“Well, so you were wrong, very wrong! It will teach you a lesson that will benefit you for the future. And for the present it will blow over. There, there, there—if you can’t be still, go and amuse yourself by making me a nice mint-julep! I want it before I go out in the fields—the morning air on my empty stomach isn’t good for me.”
He then kissed Carolyn and let her go. As she left him, he saw to his surprise Frank Fairfax emerge from his chamber, with a portmanteau in his hand. Frank immediately set it down, and advancing, said—
“Ah, sir! I was just about to seek you, to let you know that, to my infinite regret, I must leave you to-day.”
“To-day? You astound me! What is up now? You mustn’t go—you shan’t!”
“Sir, I have received an order to join my regiment without delay!”
“Oh-h-h, that’s bad! That’s bad! Devil fly away with military life! That’s what was always hiking away Archer at the very time I wanted him most. But no frantic hurry! You needn’t go to-day! You mustn’t. Why, this is the wedding-day, you rascal!”
“I know it, sir! But, to my everlasting regret, I must forego the pleasure of being present upon that occasion. My order is a peremptory one, to join my regiment instantly.”
“Well, well! To-morrow’ll do! To-morrow’ll do! One day cannot make so much difference!”
“My dear sir, I surely need not tell you that soldiers should be ‘minute men’ in their obedience. Besides, if I do not seize the opportunity of meeting the Staunton stage as it passes through L—— to-night, I shall have to wait three days for the next stage. So, you see—”
“Yes, yes; I see! I am always called upon to see something I don’t want to see! Ah! here comes the mint-julep! Did Miss Carolyn mix it?”