As an officer of a marching
regiment, ordered to rejoin immediately, he must flesh his sword in
lather first--for he had found no razor strong enough--and postpone the
day of riches till the golden date of peace.
The other young man had no solace of wealth, even in the blue distance,
to whisper to his troubled heart. Although he was a real "Captain
Scuddy" now, being posted to the Danae, 42-gun frigate, the capacity of
his cocked hat would be tried by no shower of gold impending. For mighty
dread of the Union-jack had fallen upon the tricolor; that gallant flag
perceived at last that its proper flight was upon dry land, where as yet
there was none to flout it. Trafalgar had reduced by 50 per cent. the
British sailor's chance of prize-money.
Such computations were not, however, the chief distress of Scudamore.
The happiness of his fair round face was less pronounced than usual,
because he had vainly striven for an interview with his loved one. With
all her faults he loved her still, and longed to make them all his own.
He could not help being sadly shocked by her fatal coquetry with the
traitor Carne, and slippery conduct to his own poor self. But love in
his faithful heart maintained that she had already atoned for that
too bitterly and too deeply; and the settled sorrow of her face, and
listless submission of her movements, showed that she was now a very
different Dolly. Faith, who had always been grave enough, seemed gaiety
itself in comparison with her younger sister, once so gay.
Pages:
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718