Chapter XXV.

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　"Cease all this parlance about hills and dales.None listen to thy scenes of boyish frolic.Fond dotard! with such tickled ears as thou dostCome to thy tale."--Duo.

　　Mr. Jones arose on the following morning with the sun, and, orderinghis own and Marmadukes steeds to be saddled, he proceeded, with acountenance big with some business of unusual moment to the apartmentof the Judge. The door was unfastened, and Richard entered, with thefreedom that characterized not only the intercourse between thecousins, but the ordinary manners of the sheriff.

　　"Well, Duke, to horse," he cried, "and I will explain to you mymeaning in the allusions I made last night. David says, in thePsalms--no, it was Solomon, but it was all in the family--Solomon saidthere was a time for all things; and, in my humble opinion, a fishing-party is not the moment for discussing important subjects. Ha! why,what the devil ails you, Marmaduke? Ain't you well? Let me feel yourpulse; my grandfather, you know--"

　　"Quite well in the body, Richard," interrupted the Judge, repulsinghis cousin, who was about to assume the functions that rightlybelonged to Dr. Todd; " but ill at heart. I received letters by thepost last night, after we returned from the point, and this among thenumber."

　　The sheriff took the letter, but without turning his eyes on thewriting, for he was examining the appearance of the other withastonishment. From the face of his cousin the gaze of Richardwandered to the table, which was covered with letters, packets, andnewspapers; then to the apartment and all it contained. On the bedthere was the impression that had been made by a human form, but thecoverings were unmoved, and everything indicated that the occupant ofthe room had passed a sleepless night. The candles had burned to thesockets, and had evidently extinguished themselves in their ownfragments Marmaduke had drawn his curtains, and opened both theshutters and the sashes, to admit the balmy air " of a springmorning; but his pale cheek, his quivering lip, and his sunken eyepresented altogether so very different an appearance from the usualcalm, manly, and cheerful aspect of the Judge, that the sheriff greweach moment more and more bewildered with astonishment. At lengthRichard found time to cast his eyes on the direction of the letter,which he still held unopened, crumpling it in his hand.

　　"What! a ship-letter!" he exclaimed; "and from England, ha! Duke,there must be news of importance! indeed!"

　　"Read it," said Marmaduke, pacing the floor in excessive agitation.

　　Richard, who commonly thought aloud, was unable to read a letterwithout suffering part of its contents to escape him in audiblesounds. So much of the epistle as was divulged in that manner, weshall lay before the reader, accompanied by the passing remarks of thesheriff:

　　"London, February 12, 1793. What a devil of a pas sage she had! butthe wind has been northwest for six weeks, until within the lastfortnight. Sir, your favors of August 10th, September 23d, and ofDecember 1st, were received in due season, and the first answered byreturn of packet. Since the receipt of the last, I "--here a longpassage was rendered indistinct by a kind of humming noise by thesheriff--" I grieve to say that --hum, hum, bad enough to be sure--but trusts that a merciful Providence has seen fit--hum, hum, humseems to be a good, pious sort of a man, Duke; belongs to theEstablished Church, I dare say; hum, hum-- vessel sailed from Falmouthon or about the 1st September of last year, and--hum, hum, hum, Ifanything should transpire on this afflicting subject shall not fail--hum, hum; really a good-hearted man, for a lawyer--but Can communicatenothing further at present--hum, hum. " The national convention --hum, hum-- unfortunate Louis--hum, hum--example of your Washington--avery sensible man, I declare, and none of your crazy democrats. Hum,hum--our gallant navy--hum, hum--under our most excellent monarch--ay,a good man enough, that King George, but bad advisers: hum, hum--I begto conclude with assurances of my perfect respect.--hum, hum--AndrewHolt. --Andrew Holt, a very sensible, feeling man, this Mr. AndrewHolt--but the writer of evil tidings. What will you do next, CousinMarmaduke?"

