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19 - With Frederick The Great - A Story of the Seven Years' War by G A Henty · With Frederick The Great: A Story of the Seven Years' War

• 0:02
  Speaker 1: On the following day, Sir John Mitchell handed to Fergus
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: the official documents respecting the restoration of the estates, and
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: after taking copies of the same, Fergus wrote a long
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: letter to his mother in closing the official papers, Mitchell
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: having offered to send the packet home with his dispatches.
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: Fergus was glad to get the documents sent off in
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: this way, by which indeed he had sent the greater
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: part of his letters to his mother, the post being
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: so uncertain and insecure that there was no trusting it,
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: and although his mother's replies were always sent to the
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: care of the ambassador, a large number of them were
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: lost in transit. Early in April, Fergus suddenly broke down.
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: His work had been almost excessant. The cold and intent
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: had at night been extreme, and having been wedded to
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: the skin one day when a sudden thought came on,
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: his clothes had been frozen stiff. When at nightfall the
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: force returned with even greater severity than before, in spite
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: of the cloaks and blankets had called heaped upon his bed,
• 1:09
  Speaker 1: he shivered all night, and in the morning hot fits
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: came on the King's searcheon coming in to see him,
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: pronounced that the chill had resulted in what was probably
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: rheumatic fever. He was at once carried to a hospital
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: some miles in the rear. This was crowded with officers
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: and men suffering from the effects of their hardships, but
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: a room was assigned to him in a house close
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: by that had been taken for the use of officers
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: of distinction. Here for two months he lay helpless and
• 1:39
  Speaker 1: at times delirious. Paul sat up with him almost night
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: and day, taking two or three hours sleep, occasionally on
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: the floor, but starting up whenever his master moved or spoke.
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: Sir John Mitchell rode over several times to see him,
• 1:55
  Speaker 1: and the King's own surgeon went over twice a week.
• 1:59
  Speaker 1: These visits, however, both ceased three weeks after he entered
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: the hospital, the King's army having rapidly marched away. At
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: the end of June, he was out and able to
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: sit in the sun in the garden. How long shall
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: I be before I am fit for duty again? He
• 2:15
  Speaker 1: asked the surgeon two days later, six weeks or two months?
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: It will be fully that time before you can retain
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: your strength. In a month, no doubt you'll be able
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: to sit a horse, but I should say that it
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: would be quite twice that time before you will be
• 2:32
  Speaker 1: fit to perform the work that falls to your lot
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: on the King's staff. You want to have quiet, and
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: at the same time you need pleasant company. The worst
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: thing you can possibly do is to worry and fret
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: yourself instead of bringing things about sooner. It will only
• 2:49
  Speaker 1: delay them. What you have to do is to bask
• 2:53
  Speaker 1: in the sun, eat and drink as much as you can,
• 2:56
  Speaker 1: and take life pleasantly. There is one thing you have
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: nothing to grieve about that you are not with the king.
• 3:03
  Speaker 1: He is marching hither and thither with wonderful celerity. But
• 3:08
  Speaker 1: to do what he will he cannot induce Dawn or
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: Lacey to give battle, though together they are three to
• 3:16
  Speaker 1: one against them. Whenever he approaches, they simply shut themselves
• 3:21
  Speaker 1: up in impregnable places, erect palisades and batteries, and hope
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: that he will dash himself against them, which he is
• 3:29
  Speaker 1: not likely to do. Fergus found that Frederick, when he marched,
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: had left behind a force sufficient to check any attempt
• 3:37
  Speaker 1: that the Austrian garrison of Dresden might make towards the north,
• 3:42
  Speaker 1: but that at present all was quiet, the enemy venturing
• 3:46
  Speaker 1: on no aggressive movements, never knowing when the King might
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: suddenly pounce down upon them. He found that there was
• 3:54
  Speaker 1: no attempt made to blockade the town. No corts with
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: provisions were allowed to pass in from the north side,
• 4:02
  Speaker 1: but on the west there was free ingress and egress,
• 4:06
  Speaker 1: there being no Prussian troops in that direction. Fergus therefore
• 4:10
  Speaker 1: hired a peasant to carry a letter for him to
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: count Yuleen, first explaining how it was that he had
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: been unable to get leave during the winter, and that
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: for the last two months and a half he had
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: been laid up in the hospital. Three days later, a
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: carriage drove up to the house. The Count himself leaped
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: out and hurried across the garden to where Fergus was sitting.
