Chapter XV.

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　"As she lay, on that day, in the Bay of Biscay, 0!"

　　Previously to the occurrence of the scene at the "Bold Dragoon,"Elizabeth had been safely reconducted to the mansion-house, where shewas left as its mistress, either to amuse or employ herself during theevening as best suited her own inclinations. Most of the lights wereextinguished; but as Benjamin adjusted with great care and regularityfour large candles, in as many massive candlesticks of brass, in a rowon the sideboard, the hall possessed a peculiar air of comfort andwarmth, contrasted with the cheerless aspect of the room she had leftin the academy.

　　Remarkable had been one of the listeners to Mr. Grant, and returnedwith her resentment, which had been not a little excited by thelanguage of the Judge, somewhat softened by reflection and theworship. She recollected the youth of Elizabeth, and thought it nodifficult task, under present appearances, to exercise that powerindirectly which hitherto she had enjoyed undisputed. The idea ofbeing governed, or of being compelled to pay the deference ofservitude, was absolutely intolerable; and she had already determinedwithin herself, some half dozen times, to make an effort that shouldat once bring to an issue the delicate point of her domesticcondition. But as often as she met the dark, proud eye of Elizabeth,who was walking up and down the apartment, musing on the scenes of heryouth and the change in her condition, and perhaps the events of theday, the housekeeper experienced an awe that she would not own toherself could be excited by anything mortal. It, however, checked heradvances, and for some time held her tongue-tied. At length shedetermined to commence the discourse by entering on a subject that wasapt to level all human distinctions, and in which she might displayher own abilities.

　　"It was quite a wordy sarmon that Parson Grant gave us to-night," saidRemarkable. "The church ministers be commonly smart sarmonizers, butthey write down their idees, which is a great privilege. I dontthink that, by nater, they are as tonguey speakers, for an off-handdiscourse, as the standing-order ministers."

　　"And what denomination do you distinguish as the standing-order?"inquired Miss Temple, with some surprise.

　　"Why, the Presbyterans and Congregationals, and Baptists, too, for-til now; and all sitch as dont go on their knees to prayer,"

　　"By that rule, then, you would call those who belong to thepersuasion of my father, the sitting-order," observed Elizabeth."Im sure Ive never heard em spoken of by any other name thanQuakers, so called," returned Remarkable, betraying a slightuneasiness; "I should be the last to call them otherwise, for I neverin my life used a disparaging tarm of the Judge, or any of hisfamily. Ive always set store by the Quakers, they are so pretty-spoken, clever people, and its a wonderment to me how your fathercome to marry into a church family; for they are as contrary inreligion as can be. One sits still, and, for the most part; saysnothing, while the church folks practyse all kinds of ways, so that Isometimes think it quite moosical to see them; for I went to a church-meeting once before, down country."

　　"You have found an excellence in the church liturgy that has hithertoescaped me. I will thank you to inquire whether the fire in my roomburns; I feel fatigued with my journey, and will retire."

　　Remarkable felt a wonderful inclination to tell the young mistress ofthe mansion that by opening a door she might see for herself; butprudence got the better of resentment, and after pausing some littletime, as a salve to her dignity, she did as desired. The report wasfavorable, and the young lady, wishing Benjamin, who was filling thestove with wood, and the housekeeper, each a good-night, withdrew.

　　The instant the door closed on Miss Temple, Remark able commenced asort of mysterious, ambiguous discourse, that was neither abusive norcommendatory of the qualities of the absent personage, but whichseemed to be drawing nigh, by regular degrees, to a most dissatisfieddescription. The major-domo made no reply. but continued hisoccupation with great industry, which being happily completed, he tooka look at the thermometer, and then opening a drawer of the sideboard,he produced a supply of stimulants that would have served to keep thewarmth in his system without the aid of the enormous fire he had beenbuilding. A small stand was drawn up near the stove, and the bottlesand the glasses necessary for convenience were quietly arranged. Twochairs were placed by the side of this comfortable situation, whenBenjamin, for the first time, appeared to observe his companion.

　　"Come," he cried, "come, Mistress Remarkable, bring yourself to ananchor on this chair. Its a peeler without, I can tell you, goodwoman; but what cares I? blow high or blow low, dye see, its all thesame thing to Ben. The niggers are snug stowed below before a firethat would roast an ox whole. The thermometer stands now at fifty-five, but if theres any vartue in good maple wood, Ill weather uponit, before one glass, as much as ten points more, so that the squire,when he comes home from Betty Hollisters warm room, will feel as hotas a hand that has given the rigging a lick with bad tar. Come,mistress, bring up in this here chair, and tell me how you like ournew heiress."

　　"Why, to my notion, Mr. Penguillum----"

　　"Pump, Pump," interrupted Benjamin; "its Christmas eve, MistressRemarkable, and so, dye see, you had better call me Pump. Its ashorter name, and as I mean to pump this here decanter till it sucks,why, you may as well call me Pump."

