The colored servants had with them strong cordials that soon brought Lionel to himself.
No bones were broken, but he was lame and bruised, and it was some time before he could mount the gentle animal Sam Spruce had ridden in going forth to find him. Sally saw in a moment that it was Lord Rollin, the horse Lionel had used when riding with his cousin Rosamond.
Hotspur, after a mad gallop, had raced back riderless to the stables, stirrups dangling and saddle awry. This had sent the men out in hot haste to find out what had happened.
As soon as Lionel was fairly recovered, he looked all around.
"Where is the beautiful creature that gave me water?" he asked.
"No one gave you water, Mars' Li'nel," said the well-spoken Sam Spruce. "We fetched cordial that brought you to."
"Yes, yes, I know that," Lionel replied, "but who was the lovely being all in white, with hair like the sun, eyes like stars, lips like cherries and with flowers all about her everywhere?"
Sam looked over to Corniel, winked, and touched his brow.
Lionel caught the gesture.
"Oh, now, none of that!" he said; "my head is not wandering. She came before you did, some charming little thing, I tell you, that was all brightness and flowers."
"We saw no one, Mars' Lion," began Corniel; "you was all 'lone when we comed up. Ef there'd been anybuddy else roun', dey couldn't 'a' got 'way dout our seein' 'em."
"Oh, well, never mind," said the young master, "if none of you saw any one, there's no use in talking, but I know what I saw, and my head wasn't light or flighty, either."
The well-trained servants did not reply, butBill, the groom, who stood behind Lionel, rolled his eyes in so droll a fashion, at the same time touching his own woolly crown, that Sam Spruce only stopped a titter by a loud cough.
But he did not deceive his bright young master.
"Oh, you fellows may grin and make up eyes all you want to," he said, good-naturedly, "but I wasn't knocked crazy all at once, and one of these days you may find out I saw just what I say I did. Now get me home as fast as you can."
They helped him mount the proud but steady Lord Rollin, and in a moment more three of them rode away, leaving Sam Spruce to walk back.
Left alone, Sam took a good look around, and Sally, who had seen them talking but could not hear what was said, was in terror lest he should spy her in the branches of the oak; but Sam, who looked in other directions, did not look up, and, finally, wagging his head in a knowing way, he moved off, greatly to Sally's relief.
The maid was in a kind of dream all the rest of the day, and, without exactly knowing it, she was very happy. Shortly before noon she returned to the house, and going directly to the mirror in the keeping-room she said, without vanity, but with considerable curiosity:
"I wonder if I am fair at all?" and as the mirror flashed back the image of a maiden surely very pleasant to look upon, she chuckled:
"I don't care, very glad I am that when I first touched the Fairy Prince and looked right into his eyes, I was in my best attire, and also dressed in flowers. I wonder did it mean anything?"
"What should it mean?" asked the faithful Fairy.
"Mistress Cory Ann might say it was a good sign," said Sally.
"Do not be a silly, taking note of signs and omens!" cried the Fairy. "They bear no meaning except for simple souls that know no better than to make them up. Wisepeople and signs have naught to do with each other."
Still Sally felt happy. She was glad that in white array, with flowers and midst sunshine and songs of birds, she had first come face to face with her Fairy Prince.
"But he had been hurt," reminded the Fairy.
"Not badly," serenely smiled Maid Sally. "He soon came around with a little attention."
That evening Sally strolled around to her seat in the hedge, hoping and wishing that she might hear some of the reading that had always charmed her. But long she sat there before any one came to the arbor. The pale stars came out in the azure heavens, and indeed the maiden had a quiet nap before there came a sound to break the stillness of the pretty evening.
Then the family coach drew up before the gate, and a gay company alighted. Sally knew by this that there had been a supperparty somewhere, and that the young people had been away.
Would they go directly to the house, she wondered, or would they stroll over to the arbor for awhile?
Ah, they were coming over. She wished she might peep at them in their fine attire, but no, it would not do to try, and besides, she could not see them very plainly now. Pretty soon she heard Lucretia say:
"I saw fair brows grow into a frown, when it was found you were too lame to dance to-night, my brother."
"Ah, but very lucky was I to be able to go out at all to-night, after the hard fall of this morning," cried Lionel. "Hotspur hath no gentle plunge once his blood is up."
