“He isn’t worth a thought, Peggy,” she cried. “And what else could you expect from John Drayton?”
“She speaks truth, my cousin,” said Clifford. “Desertions occur daily from both sides. Those who are guilty of them are not persons actuated by the highest motives. I would think no more of it.”
“Don’t,” exclaimed the girl struggling for control. “He was my friend. Thee must not speak of him like that. Oh!” she cried with a burst of tears, “how shall I bear it?”
“Tell her how it occurred, Cliff,” suggested Harriet. “She might just as well know all about it.”
“Yes, tell me,” said Peggy looking up through her tears. “I want to know everything to see if aught can justify him.”
“It happened after this manner,” began the youth complying with the request with visible reluctance. “After the encounter with the rebels the other day when they were retiring from us under a hot fire, what does this fellow do all at once but dash from among them and come toward us, crying: ‘I’m going to cast in my lot with you fellows.’
“This seemed to incense his comrades greatly. They ceased to fire at us and turned their muskets against him. ’Twas marvelous that he escaped unhurt, but he did, and was received with cheers and shouts of admiration by our troops. Odds life!” ejaculated the youth with grudging approval, “he hath pluck enough when it comes to that, but I like not a turncoat. ’Tis said that my Lord Cornwallis is much taken with him, and hath declared that he would like a regiment like him. Pray heaven that he doth not repent it. I never liked him, you remember, and still less do I regard him now. I shall keep an eye on him.”
“I thank thee for telling me about it, Clifford,” said Peggy. “I think I will go to my room. I—I am tired.”
Seeing that the girl was losing command of herself her cousins permitted her to leave them without further word, and at last Peggy could give way to the sorrow that was overwhelming her.
The sun shone as brightly as of yore; the birds sang sweetly in the tree tops, and flowers blossomed in the meadows; all the world of Nature went on as before. For no act of man affects the immutable laws of the universe, and with indifference to woe, or grief, or breach of trust they fulfil their predestined designs though everything that makes life dear may be slipping from one’s grasp. Peggy was wondering dully at this one morning, a few days later, as she went down to breakfast.