　　"Did you ever!" cried Remarkable, with a laugh that seemed to unhingeevery joint in her body. "Youre a moosical creature, Benjamin, whenthe notion takes you. But, as I was saying, I rather guess that timeswill be altered now in this house."

　　"Altered!" exclaimed the major-domo, eyeing the bottle, that wasassuming the clear aspect of cut glass with astonishing rapidity; "itdont matter much, Mistress Remarkable, so long as I keep the keys ofthe lockers in my pocket."

　　"I cant say," continued the housekeeper, "but theres good eatablesand drinkables enough in the house for a bodys content--a little moresugar, Benjamin, in the glass --for Squire Jones is an excellentprovider. But new lords, new laws; and I shouldnt wonder if you andI had an unsartain time ont in footer."

　　"Life is as unsartain as the wind that blows," said Benjamin, with amoralizing air; "and nothing is more varible than the wind, MistressRemarkable, unless you hap pen to fall in with the trades, dye see,and then you may run for the matter of a month at a time, withstudding-sails on both sides, alow and aloft, and with the cabin-boyat the wheel."

　　"I know that life is disput unsartain," said Remark able, compressingher features to the humor of her companion; "but I expect there willbe great changes made in the house to rights; and that you will find ayoung man put over your head, as there is one that wants to be overmine; and after having been settled as long as you have, Benjamin, Ishould judge that to be hard."

　　"Promotion should go according to length of sarvice," said the major-domo; "and if-so-be that they ship a hand for my berth, or place a newsteward aft, I shall throw up my commission in less time than you canput a pilot-boat in stays. Thof Squire Dickon "--this was a commonmisnomer with Benjamin--" is a nice gentleman, and as good a man tosail with as heart could wish, yet I shall tel the squire, dye see,in plain English, and thats my native tongue, that if-so-be he isthinking of putting any Johnny Raw over my head, why, I shall resign.I began forrard, Mistress Prettybones, and worked my way aft, like aman. I was six months aboard a Garnsey lugger, hauling in the slackof the lee-sheet and coiling up rigging. From that I went a few tripsin a fore-and-after, in the same trade, which, after all, was but ablind kind of sailing in the dark, where a man larns but little,excepting how to steer by the stars. Well, then, dye see, I larnthow a topmast should be slushed, and how a topgallant-sail was to bebecketted; and then I did small jobs in the cabin, such as mixing theskippers grog. Twas there I got my taste, which, you must haveoften seen, is excel lent. Well, heres better acquaintance to us."Remarkable nodded a return to the compliment, and took a sip of thebeverage before her; for, provided it was well sweetened, she had noobjection to a small potation now and then, After this observance ofcourtesy between the worthy couple, the dialogue proceeded.

　　"You have had great experiences in life, Benjamin; for, as theScripter says, They that go down to the sea in ships see the works ofthe Lord."

　　"Ay! for that matter, they in brigs and schooners, too; and it moughtsay, the works of the devil. The sea, Mistress Remarkable, is a greatadvantage to a man, in the way of knowledge, for he sees the fashionsof nations and the shape of a country. Now, I suppose, for myselfhere, who is but an unlarned man to some that follows the seas, Isuppose that, taking the coast from Cape Ler Hogue as low down as CapeFinish-there, there isnt so much as a headland, or an island, that Idont know either the name of it or something more or less about it.Take enough, woman, to color the water. Heres sugar. Its a sweettooth, that fellow that you hold on upon yet, Mistress Prettybones.But, as I was saying, take the whole coast along, I know it as well asthe way from here to the Bold Dragoon; and a devil of acquaintance isthat Bay of Biscay. Whew! I wish you could but hear the wind blowthere. It sometimes takes two to hold one mans hair on his head.Scudding through the bay is pretty much the same thing as travellingthe roads in this country, up one side of a mountain and down theother,"

　　"Do tell!" exclaimed Remarkable; "and does the sea run as high asmountains, Benjamin?"

　　"Well, I will tell; but first lets taste the grog. Hem! its theright kind of stuff, I must say, that you keep in this country; butthen youre so close aboard the West Indies, you make but a small runof it. By the Lord Harry, woman, if Garnsey only lay somewherebetween Cape Hatteras and the bite of Logann, but youd see rum cheap!As to the seas, they runs more in uppers in the Bay of Biscay, unlessit may be in a sow-wester, when they tumble about quite handsomely;thof its not in the narrow sea that you are to look for a swell; justgo off the Western Islands, in a westerly blow, keeping the land onyour larboard hand, with the ships head to the southard, and bringto, under a close-reefed topsail; or, mayhap, a reefed foresail, witha fore-topmast-staysail and mizzen staysail to keep her up to the sea,if she will bear it; and ay there for the matter of two watches, ifyou want to see mountains. Why, good woman, Ive been off there inthe Boadishey frigate, when you could see nothing but some such matteras a piece of sky, mayhap, as big as the main sail; and then again,there was a hole under your lee-quarter big enough to hold the wholeBritish navy."