"Has he ever thrown you before?" asked the Lady Rosamond.
"No, nor did he in truth throw me to-day," Lionel replied. "I had left the saddle of my own will, but by some strange bound Hotspur tossed me nearly up again, then banged me likea wisp against a tree. The heavy fall stunned me."
"And Sam thought you inclined to wander in speech after the men found you," remarked Rosamond.
"Which is entirely untrue!" exclaimed Lionel, with some warmth. Then he added, in a gentler tone:
"I would I might know who was the bonny maid that bent over me and gave me cooling drops of water and bathed my face and brow."
"Dost really think there was such a person, brother?" inquired Lucretia.
"It is quite as true as that I sit here this moment! Whether a wood Fairy or a forest nymph I cannot tell, but a heartsome creature, all in white except for flowers of brightest hue, dropped water into my mouth and laved my hot brow."
"The other servants thought you wandered slightly," again ventured Rosamond, "and as no one was in sight when they rode up, where could your nymph or Fairy have vanished sosoon? Was not she with you but a moment before?"
"Only an instant before, my cousin. But never shall I yield to the idea that I wandered or that my eyes deceived me as to the vision upon which they rested. Some day I hope to see my dear Fairy again, and when I do, I shall know her."
Sally held her breath for very rapture. Ah, how strange, how sweetly strange!He, her Fairy Prince, had called herhisdear Fairy! Could it be? Yes, it was true, true!
"But, remember, he knows naught of you," came the sad voice that always kept her down.
"See to it," cried her cheerful Fairy, "that should he ever see and know you, there will be naught for which to be ashamed."
"I will try," said Maid Sally.
But if Sally had been careful not to have the Fairy Prince see her before, doubly unwilling was she now that he should catch a glimpse of her.
And not much danger of it was there excepton Sundays, when he appeared at meeting. But Sally managed to stand behind the person in front of her, so that not a peep at her face did the young gentleman of Ingleside get, when during the last singing the congregation turned about and faced the choir.
But under her broad-rimmed hat it is doubtful if Sally's features would have reminded him of the nymph of the pine woods. And so cautious was Maid Sally that not another peep did her Fairy Prince get at her anywhere during the rest of his vacation.
And but seldom did the careful maid go over to the beloved perch between hedge and wall. From her window she more than once saw Lionel go flying by on Hotspur's back, for the Southern lad rode as if by nature the swift, noble horses always to be found in the stables.
Then companies of young people would go forth on picnics, driving in wagons through the woods; or riding parties would be formed, when Hotspur would be left at home, while Lord Rollin, Lady Grace, and other fine horses wouldbear young men and maidens to the make-believe hunt, or on the long, breezy ride.
And then again there came a fair September day, when Sally went to the quay, and away and away sailed the Fairy Prince, going back to his studies and the books that were to fit him for the life that lay ahead and the days that were to come.
And back went Maid Sally to Mistress Kent, with the chief part of her "History of America," and the founding of the Colonies safely lodged in the mind-cells under her red-gold hair.
And although Ingleside seemed deserted with the sailing away of its only son, the old charm yet lingered about his home.
One Saturday night in late October, Sally wandered over to the well-known plantation. Bill was combing and rubbing down the horses, Hotspur, Lord Rollin, Springer, Lady Grace, and Crazy Jim.
Sally knew them all, could call half a dozen of them by their names. It sent a pang ofregret to her little young heart, seeing the animals that would feel the hand of their young master on the bridles no more for nearly a year to come.
A little farther on Sam Spruce was picking at a banjo, and trolling in a sweet tenor an old plantation song.
Everything seemed pleasant yet tinged with sadness, for all reminded her of the absent Prince. Not many children have the depths of imagination that had Maid Sally. But she would be thirteen in the winter, hers was a very loving, longing young heart, and she was almost alone in the world, for such children as sometimes came around Slipside Row were not companions for her or such as she could like.
And on this lovely, dreamy night, she strolled on and on, until she came close to Mammy Leezer seated flat on the grass, talking away to herself as fast as her tongue could go. Her back was turned to Sally, and in the growing twilight she was not likely to see the lonely child.