• 4:33
  Speaker 1: This is indeed kind of you, Count, Fergus said, as
• 4:36
  Speaker 1: he rose. By no means, Drummond only wish that we
• 4:40
  Speaker 1: had known your situation before. You should have got someone
• 4:45
  Speaker 1: to write if you could not do it yourself. We
• 4:47
  Speaker 1: were not surprised at your not visiting us in a winter,
• 4:51
  Speaker 1: for with both armies on the alert, we knew that
• 4:54
  Speaker 1: in the first place, you were busy and probably not
• 4:57
  Speaker 1: able to get leave of absence, and in the next
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: place you you could hardly have got in. You can
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: imagine a concern we felt when your letter reached us
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: yesterday evening. Of course, I determined to start at once.
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: You must indeed have had a hard time of it,
• 5:11
  Speaker 1: for you have fallen away so much that I should
• 5:14
  Speaker 1: hardly have known you. I have picked up very much
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: in the last fortnight, count and I hope in another
• 5:21
  Speaker 1: month to be something like myself again, though the doctor
• 5:24
  Speaker 1: insists that I shall not be fit for campaigning work
• 5:28
  Speaker 1: for double that time. Well, I have come to take
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: you back with me. The Countess asked me to tell
• 5:34
  Speaker 1: you that if you do not come at once, she
• 5:36
  Speaker 1: will drive hither or two or three of her maids,
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: and establish herself as your nurse. It will not be
• 5:43
  Speaker 1: a very long drive, for I am well known to
• 5:46
  Speaker 1: the Austrians and have a pass from the Governor to
• 5:49
  Speaker 1: go through their lines when I please, and to visit
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: a small estate. I have thirty miles to the north,
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: and no doubt you can get a similar pass for
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: us to leave your lines. I should like nothing so much, Count,
• 6:04
  Speaker 1: but might I not get you with the trouble if
• 6:07
  Speaker 1: it were known that you had one of the King's
• 6:10
  Speaker 1: officers at your house. In the first place, no one
• 6:13
  Speaker 1: would know it, And in the second place, I don't
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: think that I should get into any trouble where it
• 6:18
  Speaker 1: found out. It is not a Prussian officer that I
• 6:21
  Speaker 1: shall be entertaining still less a supply, but a dear
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: friend who is an invalid and needs care. As everyone
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: knows what you did for me, the excuse would be ample. Moreover,
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: it happens that Governor McGuire is a personal friend of mine,
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: and I shall call upon him and tell him that
• 6:41
  Speaker 1: I have a sick friend staying with me, and without
• 6:44
  Speaker 1: letting him know who you are, say that I give
• 6:47
  Speaker 1: him my word of honor that you will while with
• 6:51
  Speaker 1: me and without remain in the ground, and will make
• 6:54
  Speaker 1: no inquiries concerning his fortification and plans of defense. He
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: will understand what I mean, and if anyone should make
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: a report to him, it will at any rate cause
• 7:06
  Speaker 1: no trouble. Though I do not say that he might
• 7:09
  Speaker 1: not to give me notice that you had best go well.
• 7:13
  Speaker 1: For today, I will remain here and rest my horses,
• 7:16
  Speaker 1: and tomorrow morning we will start early. Ah, I see
• 7:20
  Speaker 1: you have your henchman still with you. He, like yourself,
• 7:25
  Speaker 1: has escaped both Austrian and French bullets. Well carled, he
• 7:30
  Speaker 1: went on, as the soldier came up. You don't seem
• 7:33
  Speaker 1: to have managed to keep your master out of mischief,
• 7:36
  Speaker 1: no Count, But it was not my fault. It was
• 7:39
  Speaker 1: the fault of those horses you gave him. Why how
• 7:42
  Speaker 1: was that, Carl? Well? So, the colonel was the best
• 7:45
  Speaker 1: mounted man on a king staff, and however hard he
• 7:48
  Speaker 1: worked the horses, they always seemed to keep in good condition,
• 7:52
  Speaker 1: so that whenever there was anything to be done, it
• 7:55
  Speaker 1: was sure to be Colonel Drummond, please go here or
• 7:58
  Speaker 1: go there. He was always on horseback, and so at
• 8:02
  Speaker 1: last he broke down. Anyone else would have broken down
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: months before. But he never seemed to know what it
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: was to be tired. What have you got another step, Rummond,
• 8:14
  Speaker 1: the count said, smiling at the soldier's tone of discontent. Yes, Count,
• 8:19
  Speaker 1: it is not for anything particular this time, but for
• 8:22
  Speaker 1: what I may call general services. You are going to
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: have an easy time of it now, called count Yuleen
• 8:29
  Speaker 1: first is kindly going to take me off and nurse
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: me for a bit, and you will have to stay
• 8:34
  Speaker 1: here and look after the horses until I returned. It
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: would not be safe for you to accompany me, and
• 8:40
  Speaker 1: I think you want to rest as much as I
• 8:43
  Speaker 1: want nursing. Why for two months, Count, this good fellow
• 8:46
  Speaker 1: never took off his coat, and I don't think he
• 8:49
  Speaker 1: ever slept an hour at a time. I have never
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: once called when he was not there to answer. I
• 8:55
  Speaker 1: did what I could, called growled, but it was not much.
