the pathfinder-第65部分

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〃What　is　right　in　King　George；　it　would　seem；　ought　to
be　right　in　King　Louis。〃

As　all　parties；　Mabel　excepted；　seemed　satisfied　with　the
course　the　discussion　had　taken；　no　one　appeared　to　think
it　necessary　to　pursue　the　subject。　　Supper　was　no　sooner
ended　than　the　Sergeant　dismissed　his　guests；　and　then
held　a　long　and　confidential　dialogue　with　his　daughter。
He　was　little　addicted　to　giving　way　to　the　gentler　emo…
tions；　but　the　novelty　of　his　present　situation　awakened
feelings　that　he　was　unused　to　experience。　　The　soldier　or
the　sailor；　so　long　as　he　acts　under　the　immediate　super…
vision　of　a　superior；　thinks　little　of　the　risks　he　runs；　but
the　moment　he　feels　the　responsibility　of　command；　all　the
hazards　of　his　undertaking　begin　to　associate　themselves
in　his　mind：　with　the　chances　of　success　or　failure。　　While
he　dwells　less　on　his　own　personal　danger；　perhaps；　than
when　that　is　the　principal　consideration；　he　has　more　lively
general　perceptions　of　all　the　risks；　and　submits　more　to
the　influence　of　the　feelings　which　doubt　creates。　　Such
was　now　the　case　with　Sergeant　Dunham；　who；　instead
of　looking　forward　to　victory　as　certain；　according　to　his
usual　habits；　began　to　feel　the　possibility　that　he　might
be　parting　with　his　child　for　ever。

Never　before　had　Mabel　struck　him　as　so　beautiful　as
she　appeared　that　night。　　Possibly　she　never　had　displayed
so　many　engaging　qualities　to　her　father；　for　concern　on
his　account　had　begun　to　be　active　in　her　breast；　and　then
her　sympathies　met　with　unusual　encouragement　through
those　which　had　been　stirred　up　in　the　sterner　bosom　of
the　veteran。　　She　had　never　been　entirely　at　her　ease　with
her　parent；　the　great　superiority　of　her　education　creating
a　sort　of　chasm；　which　had　been　widened　by　the　military
severity　of　manner　he　had　acquired　by　dealing　so　long
with　beings　who　could　only　be　kept　in　subjection　by　an
unremitted　discipline。　　On　the　present　occasion；　however；
the　conversation　between　the　father　and　daughter　became
more　confidential　than　usual；　until　Mabel　rejoiced　to　fiud
that　it　was　gradually　becoming　endearing；　a　state　of　feel…
ing　that　the　warm…hearted　girl　had　silently　pined　for　in
vain　ever　since　her　arrival。

〃Then　mother　was　about　my　height？〃　Mabel　said；　as
she　held　one　of　her　father's　hands　in　both　her　own；　looking
up　into　his　face　with　humid　eyes。　　〃I　had　thought　her
taller。〃

〃That　is　the　way　with　most　children　who　get　a　habit　of
thinking　of　their　parents　with　respect；　until　they　fancy
them　larger　and　more　commanding　than　they　actually　are。
Your　mother；　Mabel；　was　as　near　your　height　as　one　woman
could　be　to　another。〃

〃And　her　eyes；　father？〃

〃Her　eyes　were　like　thine；　child；　too；　blue　and　soft；　and
inviting　like；　though　hardly　so　laughing。〃

〃Mine　will　never　laugh　again；　dearest　father；　if　you　do
not　take　care　of　yourself　in　this　expedition。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mabel　　hem　　thank　you；　child；　but　I
must　do　my　duty。　　I　wish　I　had　seen　you　comfortably
married　before　we　left　Oswego；　my　mind　would　be　easier。〃

〃Married！　　to　whom；　father？〃

〃You　know　the　man　I　wish　you　to　love。　　You　may　meet
with　many　gayer；　and　many　dressed　in　finer　clother；　but
with　none　with　so　true　a　heart　and　just　a　mind。〃

〃None　father？〃

〃I　know　of　none；　in　these　particulars　Pathfinder　has　few
equals　at　least。〃

〃But　I　need　not　marry　at　all。　　You　are　single；　and　I
can　remain　to　take　care　of　you。〃

〃God　bless　you；　Mabel！　　I　know　you　would；　and　I　do
not　say　that　the　feeling　is　not　right；　for　I　suppose　it　is；
and　yet　I　believe　there　is　another　that　is　more　so。〃