　　"Oh! for massys sake! and want you afeard, Benjamin? and how didyou get off?"

　　"Afeard! who the devil do you think was to be frightened at a littlesalt water tumbling about his head? As for getting off, when we hadenough of it, and had washed our decks down pretty well, we called allhands, for, dye see, the watch below was in their hammocks, all thesame as if they were in one of your best bedrooms; and so we watchedfor a smooth time, clapt her helm hard a weather, let fall theforesail, and got the tack aboard; and so, when we got her afore it, Iask you, Mistress Prettybones, if she didnt walk? didnt she? Im noliar, good woman, when I say that I saw that ship jump from the top ofone sea to another, just like one of these squirrels that can flyjumps from tree to tree."

　　"What! clean out of the water?" exclaimed Remark able, lifting her twolank arms, with their bony hands spread in astonishment.

　　"It was no such easy matte: to get out of the water, good woman; forthe spray flew so that you couldnt tell which was sea or which wascloud. So there we kept her afore it for the matter of two glasses.The first lieutenant he cund the ship himself, and there was fourquarter masters at the wheel, besides the master with six forecastlemen in the gun-room at the relieving tackles. But then she behavedherself so well! Oh! she was a sweet ship, mistress! That one frigatewas well worth more, to live in, than the best house in the island.If I was king of England Id have her hauled up above Lonon bridge,and fit her up for a palace; because why? if anybody can afford tolive comfortably, his majesty can."

　　"Well! but, Benjamin," cried the listener, who was in an ecstasy ofastonishment at this relation of the stewards dangers, "what did youdo?"

　　"Do! why, we did our duty like hearty fellows. Now if the countrymenof Monnsheer Ler Quaw had been aboard of her, they would have juststruck her ashore on some of them small islands; but we run along theland until we found her dead to leeward off the mountains of Pico, anddamme if I know to this day how we got there--whether we jumped overthe island or hauled round it; but there we was, and there we lay,under easy sail, fore-reaching first upon one tack and then upontother, so as to poke her nose out now and then and take a look towindard till the gale blowed its pipe out."

　　"I wonder, now!" exclaimed Remarkable, to whom most of the terms usedby Benjamin were perfectly unintelligible, but who had got a confusedidea of a raging tempest. "It must be an awful life, that going tosea! and I dont feel astonishment that you are so affronted with thethoughts, of being forced to quit a comfortable home like this. Notthat a body cares much fort, as theres more houses than one to livein. Why, when the Judge agreed with me to come and live with him, Idno more notion of stopping any time than anything. I happened in justto see how the family did, about a week after Mrs. Temple died,thinking to be back home agin night; but the family was in such adistressed way that I couldnt but stop awhile and help em on. Ithought the situation a good one, seeing that I was an unmarried body,and they were so much in want of help; so I tarried."

　　"And a long time youve left your anchors down in the same place,mistress. I think yo must find that the ship rides easy."

　　"How you talk, Benjamin! theres no believing a word you say. I mustsay that the Judge and Squire Jones have both acted quite clever, solong; but I see that now we shall have a specimen to the contrary. Iheern say thats the Judge was gone a great broad, and that he meantto bring his darter hum, but I didnt calculate on sich carrinson. To my notion, Benjamin, shes likely to turn out a desput uglygal."

　　"Ugly!" echoed the major-domo, opening eyes that were beginning toclose in a very suspicious sleepiness, in wide amazement. "By theLord Harry, woman, I should as soon think of calling the Boadishey aclumsy frigate. What the devil would you have? Arnt her eyes asbright as the morning and evening stars? and isnt her hair as blackand glistening as rigging that has just had a lick of tar? doesnt shemove as stately as a first-rate in smooth water, on a bowline? Why,woman, the figure-head of the Boadishey was a fool to her, and that,as Ive often heard the captain say, was an image of a great queen;and arnt queens always comely, woman? for who do you think would be aking, and not choose a handsome bedfellow?"

　　"Talk decent, Benjamin," said the housekeeper, "Or I wont keep yourcompany. I dont gainsay her being comely to look on, but I willmaintain that shes likely to show poor conduct. She seems to thinkherself too good to talk to a body. From what Squire Jones had telledme, I some expected to be quite captivated by her company. Now, to myreckoning, Lowizy Grant is much more pritty behaved than BetseyTemple. She wouldnt so much as hold discourse with me when I wantedto ask her how she felt on coming home and missing her mammy."