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: The Colonel has always looked well after me, and the
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: least I could do is to look after him when
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: he wanted it. I am very glad he is going
• 9:07
  Speaker 1: with you, sir. It's it is dull enough for him here.
• 9:11
  Speaker 1: I am sure he will get on much faster under
• 9:14
  Speaker 1: your care and the ladies than he would do moping
• 9:17
  Speaker 1: about in this place. Fergus wrote a note to the
• 9:20
  Speaker 1: General of the division, and Carl returned with a past
• 9:24
  Speaker 1: authorizing count Union first carriage to pass through the lines
• 9:28
  Speaker 1: at any time. There is one difficulty I have not
• 9:31
  Speaker 1: thought of, Count. I have no civilian clothes. Those that
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: brought with me were left in the magazine at Dresden
• 9:39
  Speaker 1: when I first marched away, and there they have been
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: ever since. But indeed, even if I had them, I
• 9:46
  Speaker 1: do not think that they would fit me, seeing that
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: I have grown some four inches in height since I
• 9:51
  Speaker 1: came out, and at least as much more round my shoulders.
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: I thought of that, the Count said, and I brought
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: with me a suit from Dresden that will, I think
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: fit you as well as an invalid's codes can be
• 10:07
  Speaker 1: expected to fit. The next morning, an early start was made.
• 10:12
  Speaker 1: No difficulties were encountered on the way, and although sundry
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: detours had to be made, they reached the Count's house
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: after three hours drive. Thirza ran down to meet them
• 10:23
  Speaker 1: as the Count drove up, and she gave a little
• 10:26
  Speaker 1: cry of surprise and pity as the Count helped fergus
• 10:30
  Speaker 1: to a light. I shall soon be better, countess, he said,
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: with a smile, and he held out his hand. I
• 10:38
  Speaker 1: am quite a giant in strength compared with what I
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: was a fortnight ago, but just at present I am
• 10:45
  Speaker 1: a little tired after the drive. You look dreadfully bad,
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: the girl said. Still, I hope we shall soon bring
• 10:52
  Speaker 1: you round again. My father said you would be back
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: with him about this time, and we shall begin by
• 10:59
  Speaker 1: giving you some soup at once. As they entered the hall,
• 11:02
  Speaker 1: the Countess herself came in. Welcome back again, I may say,
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: I hope, welcome home again, Major Drummond. Colonel Drummond, the
• 11:11
  Speaker 1: count corrected, he is one of Frederick's colonels. Now I
• 11:17
  Speaker 1: congratulate you, she went on, though just at present you
• 11:21
  Speaker 1: certainly do not look a very formidable colonel. However, we
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: will soon build you up. But don't try to talk now.
• 11:28
  Speaker 1: I see the journey has been almost too much for
• 11:31
  Speaker 1: you in here, please, I thought you had better take
• 11:34
  Speaker 1: something before you climb the stairs. A meal was laid
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: in a room leading off the hall, and after a
• 11:41
  Speaker 1: basin of soup and a couple of glasses of rhine wine,
• 11:44
  Speaker 1: Fergus felt much better. That is right, the count said,
• 11:48
  Speaker 1: you have now got a tinger of color in your cheeks.
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: Come Thursa. You must not look so woe begone, because
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: our night is pulled down a bit invalids won a
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: cheerful face, and unless you brighten up, I shall not
• 12:02
  Speaker 1: entrust any of the nursing duties to you. There is
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: a tried to smile, but the attempt was a very
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: forced one. It has been a surprise she said quietly,
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: but with an evident effort. You see, I have always
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: seen Colonel Drownd looking so strong and bright, though I
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: knew that he had been very ill. Somehow I did
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: not expect to see him like this. But I can
• 12:26
  Speaker 1: assure you I am better. Fergus said, laughing. I did
• 12:29
  Speaker 1: feel done when we arrived, but I can assure you
• 12:32
  Speaker 1: that it is not my normal state, and being here
• 12:35
  Speaker 1: among you all will very soon effect the transformation. In
• 12:40
  Speaker 1: a very short time, you will see that I shall
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: refuse altogether to be treated as an invalid, and my
• 12:47
  Speaker 1: nurse's post will be a sinecure. Now you had better
• 12:51
  Speaker 1: go and lie down and get a sleep for two
• 12:54
  Speaker 1: or three hours, the Countess said, decidedly. You will have
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: your old bedroom, and we have fitted up the next room.
