OF MANY THINGS.
"Oh, where is mamma?" cried Annis, as she was clasped in Mr. Mason's
arms one morning.
"Can't you give me mamma's welcome also?" inquired the kindly voice.
"Why, Annis, what a large girl you are! It seems as if we must have
been away an age for you to change so."
"Am I changed?" She laughed cheerfully. "Isn't it time I grew? Varina
said in her last letter that she was five feet four inches. And I am
not five feet yet. And Rene has been to assemblies, in long gowns. I
went to two balls, and that of the flags was--magnificent."
"I shall have to look after my flock more sharply. You will all run
wild."
"But mamma?"
Then he told her that although the operations had been a success, and
there was now no danger of Charles growing crooked, he was still in a
very delicate state of health, and the doctor had ordered him a cool
climate for the summer. They were to go farther north and travel about
a bit. A sea voyage was supposed to be the best, but that was quite
impossible in the present state of affairs and the dangers of the
ocean.
"Oh, I thought you were sure to come home!" she exclaimed
disappointedly.
"We are sure of nothing, it seems. Are you very homesick?"
A quick rift of color flashed up in her face. "I'm not homesick at all.
I like Washington so much. There are so many beautiful places, and the
sails on the rivers and queer nooks where the Indians used to live, and
the Capitol and the Senate where the great men talk, and so many lovely
people in fine clothes, and the officers, and the French minister's
carriage that spins along like a great butterfly, and handsome Mrs.
Madison and the grand ladies----"
"You will hardly want to go back to the plantation."
"Jaqueline is going to live in Washington," she said, evading the
question.
"I am afraid you are getting off with the old love," half reproachfully.
"Not mamma, not--oh, I love you all just the same!" clasping his arm
vehemently.
Her cheeks were very bright. She experienced a curious feeling about
Charles. Perhaps it was because she had seen these grown lovers so
much, and she herself was growing out of childish things.
Mr. Mason was on his way to the plantation, and then to the Pineries.
His mother had missed his visits very much through the winter, and she
was becoming more feeble.
They all felt disappointed that Charles was not really well.
"It is probably the best thing you can do," said Dr. Collaston. "He
needs bracing up after this trying ordeal. I was afraid he would sink
under it."
"The doctors consider it quite wonderful. When I think how narrow his
escape has been from lifelong deformity----"
The father's voice broke a little. Not an hour ago he had been talking
to Louis, straight, tall, vigorous, with clear eyes and skin pink with
the rich blood coursing through his veins; and the contrast between him
and the poor pale lad had been great indeed.
"It will be all right. Surgery is making rapid strides. So is
everything. I am glad not to be any older, and I hope to live to see a
great and grand country. Why, I may reasonably count on fifty years!"
laughing light-heartedly.
Yet he would have been shocked if he could have looked at Washington
fifty years from then--with a gift of prescience.
Mr. Mason was gratified to meet Roger Carrington again in the
relationship to which he had once so cordially welcomed him. Jaqueline
was sweet and tender and very happy. But what a fine young woman she
had become! And Patty was as matronly and motherly as if she had been
married half a century. But Randolph Mason gave a little sigh as he
thought how children grow up and out of the old home nest.
The plantation was in good shape. There had been some unimportant
deaths, a number of marriages, and many births. Virginia slaves were
a prolific race, and added to the wealth of the master. They were all
overjoyed to see him, and full of regret that "missus" wasn't with him.
"'Pears laik everybody been daid and buried but Mas'r Louis," said old
Chloe.
At the Pineries nothing seemed changed. Brandon Floyd was beginning
to look like his father, and was taking on the same important airs.
He was very bitter about "Madison's war, that no doubt would last as
long as the other war, by the looks of things, and leave us in the same
plight."
When Mr. Mason thought of his own blooming girls his heart really ached
for Marian. After all, there was nothing like a home of her own and
a love of her own for a woman. He was glad Jaqueline had come back to
hers.
But it brought about a rather perplexing point, not so easily settled,
it would seem. Mr. Carrington importuned for an early marriage.
Jaqueline had bidden him wait until her father came.
The lover pleaded his cause so well that the father could hardly say
him nay.