　　"What can I do, Richard, but trust to time, and the will of Heaven?Here is another letter from Connecticut, but it only repeats thesubstance of the last. There is but one consoling reflection to begathered from the English news, which is, that my last letter wasreceived by him before the ship sailed,"

　　"This is bad enough, indeed! Duke, bad enough, indeed! and away goall my plans, of putting wings to the house, to the devil. I had madearrangements for a ride to introduce you to something of a veryimportant nature. You know how much you think of mines--"

　　"Talk not of mines," interrupted the Judge: "there is a sacred duty tobe performed, and that without delay, I must devote this day towriting; and thou must be my assistant, Richard; it will not do toemploy Oliver in a matter of such secrecy and interest,"

　　"No, no, Duke," cried the sheriff, squeezing his hand, " I am yourman, just now; we are sisters children, and blood, after all, is thebest cement to make friendship stick together. Well, well, there isno hurry about the silver mine, just now; another time will do aswell. We shall want Dirky Van, I suppose?"

　　Marmaduke assented to this indirect question, and the sheriffrelinquished all his intentions on the subject of the ride, and,repairing to the breakfast parlor, he dispatched a messenger torequire the immediate presence of Dirck Van der School.

　　The village of Templeton at that time supported but two lawyers, oneof whom was introduced to our readers in the bar-room of the "BoldDragoon." and the other was the gentleman of whom Richard spoke by thefriendly yet familiar appellation of Dirck, or Dirky Van. Great good-nature, a very tolerable share of skill in his profession, and,considering the circumstances, no contemptible degree of honesty, werethe principal ingredients in the character of this man, who was knownto the settlers as Squire Van der School, and sometimes by theflattering though anomalous title of the "Dutch" or "honest lawyer."

　　We would not wish to mislead our readers in their conceptions of anyof our characters, and we therefore feel it necessary to add that theadjective, in the preceding agnomen of Mr. Van der School, was used indirect reference to its substantive. Our orthodox friends need not betold that all the merit in this world is comparative; and, once forall, we desire to say that, where anything which involves qualities orcharacters is asserted, we must be understood to mean, "under thecircumstances."

　　During the remainder of the day, the Judge was closeted with hiscousin and his lawyer; and no one else was admitted to his apartment,excepting his daughter. The deep distress that so evidently affectedMarmaduke was in some measure communicated to Elizabeth also; for alook of dejection shaded her intelligent features, and the buoyancy ofher animated spirits was sensibly softened. Once on that day, youngEdwards, who was a wondering and observant spectator of the suddenalteration produced in the heads of the family, detected a tearstealing over the cheek of Elizabeth, and suffusing her bright eyeswith a softness that did not always belong to their expression.

　　"Have any evil tidings been received, Miss Temple?" he inquired, withan interest and voice that caused Louisa Grant to raise her head fromher needlework, with a quick ness at which she instantly blushedherself. "I would offer my services to your father, if, as I suspect,he needs an agent in some distant place, and I thought it would giveyou relief."

　　"We have certainly heard bad news," returned Elizabeth, " and it maybe necessary that my father should leave home for a short period;unless I can persuade him to trust my cousin Richard with thebusiness, whose absence from the country, just at this time, too,might be inexpedient."

　　The youth paused a moment, and the blood gathered slowly to histemples as he continued:

　　"If it be of a nature that I could execute-"

　　"It is such as can only be confided to one we know-- one of ourselves,"

　　"Surely, you know me, Miss Temple!" he added, with a warmth that heseldom exhibited, but which did some times escape him in the momentsof their frank communications. "Have I lived five months under yourroof to be a stranger?"

　　Elizabeth was engaged with her needle also, and she bent her head toone side, affecting to arrange her muslin; but her hand shook, hercolor heightened, and her eyes lost their moisture in an expression ofungovernable interest, as she said:

　　"How much do we know of you, Mr. Edwards?"

　　"How much!" echoed the youth, gazing from the speaker to the mildcountenance of Louisa, that was also illuminated with curiosity; " howmuch Have I been so long an inmate with you and not known?"

　　The head of Elizabeth turned slowly from its affected position, andthe look of confusion that had blended so strongly with an expressionof interest changed to a smile.

　　"We know you, sir, indeed; you are called Mr. Oliver Edwards. Iunderstand that you have informed my friend Miss Grant that you are anative--"

　　"Elizabeth!" exclaimed Louisa, blushing to thc eyes, and tremblinglike an aspen ; " you misunderstood me, dear Miss Temple; I--I--it wasonly a conjecture. Besides, if Mr. Edwards is related to the nativeswhy should we reproach him? In what are we better? at least I, who amthe child of a poor and unsettled clergyman?"

