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Page 63
"You have, my dear Mrs. Headley, put the case forcibly
yet simply." returned the ensign, who had listened with
marked deference to the whole of her remonstrance. "In
such a case I should feel no slight annoyance, but why
imagine that I have sought to thwart Captain Headley?"
"Was it not apparently to thwart him--bear in mind I
speak to you dispassionately and as a friend--to refuse
in the presence of the whole garrison this morning to
account for your absence of last night, which might have
been easily explained, had you been so disposed?"
"But, my dear Mrs. Headley, why is it persisted in, that
I was absent--and even if such were the case, might not
I have had a good reason for refusing to commit myself
by the avowal."
"Admitting this, could you have maintained your position
without, in a measure, setting his authority at defiance
--thus encouraging the men to do the same. Was this right,
I ask? Was this officer-like?"
"Well, no, perhaps not. I blush not to make the admission
to YOU, for indeed, there is no resisting so bewitching
a master in petticoats. Yet, what would you have me do?"
"Ah, now, I begin to entertain some hope of you," she
replied, in a gayer tone, placing her hand at the same
time familiarly on his shoulder and looking approvingly
in his face. "Ronayne, you are engaged--perhaps will
shortly become the husband of the noble girl, whom I love
even as though she were my own daughter--yes," she repeated
energetically, as she felt his grateful pressure of her
hand, "even as though she were my own daughter--nay,
you know I like yourself for your open, although rather
too impetuous character. Do you then think that feeling
this it can be any other than a source of deep pain and
vexation to me, to see those in whom I feel so much
interest, alienated from each other--in some degree even
mutually hating and hated?"
"Yet, what would you have me to do, my dear Mrs. Headley?
Some concession I suppose, must be made. Any thing in
honor and in reason will I do for your sake," returned
the young officer, deeply touched by her manner and
language.
"This I wish you to do, Ronayne. Take the first favorable
opportunity, either while on guard to-day, or when relieved
to-morrow, to see Headley privately, and by such language
as you well know how to use, remove the unfavorable
impression you have left on his mind--depend upon it,
although extremely cold and inflexible when apparently
braved, my husband has a warm and generous--aye, a noble
heart, and will freely grant what is frankly solicited.
Bear in mind, moreover, Ronayne, that it is no humiliation
to admit error when conscious of having committed it;
and if this be so in the social relations of life, how
much less derogatory is it in a military sense."
"Say no more, dearest Mrs. Headley, since it is your
wish, I will go, no matter what the reception I encounter;
and any further rebuke I may meet with, I will cheerfully
endure for your sake."
"Now then, Ronayne, you are once more yourself, the
generous, high-minded boy, in whom I delighted, even as
a mother would delight in her son, when you first arrived
here about three years ago. Yet, recollect that not only
_I_ shall be gratified and benefitted by this, but YOU
and YOURS. Let but this unhappy discord terminate, and
we shall then be what soldiers and those connected with
them, ought ever to be--one undivided family. And now,
for the present, farewell."
"God bless you!" fervently exclaimed the ensign, as he
took his leave of the graceful and noble wife of the
commanding officer, with emotions that fully testified
the effect produced upon him by her generous confidence
and candor.
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