　　"Perhaps she didnt understand you, woman; you are none of the bestlinguister; and then Miss Lizzy has been exercising the kings Englishunder a great Lonon lady, and, for that matter, can talk the languagealmost as well as myself, or any native-born British subject. Youveforgot your schooling, and the young mistress is a great scollard."

　　"Mistress!" cried Remarkable; "dont make one out to be a nigger,Benjamin. Shes no mistress of mine, and never will be. And as tospeech, I hold myself as second to nobody out of New England. I wasborn and raised in Essex County; and Ive always heern say that theBay State was provarbal for pronounsation!"

　　"Ive often heard of that Bay of State," said Benjamin, "but cant saythat Ive ever been in it, nor do I know exactly whereaway it is thatit lays; but I suppose there is good anchorage in it, and that its nobad place for the taking of ling; but for size it cant be so much asa yawl to a sloop of war compared with the Bay of Biscay, or, mayhap,Torbay. And as for language, if you want to hear the dictionaryoverhauled like a log-line in a blow, you must go to Wapping andlisten to the Lononers as they deal out their lingo. Howsomever, Isee no such mighty matter that Miss Lizzy has been doing to you, goodwoman; so take another drop of your brews and forgive and forget, likean honest soul,"

　　"No, indeed! and I shant do sitch a thing, Benjamin. This treatmentis a newity to me, and what I wont put up with. I have a hundred andfifty dollars at use, besides a bed and twenty sheep, to good; and Idont crave to live in a house where a body mustnt call a young womanby her given name to her face. I will call her Betsey as much as Iplease; its a free country, and no one can stop me. I did intend tostop while summer, but I shall quit to-morrow morning; and I will talkjust as I please."

　　"For that matter, Mistress Remarkable," said Benjamin, "theres nonehere who will contradict you; for Im of opinion that it would be aseasy to stop a hurricane with a Barcelony handkerchy as to bring upyour tongue when the stopper is off. I say, good woman, do they growmany monkeys along the shores of that Bay of State?"

　　"Youre a monkey yourself, Mr. Penguillum," cried the enragedhousekeeper, "or a bear--a black, beastly bear! and aint fit for adecent woman to stay with. Ill never, keep your company agin, sir,if I should live thirty years with the Judge. Sitch talk is morebefitting the kitchen than the keeping-room of a house of one who iswell-to-do in the world."

　　"Look you, Mistress Pitty--Patty------Prettybones, mayhap Im some suchmatter as a bear, as they will find who come to grapple with me; butdamme if Im a monkey-- a thing that chatters without knowing a wordof what it says--a parrot; that will hold a dialogue, for what anhonest man knows, in a dozen languages; mayhap in the Bay of Statelingo; mayhap in Greek or High Dutch. But dost it know what it meansitself? canst answer me that, good woman? Your midshipman can singout, and pass the word, when the captain gives the order, but justsend him adrift by himself, and let him work the ship of his own head,and stop my grog if you dont find all the Johnny Raws laughing athim."

　　"Stop your grog, indeed!" said Remarkable, rising with greatindignation, and seizing a candle; "youre groggy now, Benjamin andIll quit the room before I hear any misbecoming words from you."The housekeeper retired, with a manner but little less dignified, asshe thought, than the air of the heiress, muttering as she drew thedoor after her, with a noise like the report of a musket, theopprobrious terms of "drunkard," "sot," and " beast."

　　"Whos that you say is drunk?" cried Benjamin fiercely, rising andmaking a movement toward Remarkable. "You talk of mustering yourselfwith a lady youre just fit to grumble and find fault. Where thedevil should you larn behavior and dictionary? in your damned Bay ofState, ha?"

　　Benjamin here fell back in his chair, and soon gave vent to certainominous sounds, which resembled not a little the growling of hisfavorite animal the bear itself. Be fore, however, he was quitelocked--to use the language that would suit the Della-cruscan humor ofcertain refined minds of the present day--" in the arms of Morpheus,"he spoke aloud, observing due pauses between his epithets, theimpressive terms of "monkey," "parrot," "picnic," "tar pot," and"linguisters"

　　We shall not attempt to explain his meaning nor connect his sentences;and our readers must be satisfied with our informing them that theywere expressed with all that coolness of contempt that a man mightwell be supposed to feel for a monkey.

　　Nearly two hours passed in this sleep before the major domo wasawakened by the noisy entrance of Richard, Major Hartmann, and themaster of the mansion. Benjamin so far rallied his confused facultiesas to shape the course of the two former to their respectiveapartments, when he disappeared himself, leaving the task of securingthe house to him who was most interested in its safety. Locks andbars were but little attended to in the early days of that settlement,and so soon as Marmaduke had given an eye to the enormous fires of hisdwelling he retired. With this act of prudence closes the first nightof our tale.