Peggy Owen at Yorktown

  CHAPTER XX--VINDICATED

  "'Tis just that I should vindicate alone The broken truce, or for the breach atone."

  --Dryden.

  "Thee has come at last," cried Peggy, a little catch coming into hervoice. "Oh, Harriet! Harriet! why didn't thee come before? Or write?"

  "Why, I came as soon as I could, Peggy. When I knew that the Forty-thirdwas to be sent down I went to Sir Henry for permission to accompany theregiment. The colonel's wife bore him company, which made my comingpossible. Oh, the voyage was delightsome! I love the sea. And themilitary also. You should have heard the things they said to 'this sweetcreature,' as they styled me. And how is Clifford?"

  "He is no longer an invalid, Harriet. He hath quit the hospital, andtaken rooms at the Raleigh Tavern. Thee can see the building from hereif thee will turn thy head. 'Tis the long low building with the row ofdormer windows in the roof. He talks also of returning to the army, buthath been waiting to hear from thee. He hath worried. I am so glad thatthou hast come, and he will be glad also. I do believe that thee growsmore beautiful all the time."

  "Sorry that I can't say the same for you," laughed Harriet, pinchingPeggy's cheek playfully. "What have you been doing to yourself? You arepale, and thinner than when I saw you last. Mercy! how long ago itseems, yet 'twas but the first week in last month. I have had such agood time in New York, Peggy," she ran on without waiting for answers toher questions. "The routs and the assemblies were vastly entertaining.And the plays! Oh, Peggy, you should have been there. I thought of youoften, and wished you with me, you little gray mouse of a cousin! Why doyou wear that frock? I like it not."

  "Did thee in truth think of me?" asked Peggy wistfully. "With all thatpleasuring I wonder that thee had time."

  "Well, I did of a certainty. Particularly after your mother's lettercame telling me about Clifford, and how you had gone down to care forhim. Of course I knew that he was in good hands, so I didn't worry. Isthis the hospital?"

  "Yes," answered the Quakeress who had been leading Harriet toward thespot during the conversation. "I left thy brother in the palace grounds,and I thought thee would like to be taken directly to him. Hath CaptainWilliams come in yet?" she inquired of an attendant.

  "Captain Williams," repeated Harriet who seemed to be in high spirits."How droll that sounds! Are these the palace grounds?" as Peggy onreceiving the attendant's answer led the way into them. "Oh! there isClifford!"

  She made a little rush forward with outstretched arms as she caughtsight of her brother, crying joyously:

  "Clifford! Clifford!"

  The youth rose at her cry. Over his face poured a flood of color.Incredulity struggled with joy, and was succeeded by a strangeexpression. His face grew stern, and his brows knit together in a heavyfrown. He folded his arms across his breast as his sister approached,and made no motion to embrace her. Peggy was nonplussed at the change.What did it mean! He had been so anxious for her coming, and so uneasyabout her. She could not understand it. Harriet too seemed astonished atthis strange reception.

  "One moment," he said, and Peggy shivered at the coldness of his tones,"do you come, my sister, as a loyal Englishwoman, or as a rebel?"

  "Loyal?" questioned Harriet wonderingly. "Why, of course I'm loyal. Whatelse could I be?"

  "And that Yankee captain? The one to whom you gave that shirt?"

  "The Yankee captain?" A puzzled look flashed across Harriet's face. "Oh!do you mean John Drayton? Well, what about him?"

  "Is he not favored by you?" queried Clifford, a light beginning to glowon his countenance.

  "Favored by me? John Drayton!" Harriet's lip curled in disdain. "Whatnonsense is this, Cliff? I dislike John Drayton extremely. Didn't Peggytell you?"

  "Then come," he said opening his arms.

  "You silly boy," cried Harriet embracing him. "I am minded not to kissyou at all. What put such absurd notions in your head? How well youlook! Not nearly so pale as Peggy is. One would think she was theinvalid. Come, Peggy! 'Tis fine here under the trees. Sit down while youboth hear about the gayeties of New York. And the war news! Oh, I haveso much to tell. Sir Henry says the game is up with the colonies thissummer. But oh, Cliff----"

  "Have you been in New York?" he interrupted.