• 13:02
  Speaker 1: As a city group, we know a good many of
• 13:05
  Speaker 1: the Austrian and Confederate offices, and of an afternoon and
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: evening they often dropped by, And although we are not
• 13:13
  Speaker 1: afraid of questions, it will be more pleasant for you
• 13:16
  Speaker 1: to have a place of your own. Still, I hope
• 13:20
  Speaker 1: you will be able to be out in the garden
• 13:22
  Speaker 1: behind the house the best part of the day, under
• 13:26
  Speaker 1: the trees. You would be as safe from interruption there
• 13:29
  Speaker 1: as if you were one hundred miles away from Dresden.
• 13:33
  Speaker 1: We have arranged that Thursday shall have chief charge of
• 13:36
  Speaker 1: you out there, while the Count and I will look
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: after you while you are in the house. Fergus obediently
• 13:43
  Speaker 1: laid down and slept for some hours. As the Countess
• 13:46
  Speaker 1: had arranged, he rang his bell on waking and hearing
• 13:50
  Speaker 1: from the servant, who answered it that there were no
• 13:53
  Speaker 1: visitors downstairs. He went down. The count had gone out,
• 13:57
  Speaker 1: but the Countess and Thursday went out into the grounds
• 14:01
  Speaker 1: with him. He found that in a quiet and shady
• 14:04
  Speaker 1: corner a selfa had been placed for his use, with
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: a table and two or three chairs. The Countess remained
• 14:11
  Speaker 1: chatting with him until a servant came out to say
• 14:14
  Speaker 1: that three Austrian officers had called, and she went in,
• 14:18
  Speaker 1: leaving him in charge of Thursa For two or three
• 14:22
  Speaker 1: hours they talked together, were then joined by the Count
• 14:26
  Speaker 1: and Countess. When Fergus told them the peace of good
• 14:29
  Speaker 1: fortune that had befallen him by recovering his father's estate.
• 14:34
  Speaker 1: They were greatly pleased and interesting. And are they extension?
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: The count asked? They are extensively said if taken by acreage,
• 14:44
  Speaker 1: but if calculated by the revenue that they bring in,
• 14:48
  Speaker 1: they would seem small to you. But at any rate
• 14:51
  Speaker 1: they sufficed to make one wealthy. In Scotland, the large
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: proportion of it is mountain and moorland. But at the
• 14:59
  Speaker 1: head of my clan I shall hold a position far
• 15:02
  Speaker 1: above what is represented by the income. Two hundred men
• 15:06
  Speaker 1: were ready to draw sword at my father's orders and
• 15:09
  Speaker 1: to follow him in battle. I don't know that here
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: in Germany you can quite understand the ties that bind
• 15:17
  Speaker 1: the members of a clan to their head. They do
• 15:20
  Speaker 1: not regard them as tenants, regard a lord, but rather
• 15:23
  Speaker 1: as a protector, a friend, and even a relation. All
• 15:28
  Speaker 1: disputes are carried to him for arbitration. The finest drout
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: from the stream, the fattest buck from the hill, are
• 15:36
  Speaker 1: sent to him as an offering. They draw their swords
• 15:40
  Speaker 1: at his bidding and will die for him in battle.
• 15:43
  Speaker 1: To them, he is a sort of king, and they
• 15:45
  Speaker 1: would obey his orders were hate to tell them to
• 15:48
  Speaker 1: rise in rebellion. The feeling is to some extent dying out.
• 15:54
  Speaker 1: And since colludon the power of the clans is greatly abated. Nevertheless,
• 16:00
  Speaker 1: less some of the Highland regiments in our army were
• 16:03
  Speaker 1: raised by chiefs wholly from their own clansmen. In many respects,
• 16:08
  Speaker 1: this restoration of my inheritance changes my position altogether. As
• 16:14
  Speaker 1: I told you the last time I was here, I
• 16:16
  Speaker 1: shall stop until this terrible war is over. The King
• 16:20
  Speaker 1: has been most kind and gracious to me, and to
• 16:23
  Speaker 1: leave before the struggle is over I should feel to
• 16:27
  Speaker 1: be an act of desertion. Once the sword is sheathed,
• 16:31
  Speaker 1: I intend to return to Scotland, for I should not
• 16:34
  Speaker 1: care to remain in the service when there is naught
• 16:38
  Speaker 1: but life in Garrison to look forward to. Moreover, the
• 16:42
  Speaker 1: strength of the army would of course be largely diminished
• 16:46
  Speaker 1: at once. What I should do afterwards I know not.
• 16:50
  Speaker 1: Perhaps I might obtain a commission in our own army,
• 16:54
  Speaker 1: for there are always opportunities of seeing service in America
• 17:00
  Speaker 1: or elsewhere under the British flag. More likely, I shall,
• 17:04
  Speaker 1: at any rate, for a time remain at home. My
• 17:07
  Speaker 1: mother has no other child, and it is a lonely
• 17:10
  Speaker 1: life indeed for her? Do you not think of settling here?
