There they separated, and Duncan returned to the advanced
post of the French, accompanied as before; whence
he instantly proceeded to the fort, and to the quarters
of his own commander.
“EDG.—Before
you fight the battle ope this letter.”
—Lear
Major Heyward found Munro attended only by his daughters.
Alice sat upon his knee, parting the gray hairs on
the forehead of the old man with her delicate fingers;
and whenever he affected to frown on her trifling,
appeasing his assumed anger by pressing her ruby lips
fondly on his wrinkled brow. Cora was seated
nigh them, a calm and amused looker-on; regarding
the wayward movements of her more youthful sister with
that species of maternal fondness which characterized
her love for Alice. Not only the dangers through
which they had passed, but those which still impended
above them, appeared to be momentarily forgotten, in
the soothing indulgence of such a family meeting.
It seemed as if they had profited by the short truce,
to devote an instant to the purest and best affection;
the daughters forgetting their fears, and the veteran
his cares, in the security of the moment. Of
this scene, Duncan, who, in his eagerness to report
his arrival, had entered unannounced, stood many moments
an unobserved and a delighted spectator. But the
quick and dancing eyes of Alice soon caught a glimpse
of his figure reflected from a glass, and she sprang
blushing from her father’s knee, exclaiming
aloud:
“Major Heyward!”
“What of the lad?” demanded her father;
“I have sent him to crack a little with the
Frenchman. Ha, sir, you are young, and you’re
nimble! Away with you, ye baggage; as if there
were not troubles enough for a soldier, without having
his camp filled with such prattling hussies as yourself!”
Alice laughingly followed her sister, who instantly
led the way from an apartment where she perceived
their presence was no longer desirable. Munro,
instead of demanding the result of the young man’s
mission, paced the room for a few moments, with his
hands behind his back, and his head inclined toward
the floor, like a man lost in thought. At length
he raised his eyes, glistening with a father’s
fondness, and exclaimed:
“They are a pair of excellent girls, Heyward,
and such as any one may boast of.”
“You are not now to learn my opinion of your
daughters, Colonel Munro.”
“True, lad, true,” interrupted the impatient
old man; “you were about opening your mind more
fully on that matter the day you got in, but I did
not think it becoming in an old soldier to be talking
of nuptial blessings and wedding jokes when the enemies
of his king were likely to be unbidden guests at the
feast. But I was wrong, Duncan, boy, I was wrong
there; and I am now ready to hear what you have to
say.”
“Notwithstanding the pleasure your assurance
gives me, dear sir, I have just now, a message from
Montcalm—”