"What do you most desire?" to Jaqueline. "We may not be back until
quite in the autumn. I have been seized with a strong inclination to
see a little of our own big land," laughingly. "We are proud of our
share in the old war, but other States had a hand in it as well. It
makes a man feel more a citizen of the whole country--and a grand place
it is. So we shall not hurry."
He gave her a wistful glance, as if to read her wish in the matter.
"I would quite as lief wait. Everything would have to be so different.
But," blushing, "it was the rock on which we went to pieces before."
Her father nodded.
"There would be great disappointment on the old place. But you might
go down and stay a week or so. Varina is so in love with Dolly and
Charleston that we settled she should remain until autumn, when Dolly
and her husband are coming up for a visit. That young Floyd seems to be
quite somebody. I always thought Dolly flighty, but she appears to have
some common sense, after all."
"And Varina is quite a woman. I hope she won't be utterly spoiled. Of
course," tentatively, "it would be a quiet wedding. I think I would
like it in church."
Then, she had really considered it.
"Why not?" said Patty. "So many of the girls around home are married
and gone, and unless you could have a crowd it would be dismal. Then,
you have so many friends in Washington. To be sure, it would be queer
for a girl to be married without all her family about her. Mamma and
Charles and Varina! Well, we've one more than half of them. Jaqueline,
if you hadn't made that fuss before----"
"Yes," returned Jaqueline meekly.
Mrs. Jettson added her voice in favor of the marriage. It had to be so
speedily arranged. There were friends ready enough to be bridesmaids;
indeed, the subject was taken up in such earnest that Jaqueline was
likely to be married out of hand. All that was really needed was a
wedding gown and an appearing-out dress; all the rest could be done
afterward, and there was her mother's bridal gown waiting for her.
When it came to the point, instead of a simple wedding it was a very
grand one. One of the Cabinet ladies sent her a veil to wear because
it was luck to be married in something borrowed, and the veil had been
worn at the coronation of King George. Mrs. Sweeny worked night and
day altering over the wedding gown, which was a mass of satin, sheer
gauze, and lace, with a train carried by a daintily attired page.
Annis held her prayer book and her glove when the ring was put on her
finger. Christ Church was crowded with the _élite_ of Washington, said
a journal of the day. Mrs. Madison graced the scene, and Mrs. Cutts,
with whom Jaqueline was a great favorite, while Judge and Mrs. Todd
were warm in congratulations. It was really quite an event, and Roger
felt almost as if he had married a princess of the blood royal. Such
parties and dinners as were showered upon the young couple, and such
compliments as the handsome bride received, were almost enough to turn
one's head.
Annis was kept busy writing journal-like letters to mamma and Charles.
And what treasures the old journals and letters are to-day! How Mrs.
Carrington went to Christ Church Sunday morning in "a violet satin
gown trimmed with fine silk ruffles edged with lace, and a white
satin petticoat with embroideries in violet silk and gold thread. A
fine-wrought lace scarf that her own mother had brought from Paris,
white satin boots with gold lacings, long white silk gloves embroidered
in lavender, and a white Neapolitan hat with a wide fluted rim, trimmed
with a drawn silk lining and rows of piping, and a great cluster of
lilies and violets and ostrich plumes."
The wedding veil was returned. Annis was to wear the wedding gown
later on, and at a very modern entertainment quite late in the century
Jaqueline's grand-daughter won no end of admiration in it.
So when Randolph Mason had given his eldest daughter away, and kissed
her good-by with a thousand tender wishes, he went back to the pale
little son and his dear nurse, as if he had had some sort of a gala
dream mixed up with a whirlwind.
"I wish Jacky had waited," said Charles with a sigh. "I should like to
have seen it."
"It wouldn't have been half so grand at home. Washington is a fine
place for such a thing."
"Finer than Philadelphia?"
"Oh, no!" Mr. Mason smiled, remembering the simple church. There were
grander ones here. And, except the Capitol, the White House, and parts
of several public buildings, there was nothing so very grand. But the
concourse of people could hardly have been matched.
"Didn't Annis want to come with you?"
"She did at first. Then the wedding drove all other desires out of her
mind. I was afraid she would make a time when I started. But everything
was in such a bustle!"