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: What is there for me to do? Count Outside the army?
• 17:19
  Speaker 1: I could not turn merchants, for I should ascertainly be
• 17:22
  Speaker 1: bankrupt at the end of the first month. Nor could
• 17:26
  Speaker 1: I well turned cultivator when I've had no land to dig. Now, however,
• 17:31
  Speaker 1: my future is determined for me, and a point that
• 17:35
  Speaker 1: has I own troubled me. Much has been decided without
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: an effort on my part. The conversation was continued for
• 17:43
  Speaker 1: some little time, the Count asking many questions about Fergus's
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: ancestral home, the scenery, the mode of life. Fergus noticed
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: that thursa it took no part in the conversation, and
• 17:58
  Speaker 1: stood still and looked thought pale. The day succeeded each
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: other quietly and uneventful, and Fergus gained strength rapidly, so
• 18:08
  Speaker 1: that in the middle of July he began to feel
• 18:12
  Speaker 1: that he was again fit for service. One evening, he
• 18:16
  Speaker 1: was sitting alone in a garden with the Count when
• 18:18
  Speaker 1: the latter said to him, you remember our conversation on
• 18:22
  Speaker 1: the first evening of our coming here as to the
• 18:25
  Speaker 1: impossibility of your doing anything. Did you remain out here
• 18:30
  Speaker 1: after leaving the army? That was one solution to which
• 18:34
  Speaker 1: you did not allude. Many Scottish and Irish soldiers both
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: in this country. In France, Austria and Germany have married. Well,
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: why should you not do the same. Fergus was silent
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: for a minute, and then he said, yes, Count, But
• 18:50
  Speaker 1: they continued in the service, rose to the rank of generals, and,
• 18:55
  Speaker 1: as in the case of my cousin Keith, to that
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: of Marshall. But you might do this if you remained
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: in the army. The Count said, you are assuredly by
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: far the youngest colonel in it. You are a favorite
• 19:07
  Speaker 1: of the kings and might hope for anything. I am afraid, Count,
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: I have too much of our Scottish feeling of independence,
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: and should not therefore like to owe everything to a wife.
• 19:19
  Speaker 1: The feeling is credible, if not carried too far. The
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: Count said, you have a position that is a most
• 19:25
  Speaker 1: honorable one. You've made your name famous in the army,
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: where brave men are common. You possess the qualities of youth,
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: a splendid fatique, and I don't wish to flatter you,
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: a face that might win any woman's fancy. There are none, however,
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: placed who might not be proud of such a son
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: in law. You judge everything by yourself, Count Fergus said, slowly.
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: You overrate my qualities, and forget the fact that I am,
• 19:53
  Speaker 1: after all, but a soldier of fortune. Then you never
• 19:57
  Speaker 1: thought of such a thing. This was silent for a minute,
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: and then said, we may think of many things. Count
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: that we know in our hearts are but fancies which
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: will never be realized. Let us suppose a case, The
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: Count said, let us take a case like mine. You
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: did me an inestimable service. You certainly saved my life
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: and the lives of seven others, including perhaps those of
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: my wife and daughter. The latter house constantly heard your
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: name associated with deeds of valor. Would it be improbable
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: that she should feel a depth of gratitude that would,
• 20:35
  Speaker 1: as she grew, increase into a warmer feeling, while you,
• 20:40
  Speaker 1: on your part, might entertain a liking for her. Would
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: it be such an out of the way thing for
• 20:46
  Speaker 1: you to come to me and ask her hand, or
• 20:50
  Speaker 1: an out of the way thing, that I should be
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: gladly give her to you. It may not seem so
• 20:56
  Speaker 1: to you, Count Ferguson quietly, but it has seemed so
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: to me. I understand what you are so generously saying.
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: But even with such encouragement I can scarcely dare to
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: ask what seems to me so presumptuous a question. For
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: four years now this house has been as a home
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: for me, and it was but natural that as your
• 21:17
  Speaker 1: daughter grew up, I should have grown to love her.
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: I have told myself hundreds of times that it would
• 21:24
  Speaker 1: be indeed a base return for your kindness were I
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: to try to steal a heart. And never have I
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: said a single word to her that I would not
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: have said aloud had you and her mother been present
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: during the month that I have been here. Now I
• 21:41
  Speaker 1: have struggled hard with myself, thrown with her, as I
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: have been for hours every day. But I have made
• 21:48
  Speaker 1: up my mind that no word would should ever pass
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: my lips. And if it has done so now, it
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: is because you have drawn it from me. I am
• 21:58
  Speaker 1: glad that I have done so, the count said gravely.