〃What　can　be　more　right　than　to　honor　one's　parents？〃

〃It　is　just　as　right　to　honor　one's　husband；　my　dear
child。〃

〃But　I　have　no　husband；　father。〃

〃Then　take　one　as　soon　as　possible；　that　you　may　have
a　husband　to　honor。　　I　cannot　live　for　ever；　Mabel；　but
must　drop　off　in　the　course　of　nature　ere　long；　if　I　am　not
carried　off　in　the　course　of　war。　　You　are　young；　and　may
yet　live　long；　and　it　is　proper　that　you　should　have　a　male
protector；　who　can　see　you　safe　through　life；　and　take　care
of　you　in　age；　as　you　now　wish　to　take　care　of　me。〃

〃And　do　you　think；　father；〃　said　Mabel；　playing　with
his　sinewy　fingers　with　her　own　little　hands；　and　looking
down　at　them；　as　if　they　were　subjects　of　intense　interest；
though　her　lips　curled　in　a　slight　smile　as　the　words　came
from　them；　　〃and　do　you　think；　father；　that　Pathfinder
is　just　the　man　to　do　this？　　Is　he　not；　within　ten　or　twelve
years；　as　old　as　yourself？〃

〃What　of　that？　　His　life　has　been　one　of　moderation
and　exercise；　and　years　are　less　to　be　counted；　girl；　than
constitution。　　Do　you　know　another　more　likely　to　be　your
protector？〃

Mabel　did　not；　at　least　another　who　had　expressed　a
desire　to　that　effect；　whatever　might　have　been　her　hopes
and　her　wishes。

〃Nay；　father；　we　are　not　talking　of　anotber；　but　of　the
Pathfinder；〃　she　answered　evasively。　　〃If　he　were　younger；
I　think　it　would　be　more　natural　for　me　to　think　of　him
for　a　husband。〃

〃'Tis　all　in　the　constitution；　I　tell　you；　child；　Pathfinder
is　a　younger　man　than　half　our　subalterns。〃

〃He　is　certainly　younger　than　one；　sir　　Lieutenant
Muir。〃

Mabel's　laugh　was　joyous　and　light…hearted；　as　if　just
then　she　felt　no　care。

〃That　he　is　　young　enough　to　be　his　grandson；　he　is
younger　in　years；　too。　　God　forbid；　Mabel；　that　you　should
ever　become　an　officer's　lady；　at　least　until　you　are　an
officer's　daughter！〃

〃There　will　be　little　fear　of　that；　father；　if　I　marry
Pathfinder；〃　returned　the　girl；　looking　up　archly　in　the
Sergeant's　face　again。

〃Not　by　the　king's　commission；　perhaps；　though　the
man　is　even　now　the　friend　and　companion　of　generals。
I　think　I　could　die　happy；　Mabel；　if　you　were　his　wife。〃

〃Father！〃

〃'Tis　a　sad　thing　to　go　into　battle　with　the　weight　of　an
unprotected　daughter　laid　upon　the　heart。〃

〃I　would　give　the　world　to　lighten　yours　of　its　load；　my
dear　sir。〃

〃It　might　be　done；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　looking　fondly
at　his　child；　〃though　I　could　not　wish　to　put　a　burthen
on　yours　in　order　to　do　so。〃

The　voice　was　deep　and　tremulous；　and　never　before
had　Mabel　witnessed　such　a　show　of　affection　in　her　parent。
The　habitual　sternness　of　the　man　lent　an　interest　to　his
emotions　which　they　might　otherwise　have　wanted；　and
the　daughter's　heart　yearned　to　relieve　the　father's　mind。

〃Father；　speak　plainly！〃　she　cried；　almost　convulsively。

〃Nay；　Mabel；　it　might　not　be　right；　your　wishes　and
mine　may　be　very　different。〃

〃I　have　no　wishes　　know　nothing　of　what　you　mean。
Would　you　speak　of　my　future　marriage？〃

〃If　I　could　see　you　promised　to　Pathfinder　　know　that
you　were　pledged　to　become　his　wife；　let　my　own　fate　be
what　it　might；　I　think　I　could　die　happy。　　But　I　will　ask
no　pledge　of　you；　my　child；　I　will　not　force　you　to　do
what　you　might　repent。　　Kiss　me；　Mabel；　and　go　to　your
bed。〃