"Couldn't she have come here for a week or two, before we start?"
"How would we have sent her back?"
"We wouldn't have sent her back then," said the boy triumphantly.
His father smiled. "She has grown so, and changed some way. Her hair is
not quite so light. And she can chatter in French like a native. Patty
thinks her very smart."
"And I have not grown any!" he subjoined in a disconsolate tone. "I
am not allowed to study. She will get way ahead of me. But she doesn't
know Latin, and she can't go to college."
And perhaps he could marry her. He was not so sure of that now. Perhaps
he would never marry anyone. But he was glad Roger Carrington had
Jaqueline.
Annis tried very hard to be sorry at not seeing her mother. She was
frightened because she did not want to cry over it as she had at
first. She had given up mamma to Charles, and to be sorry and want her
back was selfish. Then there were so many things to do, and so many
pleasures. There was not time enough to run over to Aunt Jane's every
day, yet the children were so fond of her. She knew some girls, too,
who were asking her to supper every few days, or to join some party
to the woods, or to sail up or down the river. It was such a lovely
thing to be alive and well! When that came into her mind her very heart
melted in pity for Charles.
Then, it was queer, but Louis had taken to calling her his little girl.
He teased her sometimes, but he came to take her riding when she had
any spare hours. She could hardly decide which was the handsomer, Louis
or Mr. Carrington, and she thought it rather disloyal. Jaqueline said
Roger was, by far.
And then came the plans for housekeeping. Roger and she inspected some
houses. It would be more convenient in Washington, but Georgetown was
much prettier. And there were suburban districts.
"But think of the winter nights in the rain and the mud, and sometimes
sleet, and the time wasted going back and forth. Isn't it a bit of
patriotism to want to build up one's own city? We are a small people as
yet, compared to some other places. If we don't increase and multiply
and spread out, and fill up our vacant squares, our honor may be taken
from us."
"After so noble an argument I shall have to agree with you that it is
our bounden duty to remain," replied Jaqueline with an arch smile.
"Mother would like us at Georgetown, but she has Ralph and his wife."
"Oh, do stay!" cried Annis. "I like Washington so much!"
"The casting vote. We remain. Annis, you are to come with us. We
couldn't give you up now."
"Until mamma comes home. Of course I belong to her."
They went down to the old plantation, and the house slaves made a big
feast; the field hands had an illumination of lanterns and big pine
knots. But Annis thought the great house lonely. Then she recalled what
her father once said--when all the children were married she would
stay there with her mother and him. Jaqueline and Patty and Varina
would have husbands and children, and Annis shivered at a strange
consciousness of solitude.
Jaqueline had been instructed to take her outfit, and anything she
wanted, her father said. Chloe knew all about the bed and table linen:
didn't she bleach it up every spring in May dew? Such a packing, such a
rejoicing time over missy's husband "that she got at last," which meant
nothing derogatory nor that she had made a great effort; only most of
the slaves had great faith in first loves for white folks, and a happy
ending to an engagement.
There was the house to put in order and the "house-warming" to give, a
grand dinner for married friends and a dance for the young people, when
Louis was master of ceremonies, and bright eyes grew still brighter
with pleasure at his notice.
Almost before one had noted, there were cool nights and ripening
foliage, house-cleaning, and preparation for winter. Ah, how lovely
the banks of the Potomac were, and Rock Creek! Jaqueline begged that
they should take their first ride over again. There were various first
things to do. The mother over at Georgetown claimed them frequently.
Ralph's wife was very nice and sweet, but Jaqueline brought a curious
stir and dazzle in the house, and an atmosphere as of a spring morning.
Charles had improved wonderfully. There were some remarkable springs
up the Hudson that had wonderful health-giving properties. And when
they came back to New York he was so taken with the advantages that
he begged to remain. The doctor in whose charge he had been, promised
to watch over him and not allow him to study too severely, and a nice
boarding place had been found for him with a charming motherly woman.
"Oh, Annis!" cried her mother, holding her off after the first fond
embrace, "let me look at you. I have lost my little girl!"
"Mamma, I couldn't stay little always. But the part that loves and
thinks doesn't change, and I have tried very hard sometimes not to want
you when I knew Charles needed you. I am so glad to get you back! Oh,
you _do_ believe that? But there is a queer thing I don't understand.