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: For the last two years I've hoped that this might
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: be so, for no other way could I repay our
• 22:07
  Speaker 1: debt of gratitude to you. I cannot tell you what
• 22:12
  Speaker 1: there's just thoughts are, but there have been three suitors
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: for her hand this year, any of whom might well
• 22:18
  Speaker 1: in point of meanings and character, have been considered suitable.
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: But when I spoke to hers, she laughed at the idea,
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: and though she said nothing, I gathered that her love
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: was already given. As my only child or happiness is
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: my first consideration as to the question means it is
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: observed to mention them, for did she marry the wealthiest
• 22:41
  Speaker 1: noble She can desire no more than she will have.
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: I told you the first time you came to us
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: after that terrible night, that we should always regard you
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: as one of ourselves. We have done so, and I
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: can assure you that our mother and I desire thing
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: better for her. For your sake, I am glad that
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: you have come into this Scottish estate, but for my
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: own I care nothing for it, and indeed am in
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: one respect sorry, for you will naturally wish that for
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: a part of the time each year she should reside
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: there with you. Now that has not been so dreadful,
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: has it not in any way count? And I thank
• 23:24
  Speaker 1: you with all my heart for your kindness. My feeling
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: for your daughter has grown up gradually, and it was
• 23:30
  Speaker 1: not until I was the last here that I recognized
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: how much I cared for her. I then, when I
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: went away, resolved it would be better for me not
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: to return at any rate, not to stay here again
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: until I heard that she was married. It is true
• 23:46
  Speaker 1: that I talked to pain you will even were dressed
• 23:50
  Speaker 1: and captured. But I knew that when the time came,
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: I should be able to find excuses for not doing so.
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: During the time that I was laid up with fever,
• 24:01
  Speaker 1: she was ever in my mind, but the necessity for
• 24:05
  Speaker 1: my remaining away from here only impressed itself more and
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: more strongly upon me. Then you appeared and carried me off.
• 24:15
  Speaker 1: I could not refuse to come without giving my reasons.
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: But I fully determined that in no way, by look
• 24:22
  Speaker 1: or word, would I allow her to see that I
• 24:25
  Speaker 1: regarded her other than as the daughter of my coin dost.
• 24:30
  Speaker 1: I have had a hard fight to keep that resolution,
• 24:33
  Speaker 1: for each day my feelings have grown strugger and strugger,
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: and I have resolved that before I left, I would
• 24:41
  Speaker 1: own to you not my presumption, for I have not
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: presumed but my weakness, and asked you to press me
• 24:48
  Speaker 1: no more to come here until your daughter was married.
• 24:53
  Speaker 1: You have acted just as I should have expected from you. Drubbard.
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: The great hope of the Countess and myself has been
• 25:02
  Speaker 1: to see Theresa happily buried. Fortune opposition in a suitor
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: has been altogether immaterial points, excepting that we would assure
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: ourselves that it was not to obtain these that our
• 25:17
  Speaker 1: hand was sought. From the first we had regarded you
• 25:21
  Speaker 1: not only with gratitude but with deep interest. It seemed
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: to us only natural that, after so strange and romantic
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: a beginning to your acquaintance, thurs As should regard you
• 25:33
  Speaker 1: with more than ordinary interest to her, you would be
• 25:36
  Speaker 1: a sort of a hero of romance. We watched you
• 25:40
  Speaker 1: closely then, and found that, in addition to your bravery,
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: you possess all the qualities that we could desire. You
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: were modest, frank, and natural. So far from making much
• 25:52
  Speaker 1: of the service you had rendered us, you were always
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: unwilling to speak of it, and when that could not
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: be avoided, you made as little of it as possible.
• 26:02
  Speaker 1: I spoke several times of you to Marshall Keith, and
• 26:06
  Speaker 1: he said that he regarded you almost as a son,
• 26:10
  Speaker 1: and spoke in the highest terms of you. We saw
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: or fancied. We saw in the pleasure which Thursa betrayed
• 26:19
  Speaker 1: when you returned after each of your absences, and in
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: the anxiety which she evinced when battles had taken place,
• 26:28
  Speaker 1: until I could as certain that your name was not
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: among the lists of killed and wounded, that what we
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: had thought likely was taking place, and that she regarded
• 26:38
  Speaker 1: you with an interest beyond that which would be excited
• 26:43
  Speaker 1: by gratitude. Only. As to yourself and your thoughts on
• 26:46
  Speaker 1: a subject, we knew nothing. We never saw anything in
• 26:49
  Speaker 1: your manner to her that chowed that your heart was affected.