Mammy's pipe was in her hand, and every minute or two she would stop and take a long breath at it, sending a spire of curling smoke above her head. Sally could hear plainly what she was saying, and as usual the sound of her sweet voice was comforting.
"No," she said, "I doan't like it one mite seein' my young Mars' Lion fly in' off to Inglan', and hearin' all sorts ob talk 'bout wars an' rumors o' wars. What dat chile got to do with sech tings, I like to know? Lorr sakes, it ain't but yes'day I trot 'im on my ole knee first to Bosting, den to Lynn, den to Salum, and home, home agin! And Lorr a-massy! how dat lil trollop screech and scream when I put him on my big shoe and sing dat trip song!"
Mammy stopped, held her pipe in a hand that rested on her knee, and softly wagging one foot, she began, in a slow, dreamy, singsong:
"Trip-a-trop-a-tronjes,De-vorkens-in-de-boonjes,De-koejes-in-de-klaver,De-Paarden-in-de-haver,De-eenjes-in-de-waterplass,So-pop!-my-lil-pick'ninny-goes!"
"Trip-a-trop-a-tronjes,De-vorkens-in-de-boonjes,De-koejes-in-de-klaver,De-Paarden-in-de-haver,De-eenjes-in-de-waterplass,So-pop!-my-lil-pick'ninny-goes!"
"Lorr, Lorr! I can hear dat poor lil monkey now, done choke a-larfin', when his ole Mammy toss him up inten her lap."
But Mammy's soliloquy was rudely broken in upon. Hotspur came tearing over the lawn, Bill in hot pursuit.
"Horrors unner hemlocks!" screamed Mammy, as the wild horse bolted by at a perfectly safe distance, then of his own accord pranced back to the stable yard.
Up got Mammy and trundled away. And back toward Slipside Row went Sally, laughing at Mammy's queer fright, but feeling thankful enough that she was only frightened, not hurt.
With the coming of another summer there were reasons why Sir Percival Grandison did not think it best to have his son Lionel come home.
Troublous times were indeed brewing, and he did not want his enthusiastic son to hear the reports that were going from mouth to mouth and from place to place.
And when the next December came he was glad the lad was away, for in Boston, men painted and plumed like Indians had gone at night aboard some laden vessels lying in the harbor, and had thrown nearly two hundred and fifty chests of tea into the water.
For England was bound to tax the people of the Colonies for tea, beyond what they were willing to stand. And very patient had theColonists been. Eight years before this there had been a Stamp Act put upon them by the mother country, trying to make them put a stamp on all their law papers, newspapers, and such things.
But this had made the people of the Colonies so very angry that the law was laid aside.
Now, strange as it may seem, there were yet some of the people who did not quite know whether it was right to stand up and say that England was wrong, and they would not stay on her side, or to think that they ought to obey the king in everything simply because he was the king, and it seemed wrong to break away from his rule.
And Sir Percival Grandison, really a fine, noble gentleman, found it hard to make up his mind as to what was entirely right or wrong in the important question.
Sally was now so much a student that nothing, it seemed, could stand in the way of her books and her swift way of learning. She understood all about the trouble with England,and there was not a more decided, staunch little American patriot than was she.
You know a patriot is one who loves well his or her own country, and Sally was a true, staunch young Colonist. And Mistress Kent listened in surprise to some things she said that winter, wondering that a mere child should know her own mind so well.
"I suppose," she said one day, "that we ought to love the king and obey him. But here we are way off by ourselves in another country, where the people have their own homes, and fields and lands of their very own. And why should they want to keep taxing us harder and harder over in England, when we owe them nothing at all, and ask nothing of them?Iwouldn't pay such unjust claims!"
Mistress Kent was timid, and watched carefully her speech, and could only warn the out-spoken child to be careful herself.
"The times are hot and full of threat," she said, "it is feared there may be fighting before long; it were better to watch our words."
And Sally tried to be prudent, although it tried her sorely when Mistress Cory Ann would raise her voice and declare that folks were fools who thought it best to oppose the king. But she said those things most frequently when the men were away.
And Sally found great comfort and delight in her lessons, which increased from time to time. She also sang in the choir and at singing-school, greatly to Master Sutcliff's help and satisfaction.