When we first came to Virginia it was very hard to try to love the
others when they took so much attention."
She was studying her mother with large, earnest, lustrous eyes.
"Yes," said Mrs. Mason, with a fond embrace.
"And now I love them all so much. I'm not quite sure about Varina--I
have not seen her in so long. But I love you the best."
The mother kissed her fondly. No one, not even her husband, who was so
grateful for the sacrifice she had made, knew how hard a trial it had
been to her.
Just as they were considering whether they could leave Annis at school
and do without her, word came from the Pineries. Mrs. Floyd had a
sudden stroke, not so very severe, but at her time of life a serious
matter.
Young Mrs. Floyd and her husband and Varina came North a few days after
this. There was a month of slow wasting away. Mrs. Brandon Floyd had a
new baby, Marian was almost worn out, and Mrs. Mason found herself the
comforter again, and much needed. Then grandmamma slipped out of life,
and was laid by the side of Mr. Floyd; and Mr. Mason, seconded warmly
by his wife, insisted that Marian should spend the winter with them and
rest, perhaps make it her future home.
Varina was a tall, rather distinguished-looking girl who had blossomed
somewhat prematurely into womanhood. Annis was still a little girl
beside her. She was gay and bright, and full of her own good times.
Jaqueline's marriage was delightful; they had enjoyed the account in
the paper. Charles was well again, but what a sad time it had been for
him! As for herself, she and Dolly were the dearest of sisters, and
had had the best of times. She should coax papa to let her return to
Charleston. She knew so many people there, and it would be just horrid
to go back to the old plantation. There were all the others, and surely
papa could spare her.
Dolly was very exigent as well. Mr. Mason realized that it would be
dull for a young girl, with the household in mourning, and Marian half
an invalid and dispirited. But he insisted upon a family gathering at
Christmas, as Charles was to come home.
Mrs. Carrington would fain have had Roger and his wife, and Mr. Brandon
Floyd sent a formal invitation for Jane and her family at the Pineries,
but she chose the Masons instead. Marian was pale and grave, but
improving under the fostering care of Mrs. Mason, who was the kindest
of sisters. Bessy Collaston had a new little brother; and, with Dolly's
one and Mrs. Jettson's four, there was quite an array of children.
But the most joyous of all was the welcome to Charles. Now he showed
his real improvement. He had some color in his cheeks and his eyes were
bright and lustrous; his voice rang with a clear sound.
Curiously enough, he seemed almost a stranger to Annis, and not the
little boy with whom she had poured over Froissart. She had outgrown
him; and as for Varina, she patronized him in a most uncomfortable
fashion. They were all so glad to see him well once more that no one
thought of teasing him, even when he aired his new-found knowledge
unduly. Perhaps he was most flattered by the friendliness of his big
brother-in-law Roger.
Then followed the dispersion. It was best that Annis should stay at
school the coming year, and Jaqueline declared she could not do without
her. Truth to tell, what with her school friends and her various
amusements, Annis began to feel as if Washington was her real home, and
the plantation a place to visit. Her mother had so many long-neglected
duties to take up, and Marian to nurse back to health and better
spirits. She had done without her little girl so long, and clearly this
was to the child's advantage.
Meanwhile the war had gone on with varying fortunes, but the navy of
the country had gained various accessions by capture from the British
and alterations from the merchant vessels. None of the coast cities
had been attacked. Boston, New York, and Philadelphia had been making
their defenses more secure. There was a fine fort at Baltimore. But
Washington made no advances. Congress wrangled over a hundred points.
The country at large was losing faith in the administration. There
was a growing party in favor of suing for peace on the best terms we
could get; another clique were quite certain we would wear out England,
as, after all, she had made no real gains, and we had become quite
formidable on the high seas.
General Armstrong, secretary of war, was confident Washington would
not be attacked; and though he admitted that defenses should be
strengthened, very little was done.
The downfall of Napoleon and his abdication, and the peace with France,
had released the flower of the British army, and many warships. It
was supposed Bermuda was their objective point, but they were ready
to harass the coast line from Florida to Maine, and filled many of the
towns with apprehension.