• 26:53
  Speaker 1: You chatted with her as freely and naturally as to us,
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: And even since you have been in this time, we
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: have observed no change in you. And yet it seemed
• 27:05
  Speaker 1: to us well nigh impossible that a young soldier should
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: be thrown so much with a girl who, though it
• 27:11
  Speaker 1: is her father who says so, is exceptionally pretty and
• 27:16
  Speaker 1: of charming manners, and continue to regard her with indifference,
• 27:20
  Speaker 1: unless indeed he loved elsewhere, which we were sure in
• 27:24
  Speaker 1: your case could hardly be. I had, however, like yourself,
• 27:28
  Speaker 1: determined to speak on the matter before you left us,
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: as had you not felt towards her as we hoped,
• 27:35
  Speaker 1: the Countess and I agreed that it would be better
• 27:39
  Speaker 1: for her sake that we should not press you to
• 27:41
  Speaker 1: come to stay with us again until she was married.
• 27:45
  Speaker 1: I am truly glad that the matter stands as we
• 27:49
  Speaker 1: had hoped. I can only repeat that there is no
• 27:52
  Speaker 1: one to whom we could in trust her happiness. So
• 27:55
  Speaker 1: confidently as to you, I will do my best to
• 27:59
  Speaker 1: justify your confidence. Count Fergus said warmly. Now I will
• 28:04
  Speaker 1: go into the house and tell my wife, and then
• 28:06
  Speaker 1: we can acquaint. It is the custom here, at least
• 28:10
  Speaker 1: among people of rank, for the parents first to acquaint
• 28:14
  Speaker 1: their daughter with a proposal that has been made for
• 28:17
  Speaker 1: her hand, and of their wishes on the subject. Parental
• 28:21
  Speaker 1: control is not carried to the point now that it
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: used to be, and maidens sometimes entertain different opinions to
• 28:29
  Speaker 1: those of their parents. Happily, in the present case, there
• 28:33
  Speaker 1: is no reason to fear that there will exhibit any contremancy. Fortunately,
• 28:40
  Speaker 1: we are alone at dinner today. Therefore, do you come
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: down a quarter of an hour before the usual hour,
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: and we will get the manner formally settled. When Fergus
• 28:51
  Speaker 1: went into the drawing room, the Count was already there.
• 28:54
  Speaker 1: Tha shows no unwillingness to carry out our commands in
• 28:58
  Speaker 1: this matter, he said, what it's as he held out
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: his head to Fergus and shook it very heartily. I
• 29:05
  Speaker 1: pointed out to her that you would naturally expect her
• 29:08
  Speaker 1: to accompany you every year to Scotland and to spend
• 29:12
  Speaker 1: some months among your people there. She did not seem
• 29:15
  Speaker 1: to consider that any insupportable objection. In one respect, Fergus,
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: I think that it is well for you that I
• 29:25
  Speaker 1: am comparatively a young man, being now but forty four,
• 29:30
  Speaker 1: while the Countess is six years younger. Thus it may
• 29:33
  Speaker 1: be a good many years before you will be called
• 29:36
  Speaker 1: upon to assume the control of my estates and the
• 29:39
  Speaker 1: position of one of the great landowners of Saxony. One
• 29:44
  Speaker 1: of these estates will of course be Theresa's dowry at once,
• 29:48
  Speaker 1: but that will not tie you so much, and you
• 29:51
  Speaker 1: will be free to come and go as it pleases you.
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: Two or three minutes later, the door opened and the
• 29:58
  Speaker 1: Countess ended, leading by the hand. The girl advanced with
• 30:03
  Speaker 1: downcast eyes until her father stepped forward and took her
• 30:06
  Speaker 1: left hand while he held the right of Fergus. My daughter,
• 30:11
  Speaker 1: He said, your mother and I have chosen for your husband,
• 30:15
  Speaker 1: Colonel Fergus Drummond. We consider the match to be in
• 30:19
  Speaker 1: in all ways a suitable one. We esteem him highly
• 30:23
  Speaker 1: and are convinced that he will make you happy, loving you,
• 30:26
  Speaker 1: as he says, tenderly and truly in this room where
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: you first saw him, I need not recall to you
• 30:33
  Speaker 1: the services he rendered to us, and I extort you
• 30:37
  Speaker 1: to obey this our order and to be a true
• 30:40
  Speaker 1: and loving spouse to him. The girl looked up. Now
• 30:44
  Speaker 1: that will lie father and mother, and most willingly and
• 30:48
  Speaker 1: will owe ease to my life's end, be a true
• 30:51
  Speaker 1: and loving wife to him. Take her, Drummond, you have
• 30:54
  Speaker 1: worn your bride fairly and well. Take her, Colonel, the
• 30:59
  Speaker 1: Count said, putting her hand into that of Fergus. You've
• 31:02
  Speaker 1: won your bride fairly well, and I know that you
• 31:06
  Speaker 1: will be a worthy husband to her. That I swear
• 31:09
  Speaker 1: to be. Fergus said, as he stooped and kissed her.
