登陆注册
5156400000040

第40章

She had, however, promised that as soon as Tony's letter arrived she would, if it was still possible, forward Dinah and the child to him, supplying her with money for the journey, and giving her the papers freeing her from slavery which Vincent had duly signed in the presence of a justice.When the letter came, however, it was already too late.Fighting was on the point of commencing, all intercourse across the border was stopped, the trains were all taken up for the conveyance of troops, and even a man would have had great difficulty in passing northward, while for an unprotected negress with a baby such a journey would have been impossible.

Mrs.Wingfield had therefore written four times at fort-nightly intervals to Tony, saying that it was impossible to send Dinah off at present, but that she should be despatched as soon as the troubles were over, upon receipt of another letter from him saying that his address was unchanged, or giving a new one.These letters were duly posted, and it was probable that one or other of them would in time reach Tony, as mails were sent off to Europe whenever an opportunity offered for them to be taken by a steamer running the blockade from a Southern port.Dinah, therefore, still remained at the Orangery.She was well and happy, for her life there was a delightful one indeed after her toil and hardship at the Jackson's; and although she was anxious to join her husband, the knowledge that he was well and safe from all pursuit, and that sooner or later she would join him with her child, was sufficient to make her perfectly contented.

During Vincent's illness she had been his most constant attendant;for her child now no longer required her care, and passed much of its time down at the nursery, where the young children of the slaves were looked after by two or three aged negresses past active work.She had therefore begged Mrs.Wingfield to be allowed to take her place by the bedside of her young master, and, after giving her a trial, Mrs.Wingfleld found her so quiet, gentle, and patient that she installed her there, and was able to obtain the rest she needed, with a feeling of confidence that Vincent would be well attended to in her absence.

When Vincent was well enough to be about again, his sisters were surprised at the change that had taken place in him since he had started a few months before for the war.It was not so much that he had grown, though he had done so considerably, but that he was much older in manner and appearance.He had been doing man's work: work requiring vigilance, activity, and courage, and they could no longer treat him as a boy.As he became stronger he took to riding about the plantation; but not upon Wildfire, for his horse was still with the troop, Colonel Stuart having promised to see that the animal was well cared for, and that no one should ride upon it but himself.

"I hope you like Jonas Pearson better than you used to do, Vincent," Mrs.Wingfield said a day or two before he started to rejoin his troop.

"I can't say I do, mother," he replied shortly."The man is very civil to me now-too civil, in fact; but I don't like him, and I don't believe he is honest.I don't mean that he would cheat you, though he may do so for anything I know; but he pretends to be a violent Secessionist, which as he comes from Vermont is not natural, and I imagine he would sing a different tune if the blue coats ever get to Richmond.Still I have nothing particular to say against him, except that I don't like him and I don't trust him.So long as everything goes on well for the Confederacy I don't suppose it matters, but if we should ever get the worst of it you will see that fellow will be mischievous.

"however, I hear that he has obeyed your orders, and that there has been no flogging on the estate since I went away.In fact, as far as I can see, he does not keep anything like such a sharp hand over the slaves as he used to do; and in some of the fields the work seems to be done in a very slovenly way.What his game is I don't know; but I have no doubt whatever that he has some game in his mind.""You are a most prejudiced boy," Mrs.Wingfield said, laughing.

"First of all the man is too strict, and you were furious about it;now you think he's too lenient, and you at once suspect he has what you call a game of some sort or other on.You are hard to please indeed."Vincent smiled."Well, as I told you once before, we shall see.Ihope I am wrong, and that Pearson is all that you believe him to be.I own that I may be prejudiced against him; but nothing will persuade rue that it was not from him that Jackson learned that Dinah was here, and it was to that we owe the visit of tho sheriff and the searching the plantation for Tony.However, whatever the man is at heart, he can, as far as I see, do you no injury as long as things go on as they are, and I sincerely trust he will never have an opportunity of doing so."During the winter Vincent had made the acquaintance ef many of the Southern leaders.The town was the center of the movement, the heart of the Confederacy.It was against it, as the capital of the Southern States, that the efforts of the Northerns were principally directed, and to it flocked the leading men from all parts of the country.Although every Virginian family had some of its members at the front, and a feeling of anxiety reigned everywhere, a semblance of gayety was kept up.The theater was opened, and parties and balls given, in order to keep up the spirits of the people by the example of those of higher rank.

These balls differed widely in appearance from those of eighteen months before.The gentlemen were almost all in uniform, and already calicoes and other cheap fabrics were worn by many of the ladies, as foreign dress materials could no longer be purchased.

