Hitherto some angel had watched over me, and Disaways had been unvisited by the enemy’s scouting parties, without so much as a vedette at the Halifax bridge, within half a mile. I had sat by the fire, eaten countless suppers, laughed and conversed with my good friends, slept soundly in a real bed, and gone on my way in the morning rejoicing.
I had thus always escaped surprise. No enemy ever annoyed me. It was the old adage, however, of the pitcher that went to the well so often!—but let me go on with my narrative.
As my horse uttered his shrill neigh now, ringing through the March evening, the door opened and Katy ran out to greet me. She had never looked more beautiful, and I recall still, as though I had seen it yesterday, the charming smile on her red lips. The wind blew back her ringlets till they resembled golden ripples—the rosy cheeks were flushed—there madam! (I say this to some one who is leaning over my shoulder, and laughing) don’t begrudge me these smiling memories! Katy was only my little niece as it were—she is married and far away now. Nay, Surry ought to love and be grateful to the little lady who took such good care, in those grim days, of—your husband, madam!
Behind Katy appeared the faces of the excellent family, who cordially greeted me. Behind all appeared the blushing but dandified Tom Herbert.
“Ah! there is a straggler!” I said. “Why don’t you send him back to his command, ladies? Every man should be at his post in this trying moment!”
“Oh, bother, my dear Surry! what a tongue you have!” exclaimed Tom.
“I see General Fitz was right, or his staff rather, in what they told me, Tom.”
“What did they tell you, my dear boy?”
“That you were demoralized and captured!”
Sweet smile on the faces of the family at these words!