• 31:12
  Speaker 1: I feel how great is the boon that you have
• 31:15
  Speaker 1: given me, and shall, to my life's end be deeply
• 31:19
  Speaker 1: thankful to you both for the confidence which you have
• 31:23
  Speaker 1: placed in me in thus entrusting her to my care,
• 31:28
  Speaker 1: and to you there do I swear to be a
• 31:31
  Speaker 1: loving husband to the end of my life. And now
• 31:35
  Speaker 1: the Count said, we will leave these young people till
• 31:38
  Speaker 1: the bell rings, and taking the Countess's hand, he led
• 31:42
  Speaker 1: her into the next room. In ten minutes that passed
• 31:47
  Speaker 1: before the signal for dinner was given suffice to do
• 31:51
  Speaker 1: much to lessen the awkwardness of the occasion, and Fergus
• 31:55
  Speaker 1: was heartily grateful to the Count for having left them
• 31:58
  Speaker 1: to themselves for that short time. The dinner passed off
• 32:02
  Speaker 1: as usual, the count chatting gaily while Fergus attempted with
• 32:07
  Speaker 1: indifferent success to follows. Was very silent, but her cheeks
• 32:12
  Speaker 1: would flush and her eyes radiant with happiness. It did
• 32:16
  Speaker 1: not escape the attention of the servants who waited that
• 32:20
  Speaker 1: instead of as usual, leading down the countess while the
• 32:24
  Speaker 1: Count brought down his daughter, this time the Count and
• 32:27
  Speaker 1: his wife had come down first, followed by Fergus and
• 32:30
  Speaker 1: the young countess. Nor were they slow to notice Thursday's
• 32:34
  Speaker 1: flushed face. The Count's household had been deeply interested in
• 32:39
  Speaker 1: the visits of Fergus. The women had always been unanimous
• 32:43
  Speaker 1: in their opinion that they would all have been murdered
• 32:46
  Speaker 1: by the marauders had it not been for his interposition,
• 32:50
  Speaker 1: and had also agreed that the most proper thing in
• 32:53
  Speaker 1: the world after what had happened, would be that the
• 32:56
  Speaker 1: young Countess should someday marry the brave young officer. Each
• 33:02
  Speaker 1: time that he had come during the last four years,
• 33:06
  Speaker 1: they had watched and hope that they should hear that
• 33:09
  Speaker 1: this was coming about. But hitherto they had been terribly disappointed,
• 33:16
  Speaker 1: and had almost agreed that if nothing came in his
• 33:18
  Speaker 1: long visit, nothing would ever come of it. The news
• 33:22
  Speaker 1: therefore brought down by the men service, excited a lively interest.
• 33:28
  Speaker 1: I said all along that it would be someday. One
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: of the women exclaimed, the Countess would never have allowed
• 33:35
  Speaker 1: our young lady to be out in the garden every
• 33:39
  Speaker 1: afternoon if she and the count had not been willing
• 33:42
  Speaker 1: that they should be a match. And I'm sure I
• 33:45
  Speaker 1: don't see how he could have helped falling in love
• 33:49
  Speaker 1: with the young Countess, nor she with him. Another woman added,
• 33:53
  Speaker 1: he is the pleasantest looking young gentleman I have ever seen,
• 33:57
  Speaker 1: and we know that he is one of the bravest,
• 34:00
  Speaker 1: and though he is a Prussian officer, there is not
• 34:02
  Speaker 1: a bit of stiffness about him. Well, I only hope
• 34:06
  Speaker 1: it is true. I would not count on it too much.
• 34:09
  Speaker 1: One of the old women said, you never can take
• 34:12
  Speaker 1: men folks opinions on such matters. I am sure any
• 34:16
  Speaker 1: of us would know with half an eye if we
• 34:19
  Speaker 1: saw them together how mad has stood. But as for men,
• 34:23
  Speaker 1: there as blind as bats in such manners. Still, the
• 34:27
  Speaker 1: fact that he took the young countess down instead of
• 34:30
  Speaker 1: our lady goes for something. The next morning, indeed the
• 34:35
  Speaker 1: news was confirmed. The Countess told her entire woman who
• 34:39
  Speaker 1: had been Thursday's nurse, what had happened, and in a
• 34:42
  Speaker 1: few minutes it was well known all over the house.
• 34:46
  Speaker 1: Even the parties most concerned scarcely felt more pleasure than
• 34:50
  Speaker 1: the women of the count's establishment. End of Chapter eighteen.