  "Of course. Didn't Peggy tell you how the Most Honorable Council of therevolted colony of Pennsylvania," and Harriet's voice grew sarcastic,"banished me to that city because I tried to get a letter to Sir HenryClinton concerning your exchange? It hath afforded much amusement at thedinners when I would take off Mr. Reed's solemn manner. 'Tis strangethat Peggy did not tell you."

  "She did," he replied, and turning he looked at Peggy as though seeingher for the first time. A gaze that embraced the gray gown that clungclose to her slender figure; the snowy whiteness of her apron, the fullfichu fastened firmly about the round girlish throat; and the simple capof fine muslin that rested upon her dark tresses. "She did," herepeated, and paused expectantly as though for her to speak.

  But she made no comment. It was enough that she was vindicated at last.It had hurt Peggy that her cousin should doubt her word, and now hersole feeling was one of content that he should know that she had indeedspoken naught but truth.

  "Then if Peggy told you that I was sent there I see not why you shouldask if I came from there," spoke Harriet in perplexity. "Clifford, haveyou seen father?"

  "No," his face clouding. "I dread meeting him, Harriet. You know that heleft you and the home in my charge. Had I known that you would notremain I would never have left you. And why did you not stay there, mysister?"

  "Alone, Clifford? Did you not know me better than that? Know then,brother mine, that if you can serve your country, Mistress Harriet Owencan also. Oh, I have seen service, sir. I was a spy in the rebelheadquarters at Middlebrook, in the Jerseys, for nearly a whole winter."

  "You, Harriet! A spy?" he cried aghast. "Not you, Harriet?"

  "Don't get wrought up, Cliff. Father knew it, and consented. We werewell paid for it. Didn't Peggy tell you about it?" Harriet turned asmiling countenance upon Peggy. "She knew all about it. I stayed withour cousins while there."

  "I think there is much that Cousin Peggy hath not told me," he remarked,and again he looked at the girl with a curious intent glance. Peggy felther color rise under his searching gaze. "I will depend upon you forenlightenment as to several things."

  The shadows lengthened and crept close to the little group under thetrees. Fireflies sparkled in the dusk of the twilight. A large whitemoth sailed out of the obscurity toward the lights which had begun toglimmer in the hospital windows. An owl hooted in a near-by walnut tree.Peggy rose suddenly.

  "We should not stay here," she said. "Clifford is no longer an invalid,'tis true; still he should not remain out in the dew."

  "I have scarcely begun to talk," demurred Harriet. "I think I shouldknow what will suit my own brother, Peggy."

  "Our Cousin Peggy is right, Harriet," observed Clifford in an unusuallydocile mood. "I should not be out in the dew, and neither should you.To-morrow there will be ample opportunity to converse. I confess that Ido feel a little tired. Then too there are matters to ponder."

  "Of course if you are tired," said his sister rising, "we must go in.To-morrow, Peggy, you will find yourself like Othello--your occupationgone."

  "I shall not mind," Peggy hastened to assure her. "Thy brother hathdesired thy coming so much that I make no doubt that he will enjoy thecompanionship."

  "I dare say he did want me," was Harriet's self-complacent remark."Still, Peggy, there's no denying the fact that you are a good nurse. Isit not strange, Clifford, that she hath nursed all three of us? Fatherwhen he was wounded in a skirmish at their house; me when I was ill of afever, and now you."

  "No; she hath not told me," he answered. "She hath been remiss in thisat least, Harriet. Now----"

  "I think mother did the most of the nursing," interrupted Peggy hastily."And after all, 'tis over n
ow. There is no necessity to dwell upon whatis past. We will bid thee good-night, my cousin."

  "And where do you stay?" inquired Harriet as Clifford left them at thecottage gate. "Is this the place? How small it is! Will there be roomfor me, Peggy?"

  "Thee can share my room, Harriet. Mother made arrangements with NurseJohnson, with whom I came to Williamsburg, that I was to stay with her.She is most kind, and will gladly receive thee."

  "Let's hurry to bed," pleaded Harriet. "I do want to tell you aboutMajor Greyling, and--well, some others. We can talk in bed."

  "Very well," was Peggy's amused response. "But I have somewhat to tellthee also. Wilt promise to let me talk part of the time?"

  "Don't be a goose," said Harriet giving her a little squeeze. "I havesomething important to tell you."

  "Then come in," said Peggy, opening the door.