"Oh, my father! my father!" cried Edith, dropping her rein and clasping her hands together, longing to follow, yet unwilling to disobey. "He will be lost--I fear he will be lost!"
"I trust not," said Lord H----, in a firm, calm tone, well fitted to inspire confidence. "He knows the country well, and can take advantage of every turning to avoid the flame. Besides, if you look along what I imagine to be the course of the stream, you will see a deep undulation, as it were, in that sea of smoke, and when the wind blows strongly it is almost clear. He said, too, that the banks continued free from trees."
"As far as the bridge and the rapids near our house," replied Edith; "but after that they are thickly wooded."
"But the fire has evidently not reached that spot," said the young nobleman. "All the ground within half a mile of the house is free at present. I saw it quite distinctly a moment ago, and the wind is setting this way."
"Then can we not follow him?" asked his fair companion, imploringly.
"To what purpose?" asked Lord H----; "and besides," he added, "now let me call to your mind the answer of the good soldier, Corporal Clitherto, just now. He said he must obey orders, and he was right. A soldier to his commander, a child to a parent, a Christian to his God: have, I think, but one duty--to obey. Come, Edith, let us follow the directions we have received. The sun is already beneath the forest edge; we can do no good gazing here; and although I do not think there is any danger, and believe you will be safe under my protection, yet, for many reasons, I could wish to place you beneath the shelter of a roof, and in the society of other women as soon as may be."
"Thank you much," she answered, gazing up into his face, on which the lingering light in the west cast a warm glow. "You remind me of my duty, and strengthen me to follow it. I have no fear of any danger with you to protect me, my lord. It was for my father only I feared. But it was wrong to do so, even for him. God will protect, I do hope and believe. We must take this way, my lord," and with a deep sigh she turned her horse's head upon the path which her father had pointed out.
No general subject of conversation could, of course, be acceptable at that moment; but one topic they had to discuss. And yet Lord H---- made more of that than some men would have made of a thousand. He comforted, he consoled, he raised up hope and expectation. His words were full of promise; and from everything he wrung some illustration to support and cheer.
A few moments after they left the summit of the hill and began the more gentle descent which stretched away to the southeast, the last rays of the sun were withdrawn and night succeeded; but it was the bright and sparkling night of the American sky. There was no moon, indeed, but the stars burst forth in multitudes over the firmament, larger, more brilliant than they are ever beheld even in the clearest European atmosphere, and they gave light enough to enable the two travelers to see their path. The wind still blew strongly, and carried the smoke away, and the road was wide enough to show the starry canopy overhanging the trees. Obliged to go very slowly, but little progress had been made in an hour, and by that time a strong odor of the burning wood and a pungent feeling in the eyes, showed that some portion of the smoke was reaching them.
"I fear the wind has changed," said Edith. "The smoke seems coming this way."