenemy. I shall remain somewhere about the hospital by necessity."
"Stay by me," he said.
"But thee has hardly ceased telling me that thee does not want me nearthee?" cried the girl opening wide her eyes in surprise.
"I have not changed my opinion concerning the matter," he said grimly."But I am an English officer, and the safest place for you is by mybedside. Therefore, mistress, I command you to sit here by my bed."
"I don't want thy protection," began Peggy hotly. "I think I prefer thysoldiers."
"Did I want your nursing?" he demanded savagely. "No, I did not; yet wasI compelled to submit to it. And while I did not desire your attendance,still you have attended me. For what purpose I know not, nor doth it nowmatter. The fact remains that I am under an obligation of which I wouldbe quit. I will requite whatever of service you have rendered me byprocuring exemption from pillage or annoyance for both yourself and thefriends with whom you are staying. Sit you here beside me, MistressPeggy, and bide the result."
"Clifford Owen," retorted the maiden so bitterly angry that she couldscarcely speak, "were it not for those friends who have been so kind tome, I would die rather than accept aught from thy hands. But because ofthem I will take whatever of favor thee can obtain for us. But 'tisunder protest. Under strong protest, I would have thee understand."
"So?" he said. "That is quite as it should be."
For one long instant the two gazed at each other. The lad's wholeappearance betokened the keenest enjoyment of the situation. He lookedas though he had received a draught of an elixir of life, so animatedand strong did he appear.
Peggy, on the contrary, found no pleasure in the state of things. Shewas as near blind, unreasoning wrath as her gentle nature ever came. Hadit not been for Nurse Johnson and her son, she would have left hercousin's bedside forthwith. As it was she sat down beside him inanything but a meek frame of mind.
The streets of the little city thronged with the red coats of theBritish, and they took possession of public buildings, dwellings, andshops as though they were masters returning to their own.
It was not long before several soldiers under the leadership of anofficer made their appearance in the hospital. Rapidly they went throughthe rooms searching for British prisoners among the wounded and sickinmates. There was no rudeness nor annoyance of any sort offered toeither the American sick, or their white-faced nurses. As theyapproached his bed Clifford sat up stiffly, and gave the officer'ssalute.
"Ha!" cried the English officer. "What have we here?" and he pausedbeside him.
"I am Captain Williams, of the Forty-eighth Regiment, sir," declaredClifford with another salute. "I have been a prisoner with the enemysince the last week of February."
"Ha! yes; I remember. Taken at Westchester while on private business forSir Henry Clinton," said the other.
"The very same, sir. And this," indicating Peggy, "is my cousin,Mistress Margaret Owen, of Philadelphia, who hath been put to no smallinconvenience by my illness. She hath nursed me back to health, or atleast until I am on the road to recovery. For the sake of whateverservice I have been able to render General Sir Henry Clinton, I beg youto see that neither she, nor any of the inmates of the house where shedwells, be subjected to annoyance. She hath also a pony, I believe, ofwhich she is very fond. Wilt see that it is exempted from impressment?It is needless to say that any favor rendered me in the matter will notgo without recompense."
A significant glance was exchanged between the two which Peggy did notnotice. What she did see, however, was that the officer saluted in turn,saying pompously:
"Whatever you desire in the matter, captain, will be done. If the younglady will come with me to show me the house I will at once put a guardon the premises. I promise that she will suffer no annoyance of anysort."
As Clifford spoke of her as his cousin, Peggy felt a quick revulsion offeeling. It was the first time he had so called her. Then, as he openlyacknowledged his indebtedness to her nursing, the girl's anger towardhim died away. After all, she thought, the lad was doing his best torepay her for what she had done. That he was doing it from a desire tobe quit of the obligation did not matter in the least. She knew now howhe had felt during the time when he had submitted to her attentions, anda sense of justice made her aware that he was acquitting himselfhandsomely. And so as she rose to accompany the officer to the cottage,she said humbly:
"I thank thee, my cousin. I will not forget thy kindness in the matter."
A puzzled look came into the youth's eyes at her changed demeanor, buthe merely gave a slight bow, and motioned her to go on with the officer.But Peggy was not yet through with him.
"May I come again to attend thee?" she asked in a low tone. "Thee is notwell yet, thee must know."
"Yes," he said. "Come, and you will, mistress. I will not mind yourministrations so much now."
And in much better spirits than she had deemed possible a few momentsbefore the girl accompanied the officer to the cottage. Nurse Johnsoncame to the door wringing her hands as they neared the entrance.
"There will be naught left, Peggy," she said despairingly. "The soldiersare in the house now stripping it of everything. 'Twill be a mercy ifthe house is left."
Before Peggy could make reply the officer removed his cocked hat, bowingcourteously.
"That shall be stopped immediately, madam," he said. "War is not agentle thing, and sometimes suffering must fall upon even our friends.In this case, however, your inconvenience will be short."
The good woman had not recovered from her bewilderment at this speech,ere he pushed past her into the house, and they heard him reprimandingthe looting soldiers sharply.
"What doth it mean, child?" she gasped as every article taken wasrestored to its place, and a guard mounted before the dwelling. "Why arewe so favored when our poor neighbors are faring so ill?"
"'Tis Clifford," Peggy told her. "He insisted that my friends and Ishould not be subjected to annoyance by his people as a return fornursing him."
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"Well, of all things!" exclaimed the nurse. "And you thought he did notlike you!"
"He doesn't, friend nurse. He made sure that I should understand thathis feeling toward me had not changed, but he felt that he was under anobligation of which he would be quit. Still," a little gleam came intoPeggy's eyes as she spoke, "he did think that he would not mind myministering to him so much now."
"Of course not," laughed Nurse Johnson. "He will think it his due now.Isn't that like an Englishman? But I am very thankful none the less,though I see not how he could do other than he hath done. It iscertainly reassuring to know that we shall not be molested."
So Peggy and her friend stayed in the cottage, or went back and forth tothe hospital untroubled, save for the irksomeness of having armed menabout the dooryard. And in the stable Star ate her oats, or tossed herslender head unwitting of the fact that she had been saved from helpingin the marauding expeditions of the enemy.
"I have misjudged my cousin," thought Peggy with a warm glow ofgratitude toward the lad as she prepared his breakfast the next morning."And yesterday I was so angry. Peggy, Peggy! will thee never learn togovern thy temper? Thee must be more patient, and guard thy unrulytongue better. Heigh-ho! 'tis an adventurous jaunt after all, thoughstill I would I were with mother. There! I don't believe that my cousinwill ignore my offering this morning."
And with this she placed a few violets on the platter, and started forthe hospital, going through the gate of the orchard which opened intoPalace Street.
As she closed the gate and turned in the direction of the hospital shesaw an officer coming down the street. There was something strangelyfamiliar in his appearance, and Peggy was so impressed with the ideathat it was some one she had met that she regarded him keenly. Shestopped as though she had received a shock as she recognized him. Forthe man was Major-General Benedict Arnold, and he was coming directlytoward her.