One day she picked up part of a newspaper in the road, and was surprised to find that not a word of it could she read.
This was late in the fall, after her Fairy Prince had again gone away, bound for Oxford and its halls of learning. And as time went on, not a particle of the dreamy, story-like charm that clustered about the young Lionel died out of her heart. If anything, it grew stronger. Nor was it strange that, with her fancy-loving nature, the lonely child had to set up a kind of dream-castle for her mind to feed upon.
Yet all was pure and innocent as could be, and, if not real, it yet was helpful. And if into her heart had grown a kind of affection for her Fairy Prince, who was so far removed from her in many ways, she felt that it must always stay just where it was, in truth a secret admiration for one far beyond and above her.
"Because," she said to herself, "we are oceans apart, not only because the great sea rolls between us, but because in every way he is so far away."
Now on this day when the strange paper came into her hands, Sally went slowly along, puzzling over the words, until she exclaimed:
"Oh, I know what it meaneth! The paper is in another language, and how I would like to understand it! I must learn it if I can find one to teach me, I must, I must!"
When she went at evening to Mistress Kent she took the sheet with her.
"Yes, it is a page of a French newspaper," said the mistress, "and although I can make out many of the words, I have not enoughknowledge of the strange tongue to think of teaching it."
A new ambition, or eager desire, jumped into Sally's heart.
"And is there no one who could teach me?" she asked.
"There may be many who could," answered the teacher, "but it hath always been thought a hard matter to learn another language. Parson Kendall hath wide knowledge in Latin, Greek, and some say in French, also. But, knowing for one's self, and imparting or giving knowledge to another, are two different things. It needeth a professor, or a teacher well skilled in other tongues, to teach them properly."
Into Sally's mind leaped another thought.
"My Fairy Prince will learn these other tongues, why cannot I? I will! A way there must be. I am poor, but I can learn."
Mistress Kent then promised Sally that another year, when she would be fourteen, she should begin the study of Latin, if she kept on flying ahead with her studies as shewas doing. There was no danger that Sally would forget the promise.
That night she set her wise head to planning and asking in what way she could manage to take up the study of French. Her two spare afternoons were still taken up with Dame Kent, the mother of her good teacher. The evenings, all except Saturday, were given to lessons and the singing-school. What time was there for anything else?
"Yet I will!" she said, over and again.
"That is right," said her inner Fairy. "Since the desire has come so strongly upon you to know the French language, only persevere, and the way to learn it will open."
It opened in so simple a manner as to again surprise brave Maid Sally.
And her ever-present Fairy said:
"It doth in truth astonish me, the ease of it all."
She was on her way home from Mistress Kent's when Parson Kendall came toward her.
"Good evening, young maiden," he said, with gentle dignity, "and how do the studies progress?"
"Very fairly, I thank you, sir."
"And what are they now?"
"I have arithmetic, sir, grammar, geography, and history."
"Quite a list; and are the studies still pleasant to thee?"
"Very, very pleasant, I thank you, sir. But, ah! if only I could learn the French language!"
"Learn French! And what, prithee, would a maid of thy years be needing of that?"
"I might need it when I am older, sir."
Then she added, with the respect that was natural to her, and was always expected of the young:
"I think I should much like studying other languages. Grammar pleaseth me; I like right well knowing my own parts of speech."
Parson Kendall looked pleased.
"When could'st thou find time for anotherstudy?" he asked. "It is no such simple thing to master a strange tongue."
"I could, sir," was all Maid Sally said in reply.
The parson smiled.
"Could'st which?" he asked. "Find the time or master the language?"
"I meant, sir, I could learn the language, but Mistress Brace might have much to say if I asked for more time, and I must in some way work for the one who teaches me anything new."
"Thou hast the right idea about some things," said the parson, kindly, "but go home now, and fret not about knowing another tongue at present; it is not needed so early in life. But that which is greatly desired sometimes cometh to pass."
There was a twinkle in the good man's eye when he last spoke that Sally liked to see.
"He is wise and kind," she said, as the parson passed on, "and I must wait for learning French until comes the right time for it, but learn it I must some day."
"Think no more about it, but do the best you can with the fine teaching you have already," advised her Fairy.
And Sally tried to heed the advice.
