Suspense was preying upon me; I could endure it no longer. I at length
resolved upon demanding an explanation from my sister, as soon as I
should find her alone.
The opportunity soon offered. I chanced to see her in the lawn, down
near the edge of the lake. I saw that she was in a mood unusually
cheerful.
"Alas!" thought I, as I approached full of my resolutions--"these
smiles! I shall soon change them to tears. Sister."
She was talking to her pets, and did not hear me, or pretended she did
not.
"Sister!" I repeated, in a louder voice.
"Well, what is it?" she inquired, drily, without looking up.
"Pray, Virginia, leave off your play, and talk to me."
"Certainly, that is an inducement. I have had so little of your tongue
of late, that I ought to feel gratified by your proposal. Why don't you
bring your friend, and let him try a little in that line too. You have
been playing double dummy long enough to get tired of it, I should
think. But go on with the game, if it please you; it don't trouble me,
I assure you.
"A Yankee ship and a Yankee crew,
Tally high ho, you know!
Won't strike to the foe while the sky it is blue,
And a tar's aloft or alow.
"Come now, little Fan! Fan! don't go too near the bank, or you may get
a ducking, do you hear?"
"Pray, sister Virginia, give over this badinage: I have something of
importance to say to you."
"Importance! What! are you going to get married? No, that can't be
it--your face is too portentous and lugubrious; you look more like one
on the road to be hanged--ha, ha, ha!"
"I tell you, sister, I am in earnest."
"Who said you wasn't? In earnest? I believe you, my boy."
"Listen to me, Virginia. I have something important--very important to
talk about. I have been desirous of breaking the subject to you ever
since my return."
"Well, why did you not? you have had opportunities enough. Have I been
hid from you?"
"No--but--the fact is--"
"Go on, brother; you have an opportunity now. If it be a petition, as
your looks appear to say, present it; I am ready to receive it."
"Nay, Virginia; it is not that. The subject upon which I wish to
speak--"
"What subject, man? Out with it!"
I was weary with so much circumlocution, and a little piqued as well; I
resolved to bring it to an end. A word, thought I, will tame down her
tone, and render her as serious as myself, I answered:
"Osceola."
I looked to see her start, to see her cheek turn alternately red and
pale; but to my astonishment no such symptoms displayed themselves; not
the slightest indication of any extraordinary emotion betrayed itself
either in her look or manner.
She replied almost directly and without hesitation:
"What! the young chief of the Seminoles? our old playfellow, Powell? He
is to be the subject of our discourse? You could not have chosen one
more interesting to _me_. I could talk all day long about this brave
fellow!"
I was struck dumb by her reply, and scarcely knew in what way to
proceed.
"But what of him, brother George?" continued my sister, looking me more
soberly in the face. "I hope no harm has befallen him?"
"None that I know of: the harm has fallen upon those nearer and dearer."
"I do not understand you, my mysterious brother."
"But you shall. I am about to put a question to you--answer me, and
answer me truly, as you value my love and friendship."
"Your question, sir, without these insinuations. I can speak the truth,
I fancy, without being scared by threats."
"Then speak it, Virginia. Tell me, is Powell--is Osceola--your lover?"
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
"Nay, Virginia, this is no laughing matter."
"By my faith, I think it is--a very capital joke--ha, ha, ha!"
"I want no trifling, Virginia; an answer."
"You shall get no answer to such an absurd question."
"It is not absurd. I have good reasons for putting it."
"Reasons--state them, pray!"
"You cannot deny that something has passed between you? You cannot deny
that you have given him a meeting, and in the forest too? Beware how
you make answer, for I have the proofs. We encountered the chief on his
return. We saw him at a distance. He shunned us--no wonder. We
followed his trail--we saw the tracks of the pony--oh! you met: it was
all clear enough."
"Ha, ha, ha! What a pair of keen trackers--you and your friend--astute
fellows! You will be invaluable on the warpath. You will be promoted
to be chief spies to the army. Ha, ha, ha! And so, this is the grand
secret, is it? this accounts for the demure looks, and the odd-fashioned
airs that have been puzzling me. My honour, eh? that was the care that
was cankering you. By Diana! I have reason to be thankful for being
blessed with such a chivalric brace of guardians.
"In England, the garden of beauty is kept
By the dragon of prudery, placed within call;
But so oft this unamiable dragon has slept,
That the garden was carelessly watched after all.
"And so if, I have not the dragon prudery to guard me, I am to find a
brace of dragons in my brother and his friend. Ha, ha, ha!"
"Virginia, you madden me--this is no answer. Did you meet Osceola?"
"I'll answer that directly: after such sharp espionage, denial would not
avail me. I _did_ meet him."
"And for what purpose? Did you meet as lovers?"
"That question is impertinent; I won't answer _it_."
"Virginia! I implore you--"
"And cannot two people encounter each other in the woods, without being
charged with love-making? Might we not have come together by chance? or
might I not have had other business with the Seminole chief? You do not
know all my secrets, nor do I intend you shall either."
"Oh, it was no chance encounter--it was an appointment--a love-meeting:
you could have had no other affair with _him_."
"It is natural for you to think so--very natural, since I hear you
practise such _duettos_ yourself. How long, may I ask, since you held
your last _tete-a-tete_ with your own fair charmer--the lovely Maumee?
Eh! brother?"
I started as if stung. How could my sister have gained intelligence of
this? Was she only guessing? and had chanced upon the truth?
For some moments I could not make reply, nor did I make any to her last
interrogatory. I paid no heed to it, but, becoming excited, pressed my
former inquiries with vehemence.
"Sister! I must have an explanation; I insist upon it--I demand it!"
"Demand! Ho! that is your tone, is it? That will scarcely serve you.
A moment ago, when you put yourself in the imploring attitude, I had
well-nigh taken pity on you, and told you all. But, _demand_, indeed!
I answer no demands; and to show you that I do not, I shall now go and
shut myself in my room. So, my good fellow, you shall see no more of me
for this day, nor to-morrow either, unless you come to your senses.
Good-by, Geordy--and _au revoir_, only on condition you behave yourself
like a gentleman.
"A Yankee ship and a Yankee crew, Tally high ho, you know! Won't strike
to the foe, etc, etc."
And with this catch pealing from her lips, she passed across the
parterre, entered the verandah, and disappeared within the doorway.
Disappointed, mortified, sad, I stood riveted to the spot, scarcely
knowing in what direction to turn myself.