Had　Sergeant　Dunham　exacted　of　Mabel　the　pledge　that
he　really　so　much　desired；　he　would　have　encountered　a
resistance　that　he　might　have　found　it　difficult　to　over…
come；　but；　by　letting　nature　have　its　course；　he　enlisted　a
powerful　ally　on　his　side；　and　the　warm…hearted；　generous…
minded　Mabel　was　ready　to　concede　to　her　affections　much
more　than　she　would　ever　have　yielded　to　menace。　　At
that　touching　moment　she　thought　only　of　her　parent；
who　was　about　to　quit　her；　perhaps　for　ever；　and　all　of
that　ardent　love　for　him；　which　had　possibly　been　as　much
fed　by　the　imagination　as　by　anything　else；　but　which　had
received　a　little　check　by　the　restrained　intercourse　of　the
last　fortnight；　now　returned　with　a　force　that　was　increased
by　pure　and　intense　feeling。　　Her　father　seemed　all　in　all
to　her；　and　to　render　him　happy　there　was　no　proper　sac…
rifice　which　she　was　not　ready　to　make。　　One　painful；　rapid；
almost　wild　gleam　of　thought　shot　across　the　brain　of　the
girl；　and　her　resolution　wavered；　but　endeavoring　to　trace
the　foundation　of　the　pleasing　hope　on　which　it　was　based；
she　found　nothing　positive　to　support　it。　　Trained　like　a
woman　to　subdue　her　most　ardent　feelings；　her　thoughts
reverted　to　her　father；　and　to　the　blessings　that　awaited
the　child　who　yielded　to　a　parent's　wishes。

〃Father；〃　she　said　quietly；　almost　with　a　holy　calm；
〃God　blesses　the　dutiful　daughter。〃

〃He　will；　Mabel；　we　have　the　Good　Book　for　that。〃

〃I　will　marry　whomever　you　desire。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　Mabel；　you　may　have　a　choice　of　your
own　　〃

〃I　have　no　choice；　that　is；　none　have　asked　me　to　have
a　choice；　but　Pathfinder　and　Mr。　Muir；　and　between　_them_；
neither　of　us　would　hesitate。　　No；　father；　I　will　marry
whomever　you　may　choose。〃

〃Thou　knowest　my　choice；　beloved　child；　none　other
can　make　thee　as　happy　as　the　noble…hearted　guide。〃

〃Well；　then；　if　he　wish　it；　if　he　ask　me　again　　for；
father；　you　would　not　have　me　offer　myself；　or　that　any
one　should　do　that　office　for　me；〃　and　the　blood　stole　across
the　pallid　cheeks　of　Mabel　as　she　spoke；　for　high　and　gen…
erous　resolutions　had　driven　back　the　stream　of　life　to　her
heart；　〃no　one　must　speak　to　him　of　it；　but　if　he　seek
me　again；　and；　knowing　all　that　a　true　girl　ought　to　tell
the　man　she　marries；　he　then　wishes　to　make　me　his　wife；
I　will　be　his。〃

〃Bless　you；　my　Mabel！　　God　in　heaven　bless　you；　and　re…
ward　you　as　a　pious　daughter　deserves　to　be　rewarded！〃

〃Yes；　father；　put　your　mind　at　peace；　go　on　this　expe…
dition　with　a　light　heart；　and　trust　in　God。　　For　me　you
will　have　now　no　care。　　In　the　spring　　I　must　have　a　lit…
tle　time；　father　　but　in　the　spring　I　will　marry　Pathfinder；
if　that　noble…hearted　hunter　shall　then　desire　it。〃

〃Mabel；　he　loves　you　as　I　loved　your　mother。　　I　have
seen　him　weep　like　a　child　when　speaking　of　his　feelings
towards　you。〃

〃Yes；　I　believe　it；　I've　seen　enough　to　satisfy　me　that
he　thinks　better　of　me　than　I　deserve；　and　certainly　the
man　is　not　living　for　whom　I　have　more　respect　than　for
Pathfinder；　not　even　for　you；　dear　father。〃

〃That　is　as　it　should　be；　child；　and　the　union　will　be
blessed。　　May　I　not　tell　Pathfinder　this？〃

〃I　would　rather　you　would　not；　father。　　Let　it　come　of
itself；　come　naturally。〃　　The　smile　that　i