It was but the next week on Wednesday afternoon, when Mistress Kent returned from visiting her sister, that she said to Sally:
"I met our good parson but just now, and he would like seeing you at his house on your way home. I hope he hath good tidings for you."
Sally trembled with hope as she went toward the parson's house, and it may have been that he feared lest the little maid might find it hard to use the great brass knocker on the front-door, for there he was in the garden as Sally entered the gate.
"It hath all been arranged, dear maiden," he said, in so father-like a tone that Sally felt tears starting to her eyes. "I deemed it best to see Mistress Brace before saying more to thee about the French lessons, but the use of one morning is to be given thee. Come onThursday by nine o'clock, and an hour and a half will I give thee.
"No payment will be required save that one or two simple rules must be observed. No more than half an hour a day at present must be given to French. This will make progress slow, but it is of more importance that figures, history, geography, and thy native speech should be well learned than that thou shouldst know a foreign tongue while so young.
"And so, see to it that other studies are not neglected for this new one with a new teacher. This is all."
When Sally began, to thank Mistress Cory Ann for her kindness in allowing her to go of a morning to the parson, sharp words arose to the mistress's lips, but she kept them back.
Sally was yet a great help to her. And a maid whom the parson would take pains to teach the French language was not to be too harshly treated. So she only said:
"Ah, well, it seems not strange to me that one who thinks not much of our king shouldwant to get able to talk with the French some day. So I told the parson he was welcome to teach you all the queer stuff he chose to, as I am sure he is."
Mistress Cory Ann Brace did not speak to Parson Kendall in that way at all, and Sally knew it. She curtseyed and bobbed and tried at first to pretend that she could not spare Sally during a morning.
But when the parson said, quietly, "Very well, then we must try some other plan," she came around as if the word "burgesses" was again sounding in her ears, and said that after all she reckoned that on Thursdays she could let the girl off for a couple of hours in the morning, and so it was settled without more ado.
Before spring again gave place to summer, the parson said to Goodwife Kendall:
"It doth astonish me, the way in which the Maid Sally Dukeen taketh her French! I have of late granted her an hour a day at the study, she so desired it. She hath verbs, accent, thespeech itself to a degree that will soon enable her to speak and write it correctly. And to-day the pretty wench asked if in the fall she could drop geography and take up Greek!"
"I bethink me she must have come of a race strong of will, keen of intellect, and quick to learn. I would that we knew more of the maid."
Did Sally grieve that no Fairy Prince would come sailing home on theBelle Virgeenwhen June would be rich with flowers and song?
Yes, and no. Down deep in her heart was a little murmur of pain. But her Fairy had cried as if in scorn:
"And what, prithee, have you to do with the comings and the goings of the Fairy Prince? If it be the will of his father that he should stick to his studies and not mix at all with the strife, and, it may be, the peril of these days, why should it cause you sorrow? Dream, if you must, of the lad that is far away, but concern not yourself with the course that is marked out for him."
And Sally was ashamed to mourn or sigh over her Dream Prince, except so far down in her heart that even her own inner Fairy could scarcely know it.
As the next fall came on, there were clouds and a coming tempest in the air. British soldiers in gay uniforms were seen about the roads, and Mistress Kent's dame school did not open as usual.
The parents of young children did not like to send them out every day, even with a servant to look after them. The blacks were easily alarmed and might not prove faithful.
The tobacco was cut and stored in sheds, but when it would be shipped was uncertain. And Sir Percival Grandison was anxious because theBelle Virgeendid not come sailing back on time.
The Fairy Prince was nearing home at last,and a tall, shy maid in her teens was glad that he was on the way.
Sally would soon be fourteen, and it was doubtful if another so young a maiden in all Williamsburg, even the well-taught daughters of the rich planters, knew more or as much of that which comes through books, as did the young maid, Sally Dukeen.
She had learned as if by magic, and kept learning every day. And by paying attention to scraps of conversation that floated to her ears, and getting hold of a newspaper now and then, she knew all about the conflict or struggle that was almost on between what men had fondly called "the mother country" and the American colonies.
And now the Fairy Prince at nineteen was on his way home midst all the trouble and din. Would he fight? He was under age, but Sally had heard him speak of such manly things as "duty" and "putting down wrong and holding up the right."
