CHAPTER XIX. A SUMMER NIGHT.

,bravemanhestoodtothedefencewithunflinchingfirmness.Thosewhowerewithhimcaughthisspirit,andcopiedhisdemeanour.Theriotershadneverbeensometbefore.Atothermillstheyhadattackedtheyhadfoundnoresistanceanorganized,resolutedefencewaswhattheyneverdreamedofencountering.Whentheirleaderssawthesteadyfirekeptupfromthemill,witnessedthecomposureanddeterminationofitsowner,heardthemselvescoollydefiedandinvitedontodeath,andbeheldtheirmenfallingwoundedroundthem,theyfeltthatnothingwastobedonehere.Inhastetheymusteredtheirforces,drewthemawayfromthebuilding.Arollwascalledover,inwhichthemenansweredtofiguresinsteadofnames.Theydispersedwideoverthefields,leavingsilenceandruinbehindthem.Theattack,fromitscommencementtoitstermination,hadnotoccupiedanhour. Daywasbythistimeapproachingthewestwasdim,theeastbeginningtogleam.Itwouldhaveseemedthatthegirlswhohadwatchedthisconflictwouldnowwishtohastentothevictors,onwhosesidealltheirinteresthadbeenenlistedbuttheyonlyverycautiouslyapproachedthenowbatteredmill,andwhensuddenlyanumberofsoldiersandgentlemenappearedatthegreatdooropeningintotheyard,theyquicklysteppedasideintoashed,thedepositofoldironandtimber,whencetheycouldseewithoutbeingseen. Itwasnocheeringspectacle.Thesepremiseswerenowamereblotofdesolationonthefreshfrontofthesummerdawn.AllthecopseuptheHollowwasshadyanddewy,thehillatitsheadwasgreenbutjusthere,inthecentreofthesweetglen,Discord,brokenlooseinthenightfromcontrol,hadbeatenthegroundwithhisstampinghoofs,andleftitwasteandpulverized.Themillyawnedallruinouswithunglazedframestheyardwasthicklybestrewnwithstonesandbrickbatsandcloseunderthemill,withtheglitteringfragmentsoftheshatteredwindows,musketsandotherweaponslayhereandthere.Morethanonedeepcrimsonstainwasvisibleonthegravel,ahumanbodylayquietonitsfacenearthegates,andfiveorsixwoundedmenwrithedandmoanedinthebloodydust. MissKeeldar'scountenancechangedatthisview.Itwastheafter-tasteofthebattle,deathandpainreplacingexcitementandexertion.Itwastheblacknessthebrightfireleaveswhenitsblazeissunk,itswarmthfailed,anditsglowfaded. "ThisiswhatIwishedtoprevent,"shesaid,inavoicewhosecadencebetrayedthealteredimpulseofherheart. "Butyoucouldnotpreventityoudidyourbest—itwasinvain,"saidCarolinecomfortingly."Don'tgrieve,Shirley." "Iamsorryforthosepoorfellows,"wastheanswer,whilethesparkinherglancedissolvedtodew."Areanywithinthemillhurt,Iwonder?Isthatyouruncle?" "Itis,andthereisMr.Maloneand,OShirley,thereisRobert!" "Well"(resumingherformertone),"don'tsqueezeyourfingersquiteintomyhand.Isee.Thereisnothingwonderfulinthat.Weknewhe,atleast,washere,whoevermightbeabsent." "Heiscomingheretowardsus,Shirley!" "Towardsthepump,thatistosay,forthepurposeofwashinghishandsandhisforehead,whichhasgotascratch,Iperceive." "Hebleeds,Shirley.Don'tholdme.Imustgo." "Notastep." "Heishurt,Shirley!" "Fiddlestick!" "ButImustgotohim.Iwishtogosomuch.Icannotbeartoberestrained." "Whatfor?" "Tospeaktohim,toaskhowheis,andwhatIcandoforhim." "Toteaseandannoyhimtomakeaspectacleofyourselfandhimbeforethosesoldiers,Mr.Malone,youruncle,etcetera.Wouldhelikeit,thinkyou?Wouldyouliketorememberitaweekhence?" "AmIalwaystobecurbedandkeptdown?"demandedCaroline,alittlepassionately. "Forhissake,yesandstillmoreforyourown.Itellyou,ifyoushowedyourselfnowyouwouldrepentitanhourhence,andsowouldRobert." "Youthinkhewouldnotlikeit,Shirley?" "Farlessthanhewouldlikeourstoppinghimtosaygood-night,whichyouweresosoreabout." "Butthatwasallplaytherewasnodanger." "Andthisisseriousworkhemustbeunmolested." "Ionlywishtogotohimbecauseheismycousin—youunderstand?" "Iquiteunderstand.Butnow,watchhim.Hehasbathedhisforehead,andthebloodhasceasedtrickling.HishurtisreallyameregrazeIcanseeitfromhence.Heisgoingtolookafterthewoundedmen." AccordinglyMr.MooreandMr.Helstonewentroundtheyard,examiningeachprostrateform.Theythengavedirectionstohavethewoundedtakenupandcarriedintothemill.Thisdutybeingperformed,JoeScottwasorderedtosaddlehismaster'shorseandMr.Helstone'spony,andthetwogentlemenrodeawayfullgallop,toseeksurgicalaidindifferentdirections. Carolinewasnotyetpacified. "Shirley,Shirley,Ishouldhavelikedtospeakonewordtohimbeforehewent,"shemurmured,whilethetearsgatheredglitteringinhereyes. "Whydoyoucry,Lina?"askedMissKeeldaralittlesternly."Yououghttobegladinsteadofsorry.Roberthasescapedanyseriousharmheisvictorioushehasbeencoolandbraveincombatheisnowconsiderateintriumph.Isthisatime—arethesecausesforweeping?" "YoudonotknowwhatIhaveinmyheart,"pleadedtheother—"whatpain,whatdistraction—norwhenceitarises.IcanunderstandthatyoushouldexultinRobert'sgreatnessandgoodnesssodoI,inonesense,butinanotherIfeelsomiserable.Iamtoofarremovedfromhim.Iusedtobenearer.Letmealone,Shirley.Doletmecryafewminutesitrelievesme." MissKeeldar,feelinghertrembleineverylimb,ceasedtoexpostulatewithher.Shewentoutoftheshed,andlefthertoweepinpeace.Itwasthebestplan.InafewminutesCarolinerejoinedher,muchcalmer.Shesaid,withhernatural,docile,gentlemanner,"Come,Shirley,wewillgohomenow.IpromisenottotrytoseeRobertagaintillheasksforme.Ineverwilltrytopushmyselfonhim.Ithankyouforrestrainingmejustnow." "Ididitwithagoodintention,"returnedMissKeeldar. "Now,dearLina,"shecontinued,"letusturnourfacestothecoolmorningbreeze,andwalkveryquietlybacktotherectory.Wewillstealinaswestoleout.Noneshallknowwherewehavebeenorwhatwehaveseento-nightneithertauntnormisconstructioncanconsequentlymolestus.To-morrowwewillseeRobert,andbeofgoodcheerbutIwillsaynomore,lestIshouldbegintocrytoo.Iseemhardtowardsyou,butIamnotso."