　　Elizabeth shook her head doubtingly, and even laughed, but made noreply, until, observing the melancholy which pervaded the countenanceof her companion, who was thinking of the poverty and labors of herfather, she continued:

　　"Nay, Louisa, humility carries you too far. The daughter of aminister of the church can have no superiors. Neither I nor Mr.Edwards is quite your equal, unless," she added, again smiling, "he isin secret a king "

　　"A faithful servant of the King of kings, Miss Temple, is inferior tonone on earth," said Louisa; "but his honors are his own; I am onlythe child of a poor and friendless man, and can claim no otherdistinction. Why, then, should I feel myself elevated above Mr.Edwards, because--because--perhaps he is only very, very distantlyrelated to John Mohegan?"

　　Glances of a very comprehensive meaning were exchanged between theheiress and the young man, as Louisa betrayed, while vindicating hislineage, the reluctance with which she admitted his alliance with theold warrior; but not even a smile at the simplicity of their companionwas indulged in by either.

　　"On reflection, I must acknowledge that my situation here is somewhatequivocal," said Edwards, "though I may be said to have purchased itwith my blood."

　　"The blood, too, of one of the native lords of the soil!" criedElizabeth, who evidently put little faith in his aboriginal descent.

　　"Do I bear the marks of my lineage so very plainly impressed on myappearance? I am dark, but not very red--not more so than common?"

　　"Rather more so, just now."

　　"I am sure, Miss Temple," cried Louisa, "you cannot have taken muchnotice of Mr. Edwards. His eyes are not so black as Mohegans or evenyour own, nor is his hair."

　　"Very possibly, then, I can lay claim to the same de scent It would bea great relief to my mind to think so, for I own that I grieve when Isee old Mohegan walking about these lands like the ghost of one oftheir ancient possessors, and feel how small is my own right topossess them."

　　"Do you?" cried the youth, with a vehemence that startled the ladies

　　"I do, indeed," returned Elizabeth, after suffering a moment to passin surprise; "but what can I do--what can my father do? Should we offerthe old man a home and a maintenance, his habits would compel him torefuse us. Neither were we so silly as to wish such a thing, could weconvert these clearings and farms again into hunting grounds, as theLeather-Stocking would wish to see them."

　　"You speak the truth, Miss Temple," said Edwards. "What can you doindeed? But there is one thing that I am certain you can and will do,when you become the mistress of these beautiful valleys--use yourwealth with indulgence to the poor, and charity to the needy; indeed,you can do no more."

　　"And That will be doing a good deal," said Louisa, smiling in herturn. "But there will, doubtless, be one to take the direction ofsuch things from her hands."

　　am not about to disclaim matrimony, like a silly girl, who dreams ofnothing else from morn till night; but I am a nun here, without thevow of celibacy. Where shall I find a husband in these forests?"

　　"There is none, Miss Temple," said Edwards quickly; "there is none whohas a right to aspire to you, and I know that you will wait to besought by your equal; or die, as you live, loved, respected, andadmired by all who know you."

　　The young man seemed to think that he had said all that was requiredby gallantry, for he arose, and, taking his hat, hurried from theapartment. Perhaps Louisa thought that he had said more than wasnecessary, for she sighed, with an aspiration so low that it wasscarcely audible to herself, and bent her head over her work again.And it is possible that Miss Temple wished to hear more, for her eyescontinued fixed for a minute on the door through which the young manhad passed, then glanced quickly toward her companion, when the longsilence that succeeded manifested how much zest may be given to theconversation of two maidens under eighteen, by the presence of a youthof three-and-twenty.

　　The first person encountered by Mr. Edwards, as he rather rushed thanwalked from the house, was the little square-built lawyer, with alarge bundle of papers under his arm, a pair of green spectacles onhis nose, with glasses at the sides, as if to multiply his power ofdetecting frauds by additional organs of vision.

　　Mr. Van der School was a well-educated man, but of slow comprehension,who had imbibed a wariness in his speeches and actions, from havingsuffered by his collisions with his more mercurial and apt brethrenwho had laid the foundations of their practice in the Eastern courts,and who had sucked in shrewdness with their mothers milk. Thecaution of this gentleman was exhibited in his actions, by the utmostmethod and punctuality, tinctured with a good deal of timidity; and inhis speeches, by a parenthetical style, that frequently left to hisauditors a long search after his meaning.

　　"A good-morning to you, Mr. Van der School," said Edwards; "it seemsto be a busy day with us at the mansion-house."