One thing she felt was certain. No one couldkeep him out of the trouble if he felt it his duty to stay and help his country in her hour of need.
And now there was rejoicing when theBelle Virgeencame slowly up to the quay after having to pick her way midst unfriendly vessels that would gladly have swooped down upon her, taking her cargo and capturing her crew, had they quite dared.
This time the vessel arrived in the night, so there were only family friends to greet and welcome the few passengers she had borne back to their homes.
And so many were coming and going, the roads beyond Shady Path were so full, and every one so excited that Sally, now a tall, blooming maiden, could not race about as when she was younger, nor did she wish to.
More than one British soldier stationed in the town had looked sharply into the depths of her sun-bonnet when Mistress Brace sent her on an errand to the store.
"MORE THAN ONE BRITISH SOLDIER STATIONED IN THE TOWN HAD LOOKED SHARPLY INTO THE DEPTHS OF HER SUN-BONNET.""MORE THAN ONE BRITISH SOLDIER STATIONED IN THE TOWN HAD LOOKED SHARPLY INTO THE DEPTHS OF HER SUN-BONNET."
One great joy remained to her. She studiedFrench and Latin with Parson Kendall for a teacher. But as he thought it better that her other studies should be kept up, she recited but twice a week.
And so a month had gone by, and she had not caught so much as a glimpse of her Fairy Prince.
One afternoon, early in November, she was on her way home from the parson's, and had left the road leading to Ingleside, when Mammy Leezer's round figure appeared in the road.
"Laws, honey!" exclaimed the old Mammy, "how you does grow! Why, bress yo' heart, I haven't catched a sight o' you in an age, and here yous most a woman grown. Makes me tink ob how dat young Mars' Lion have com'd up to be a man all to onct.
"Oh, but honey!" Mammy's voice sank to a whisper, and she looked around as if in fear of being overheard, "dat Mars' Lion, he bound to fight de Britishers toof and nail, but his pappy, Mars' Perc'val, he's for totin' him right back to Inglan, but Mars' Lion, he won't be toted. Hesay dis yere's his own country whar he wor born'd and here he shell stay.
"Mistis Gab'rell, she cry and try to make him promise to keep quiet, and dat Mis' Ros'mand she act like she own him soul and body. Mars' Perc'val, he say he's sorry he let him come home, but lordy massy! dat chile would 'a' comed lett'n' or no lett'n'.
"But you see, de fac' is, dat boy chuck full o' fight. I tell ole Uncle Gambo dar must be somesin in dis yere soil dat make de chillern love it and stan' up fo' it and fight fo' it."
"I'd fight for it, too, if I was a young man," said Maid Sally.
"Wouldyou, now!" exclaimed Mammy. "Well, I reckon de day is near when all who wants to fight will have de chance. Now I must go travellin' home. I'm goin' to make a plum jam betty fo' my young mars' supper, and no knowin' how long his ole Mammy can cook fo' him, he so done set on fightin'."
As Mammy rolled away, Sally said to herself:
"I wonder why she tells me these things? I never ask her questions."
Her Fairy answered: "It is because those people are simple and confiding in one way, and in another way are sharper than you think. All the world likes sympathy, which is a kindly feeling toward others, and a willingness to listen to what is in their hearts. And Mammy sees that you pay attention to what she says, and it pleases her."
"I must be careful," said Maid Sally.
"You have need to be," warned her Fairy.
The days grew more full of excitement. There were whisperings, hot speeches, and murmurings on every side.
But in the midst of the boil and trouble Sir Percival Grandison, and a few others, determined to give a ball in the Hall of Burgesses in hopes to break in upon the stormy feelings that were abroad, and perhaps bring about a more peaceful state of things.
The seat of government had been in Williamsburguntil that fall of 1774. Then it was removed to Philadelphia.
There had been a splendid ball given in May, in honor of the wife and daughter of the governor, Lord Dunmore. And although the people neither liked nor respected the haughty, wilful governor, it yet was thought a proper thing to welcome with a gay gathering the ladies who had come to live at the "Governor's Palace," as his home was called.
Now the Hall of Burgesses was to see another brilliant affair, when people of rank and fashion would come together for a merry night, and Sir Percival secretly trusted that it might tone down the war spirit in his young son.
