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Page 16
"O! yer go along, Massa John. I might hev knowed it was one of yer
deceitful tricks", said Aunt Esther, trying to conceal her amusement,
by putting on an injured look. "There, the fire burns now. Yer jest
put on them dry clothes as quick as ever yer can, or mebbe ye'll lose
another friend before long".
"It shall be done as you say, beloved Aunt Esther", said he, rising
and bowing profoundly, as she left the room.
Having obeyed the worthy woman's injunction, he drew the easy-chair to
the fire, leaned his head back and spent the next half hour hovering
between consciousness and dreamland.
From this state, he was roused by a gentle tap on his door, followed
by his mother's voice, saying, "John, dear?"
John rose instantly, threw the door wide open and ushered in the lady,
saying, "Come in, little queen mother, come in", and bowing over her
hand with a pompous, yet courtly grace.
Mrs. Lansdowne, when seen a short time since walking in her solitude,
seemed quite lofty in stature, but now, standing for a moment beside
the regal height of her son, one could fully justify him in bestowing
upon her the title with which he had greeted her.
John Lansdowne was fast developing, physically as well as mentally
into a noble manhood, and it was no wonder that his mother's heart
swelled with pride and joy when she looked upon him. Straight,
muscular, and vigorous in form, his features and expression were
precisely her own, enlarged and intensified. Open and generous in
disposition, his character had a certain quality of firmness, quite in
contrast with that of his uncle Edward, and this she had carefully
sought to strengthen. In the pursuit of his studies, he had thus far
been earnest and successful.
During the last half year, however, he had chafed under the
confinements of student life, and having now become quite restive in
the harness, he had asked his father for a few months of freedom from
books. He wished to explore a wilderness, to go on a foreign voyage,
to wander away, away, anywhere beyond the sight of college walls.
"John", said Mrs. Lansdowne, "I have been conversing with your father
on the subject, and he has consented to an expedition for you".
"O! glorious! mother where am I to go? to the Barcan desert, or to the
Arctic Ocean?"
"You are to make a journey to the Miramichi River?"
"Miramichi!" said John, after a brief pause, "I thought I had a slight
acquaintance with geography, but where in the wide world is
Miramichi?"
"It is in the province of New Brunswick. You will have seventy-five
miles of almost unbroken wilderness to pass through".
"Seventy-five miles of wilderness! magnificent! where's my rifle,
mother? I haven't seen it for an age".
"Don't be so impetuous, John. This journey through the wilderness will
be anything but magnificent. You will meet many dangers by the way and
will encounter many hardships".
"But, mother, what care I for the perils of the way. Look at that
powerful member", stretching out his large, muscular arm.
"Don't trust too much in that, John. Your strong arm is a good weapon,
but you may meet something yet that is more than a match for it".
"Possibly", said John, with a sceptical air, "but when am I to start,
mother?"
"To-morrow".
"To-morrow! that is fine. Well! I must bestir myself", said he,
rising.
"Not to-night, my dear. You've nothing to do at present. Arrangements
are made. Be quiet, John. We may not sit thus together again for a
long while".
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