　　"Good-morning, Mr. Edwards (if that is your name [for, being astranger, we have no other evidence of the fact than your owntestimony], as I understand you have given it to Judge Temple), good-morning, sir. It is, apparently a busy day (but a man of yourdiscretion need not be told [having, doubtless, discovered it of yourown accord], that appearances are often deceitful) up at the mansion-house"

　　"Have you papers of consequence that will require copying? Can I be ofassistance in any way?"

　　"There are papers (as doubtless you see [for your eyes are young] bythe outsides) that require copying."

　　"Well, then, I will accompany you to your office, and receive such asare most needed, and by night I shall have them done if there be muchhaste."

　　"I shall always be glad to see you, sir, at my office (as in dutybound [not that it is obligatory to receive any man within yourdwelling (unless so inclined), which is a castle], according to theforms of politeness), or at any other place; but the papers are moststrictly confidential (and, as such, cannot be read by any one),unless so directed (by Judge Temples solemn injunctions), and areinvisible to all eyes; excepting those whose duties (I mean assumedduties) require it of them."

　　"Well, sir, as I perceive that I can be of no service, I wish youanother good-morning; but beg you will remember that I am quite idlejust now, and I wish you would intimate as much to Judge Temple, andmake him a ten der of my services in any part of the world, unless--unless--it be far from Templeton."

　　"I will make the communication, sir, in your name (with your ownqualifications), as your agent. Good morning, sir. But stayproceedings, Mr. Edwards (so called), for a moment. Do you wish me tostate the offer of travelling as a final contract (for whichconsideration has been received at former dates [by sums advanced],which would be binding), or as a tender of services for whichcompensation is to be paid (according to future agreement between theparties), on performance of the conditions?"

　　"Any way, any way," said Edwards; "he seems in distress, and I wouldassist him."

　　"The motive is good, sir (according to appearances which are oftendeceitful] on first impressions), and does you honor. I will mentionyour wish, young gentleman (as you now seem), and will not fail tocommunicate the answer by five oclock P.M. of this present day (Godwilling), if you give me an opportunity so to do."

　　The ambiguous nature of the situation and character of Mr. Edwards hadrendered him an object of peculiar suspicion to the lawyer, and theyouth was consequently too much accustomed to similar equivocal andguarded speeches to feel any unusual disgust at the present dialogue.He saw at once that it was the intention of the practitioner toconceal the nature of his business, even from the private secretary ofJudge Temple; and he knew too well the difficulty of comprehending themeaning of Mr. Van der School, when the gentleman most wished to beluminous in his discourse, not to abandon all thoughts of a discovery,when he perceived that the attorney was endeavoring to avoid anythinglike an approach to a cross-examination. They parted at the gate, thelawyer walking with an important and hurried air toward his office,keeping his right hand firmly clinched on the bundle of papers.

　　It must have been obvious to all our readers, that the youthentertained an unusual and deeply seated prejudice against thecharacter of the Judge; but owing to some counteracting cause, hissensations were now those of powerful interest in the state of hispatrons present feelings, and in the cause of his secret uneasiness.He remained gazing after the lawyer until the door closed on both thebearer and the mysterious packet, when he returned slowly to thedwelling, and endeavored to forget his curiosity in the usualavocations of his office.

　　When the Judge made his reappearance in the circles of his family, hischeerfulness was tempered by a shade of melancholy that lingered formany days around his manly brow; but the magical progression of theseason aroused him from his temporary apathy, and his smiles returnedwith the summer.

　　The heats of the days, and the frequent occurrence of balmy showers,had completed in an incredibly short period the growth of plants whichthe lingering spring had so long retarded in the germ; and the woodspresented every shade of green that the American forests know. Thestumps in the cleared fields were already hidden beneath the wheatthat was waving with every breath of the sum mer air, shining andchanging its hues like velvet.

　　During the continuance of his cousins dejection, Mr. Jones forebore,with much consideration, to press on his attention a business thateach hour was drawing nearer to the heart of the sheriff, and which,if any opinion could he formed by his frequent private conferenceswith the man who was introduced in these pages by the name of Jotham,at the bar-room of the Bold Dragoon, was becoming also of greatimportance.

　　At length the sheriff ventured to allude again to the subject; and oneevening, in the beginning of July, Marmaduke made him a promise ofdevoting the following day to the desired excursion.