Maid Sally cast about in her mind, wondering if she could possibly get a peep at the splendid scene, for ah, what delight it would be to look upon it, if only for a moment!
"It will be a brave sight," said her Fairy, "but it may stir feelings in your soul it were better should be at rest."
"No matter for that," said beauty-loving Sally, "I must see it if I can."
Yet how could she bring it about? The church beadle, the dread man who went about, and, staff in hand, kept all younglings quiet in the meeting-house, the town-crier, who went up and down the roads and with a great bell in hand found a lost child or told unusual news, the constable and his two assistants, all these would be about the doors of the building so that the many coaches could drive up without confusion, and none but invited guests would dare to come too near.
Children and upper class servants might gaze on at a distance, but no hangers-on would be permitted on that side of the road.
Up came Sally's will. Her strong, bright will.
"I mean to find some way to see it," she said, "but not by doing anything of which to be ashamed."
"Then set your wits to work," said her Fairy, "for wits you will need to bring that about."
And Maid Sally thought of a plan.
The next Wednesday evening, after singing-school, Maid Sally said to Master Sutcliff, with many a blush and a queer quaking of the voice:
"I have a great desire to see something of the fine ball, but there appeareth no way for me to do it."
Master Sutcliff laughed at the courage as well as the frightened, anxious face of the maid. He next looked thoughtful for a space, and then said, with nods and bows that made Sally's heart leap:
"I play the violin for the company, and must needs have rosin at hand in case a string getteth obstinate. And it might beseem me to have some one nigh to hand me music in the order it must be played."
"Oh, but I can't be seen," cried Maid Sally.
"No more you need, young maid. Many fiddlers will be there, and you can have a low seat, even on a cricket hard by the bass viol, and though the players will be on a high platform, you can hide for a little while behind the big instrument and have a good peep at it all."
"How can I get in?" asked Sally.
"You can enter under the shadow of my wing," said Master Sutcliff, "but not long had you best remain. At first no one would notice you, but it might not be easy for you to long hide entirely: we change places once in a while."
"I will go the moment I am bid," said the maiden.
In very truth all the bliss of Fairy Land opened up to Sally the next night.
Never before had the maiden had an idea of the glamour, the bewitchment, the splendor of such a scene.
The costumes, or dresses, the dancing, andcourtly manners,—the manners of those who are about the court of a king,—the music that thrilled and charmed her, sending all kinds of bright and airy dreams through her mind, all these sent the blood rushing swiftly through the veins of the delighted maid as, spell-bound, she peered from behind the great bass viol.
"Oh, it is heaven, heaven!" she panted, as with great starry eyes she looked down upon the splendid company. "And I, I could so enjoy it all, had I only been born to it! Was I born to it? Oh, no, no, it could not be!"
"Who knows?" faintly asked her Fairy.
But Sally spent not much time in asking longing questions. The room seemed filled with the odor of musk, attar of roses, and cologne, flowers, and perfumes of many kinds.
There was the governor, brilliant as a king, in purple velvet coat, gold lace, a white, flowered waistcoat with great frills of costly lace adown the front and falling over his white hands.
Shining knee-buckles flashed back the lightfrom hundreds of candles, which caught also the light from gleaming stones in the buckles of his high-heeled shoes. A man of fancy-fine appearance, but looked upon with eyes that loved him not, but rather despised him.
The ladies were like Fairy dreams, in stiff, brocaded-silks, sheeny satins, ribbons, lace, jewels, and necklaces of gold, amber, and medallions—round stones with faces cut on them.
With dazzled eyes, Sally gazed upon the courtlike appearance of Sir Percival Grandison, his wife, daughter, and niece. But her eyes lingered long on the Lady Rosamond Earlscourt.
Never in her brightest visions had the poor maid watching from the platform beheld such radiance. The powdered hair was cushioned high on her head, and held between the puffs were white plumes and glossy leaves, joined in loops of small gilt chains.
Her bodice, or short waist, of pink velvet was laced over gauze puffings and ran down both in front and at the back into long points over an upper skirt of white lace figured allover with threads of gold. The overskirt of gauze and gold was looped high at the sides over a skirt or petticoat of white brocaded satin with a figure of pink roses. On cheek and chin were small black patches bringing out in vivid contrast the whiteness of her skin.