同类推荐
  • 颂古合响集

    颂古合响集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 为霖道霈禅师秉拂语录

    为霖道霈禅师秉拂语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Kidnapped Santa Claus

    A Kidnapped Santa Claus

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 轻重甲

    轻重甲

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明伦汇编交谊典乡里部

    明伦汇编交谊典乡里部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 修行路上我有树

    修行路上我有树

    路天带着一款名为‘能量森林’的游戏穿越到九星大陆,开启了强者进阶之路。
  • 我为东岳阁主

    我为东岳阁主

    上一世,我为阁主,纵横千秋,制裁东岳,奈何不敌她莲步轻点,挥手舞袖。且看董宇的通天手段,掀起时代的浪潮!开启全民修真。
  • 一念成瘾:傅少的心尖宠妻

    一念成瘾:傅少的心尖宠妻

    简长晴知道傅念琛心里住着一个女人,一个他爱了八年的女人。可是简长晴不知道,傅念琛对她说的那句“你好,傅太太”,不是孽缘的开始,而是八年相思的终结。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 灵本无极

    灵本无极

    修炼灵力者,可以打碎山石,移山填海,粉碎真空修炼灵术者,可以灵魂出壳,附身夺舍,遨游太虚修炼灵力的肉身,就好像是船儿一样,以自己的肉身横渡汪洋彼岸,不死不灭,而修炼灵术的灵魂,则就是水儿一样,以自己的灵魂化身诸天万界,万古不朽。一肉一魂,你要修炼哪一种呢?本书纯属虚构,绝不断更,绝不太监,放心入坑。
  • 星际铁拳

    星际铁拳

    这个世界上有一颗远离地球很远的星球,它叫:寂静五号行星。他也繁衍了各种生物,生机勃勃。茫茫宇宙,意外在这颗小小的星球爆发蔓延,余风和叶博士被逼迫到外太空,救生舱需要保存动力,不能规避任何危险,到不了地球,无法与人类联盟,余风带着铁拳的力量,走向了拯救星球的伟大使命中。他能成功吗?还能回去吗?
  • 穿越之王妃太冷淡

    穿越之王妃太冷淡

    一缕白纱欣起万丈红烟,一眸妖瞳真假难以辨。王凤陨落随缘尽人间,得应自来命难连。传说的草包皇妃,一舞倾城。她是史上最具争议的乱世红颜。曾经的她,丑名远扬,却在宫宴上一舞倾城。她无心参与各种斗争,却事事与她牵连。传说的白痴王爷,绝色风华。他是史上最具话题的绝色王爷。白痴的称号,他骗尽天下人,却唯对她敞入心菲。他原本天姿聪慧,却被逼装傻卖痴,她和他的命运齿轮再次相遇,是否还能相濡与沫……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 漫威之无限人格

    漫威之无限人格

    简单来说,这就是一个拥有着连自己都不知道自己到底有多少副人格,而且这些副人格们的原型都是各个世界的风云人物的家伙,在漫威世界搞事情的故事!快银:你怎么可能追上我!雷蒙:速度即力量,年轻人,你有被光踢过吗?洛基:为什么你能无视我的幻术魔法?雷蒙:觉悟吧,我愚蠢的欧豆豆呦~~~ 钢铁侠:你……到底是谁?雷蒙:吾乃威震天,霸天虎的领袖! 【温馨提示①:本书背景是‘漫威无限人格宇宙’,请勿对号入座!】 【温馨提示②:对漫威背景不熟悉也不影响阅读,请放心食用!】
  • 逆天狂妃:腹黑大小姐

    逆天狂妃:腹黑大小姐

    23世纪超级特工在杀死仇人后魂穿到星芒大陆一个废材上。笑我白痴?欺我弱小?分分钟虐你黑你没商量!霸气师父,逆天神兽,她会让世人明白什么叫睥睨天下,什么叫唯我独尊!
  • 绝世战灵

    绝世战灵

    昔日强者,虎落平阳。他不甘平庸,誓要报仇雪恨,纵横苍穹,傲世寰宇。可这天下,却对他嗤之以鼻。他无惧冷眼,一人一剑,豪情冲九霄,天地任逍遥……
  • 龙族Ⅰ:火之晨曦

    龙族Ⅰ:火之晨曦

    路明非只是一个普通的懵懂高中生,一封来自卡塞尔学院的来信改变了他平淡的人生。在热血与神秘的呼唤下,在爱与梦想的抉择下,他毅然选择了未知。黑色的直升机划过天际,陌生国度的大门向他缓缓开启,平凡的中国小孩走上不平凡的屠龙之路。而遥远的卡塞尔学院却处处透着神秘——奇怪的课程、搞笑的学长、疯狂的教师、骄傲的同学等。路明非刚刚进入学校就遭遇了无数的怪事。但是,随之而来的挑战也开始了,等级考试、言灵考验、地图搜索。龙的世界也终于在水下露出了神秘面纱。