"Ye've had a nearhand escape this time, sir," he said, after a longish
pause.
"One more or less of a good many since we were last met together in this
room, Mr. Stair," I would say.
He muttered something to himself about the devil taking precious good
care of his own; and I laughed.
"That is as it may be; but my being here this second time a pensioner on
your bounty is by no good will of mine, I do assure you, sir."
He sat nodding at me as if I had said a thing to be most heartily agreed
to. But his spoken word belied the nods.
"The ways of Providence are inscrutable--something inscrutable, Captain
Ireton. I make no doubt ye are sufficiently thankfu' for all your
mercies."
"Why, as to that, there may be two ways of looking at it. As a soldier,
I may justly repine at a fate which ties me here when I should be in the
field."
"Well said, sir; brawly said; 'tis the part of a good soldier to be ay
wanting to be in the thick o' the fighting. But now that ye're a man of
substance, Captain Ireton, ye will be owing other debts to our country
than the one ye can pay with a hantle o' steel."
"'Our country,' did you say, Mr. Stair?" I asked, feigning a surprise
which no one knowing him could feel in very truth.
"And what for no? 'Tis the birthland of some--yourself, for example, and
the leal land of adoption for others--your humble servant, to wit. I've
taken the solemn oath of allegiance to the Congress, I'd have ye to
know."
At this I must needs laugh outright.
Pages:
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490