Her snowy neck and shoulders were bare, and a string of thick gold beads strung on a wire kept directly in the curve of her throat. Gold bracelets with sparkling gems were on her white arms, a spray of pink roses was against her bosom, and the feet that peeped plainly from beneath her skirt were in white laced shoes, with high heels and rosettes from which glistened the bright tints of pink stones.
Sally gazed enthralled,—held in a dream,—with a strange pain tugging at her heart.
The question of why, why, was she out of all these things to which her whole nature leaped as if they should be hers by right, was only kept down by the wonder and splendor of all she saw.
But she caught her breath in fresh admiration when her eye fell on her Fairy Prince.
He had been detained a few moments in the rooms below, and was directly on a line with her eyes when suddenly she beheld him for the first time in more than two years.
"Fairy Prince! Fairy Prince!" cried her heart and faintly cried her lips, and she knew it not when Master Clinton turned around from his bass viol, thinking he heard a strange sound. But he heeded not the rapt gaze of the maiden, for she sat quiet as any mousie while her eyes drank in the vision of her Fairy Prince.
His thick hair was lightly powdered and curled at the ends. A coat of blue velvet with silver braid and buttons of filagree,—or wrought openwork silver buttons,—fitted as if moulded to his tall, erect young figure. His waistcoat of cloth of gold had frills of rich lace at the front, according to the general fashion of the day, and also at the wrists. A flashing diamond on his finger sent out shoots of red, blue, and yellow light.
He wore knee-breeches of blue velvet with bands of silver braid and jewelled buckles atthe knee. His long white silk stockings were clocked, or embroidered at the sides, while high-heeled, glittering dancing-pumps set off his highly arched feet.
Sally noted the grace with which he bowed to the ladies and the low curtseys they returned. The ease and fine manners charmed her.
"They are born to it! born to it!" sighed the poor young maiden.
When the dancing began, she still sat entranced, watching chiefly one tall, splendidly arrayed young man who kept perfect time to the music, which rose and fell with a beauty of sound that brought tears to the eyes of Maid Sally.
Master Sutcliff, seeing the intense delight on the face of the maiden, said within himself:
"She shall remain until it cometh time to serve the syllabubs, the cream froth and the nectars, then can she slip away without being seen."
It came all too soon, the pause in the merrydancing, for refreshments, when Master Sutcliff said, kindly:
"Now then, young friend, I fear me the time has come when you had best depart. I will go with you to the side door, so that none shall question or trouble you."
As they passed a long room, he said, "Peep within a moment."
And Sally looked upon tables covered with all kinds of fancy dishes: there were froths, foamy custards, jellies she could almost see through, plum cakes, pound cakes, and the odor of strong, rich coffee, mingled with the scent of flowers.
Colored servants were moving to and fro with the slow step of the Southern waiter, and everything was orderly, abundant, and inviting.
Master Sutcliff said something to a man close at hand, and the next moment he was bidding Sally good night, at the same time he laid something on her arm.
"Merely a cheese-cake," he said, and in the soft moonlight Sally saw that she held a heart-shapedcake filled with currants, with thin spires of cocoanut and cheese standing thick all over the top.
She entered the house through the shed at the side, went to her cubby of a room, and sat down on the floor with her head against the bed.
"I am too happy to undress," she said, "or else too full of what I have seen. I must think it all right over."
And there she stayed the livelong night with her shawl about her.
When at last she fell asleep, she saw her Fairy Prince, in his velvet coat, his rich small-clothes and dancing-shoes, as large as life before her. The music of the violins with the deep note of the bass viol sounded almost as plainly in her ears as they had in the Hall of Burgesses.
But standing in the full light of the streaming candles was Rosamond Earlscourt, a lovely creature in silks and jewels, beckoning with an eager finger to the Fairy Prince.
Would he go? He had started toward herwhen his eye fell on a young maiden who was hiding midst the players on the platform.
This so alarmed the maid that she hid far behind Master Clinton's bass viol. But peeping around after a few moments, she saw the Fairy Prince was close at hand.
With a frightened jump she awoke. The sun was streaming into her little room.
"He was going to find me," said Maid Sally.