第120章

He was little addicted to giving way to the gentler emo-tions, but the novelty of his present situation awakened feelings that he was unused to experience.The soldier or the sailor, so long as he acts under the immediate super-vision of a superior, thinks little of the risks he runs, but the moment he feels the responsibility of command, all the hazards of his undertaking begin to associate themselves in his mind: with the chances of success or failure.While he dwells less on his own personal danger, perhaps, than when that is the principal consideration, he has more lively general perceptions of all the risks, and submits more to the influence of the feelings which doubt creates.Such was now the case with Sergeant Dunham, who, instead of looking forward to victory as certain, according to his usual habits, began to feel the possibility that he might be parting with his child for ever.

Never before had Mabel struck him as so beautiful as she appeared that night.Possibly she never had displayed so many engaging qualities to her father; for concern on his account had begun to be active in her breast; and then her sympathies met with unusual encouragement through those which had been stirred up in the sterner bosom of the veteran.She had never been entirely at her ease with her parent, the great superiority of her education creating a sort of chasm, which had been widened by the military severity of manner he had acquired by dealing so long with beings who could only be kept in subjection by an unremitted discipline.On the present occasion, however, the conversation between the father and daughter became more confidential than usual, until Mabel rejoiced to fiud that it was gradually becoming endearing, a state of feel-ing that the warm-hearted girl had silently pined for in vain ever since her arrival.

"Then mother was about my height?" Mabel said, as she held one of her father's hands in both her own, looking up into his face with humid eyes."I had thought her taller.""That is the way with most children who get a habit of thinking of their parents with respect, until they fancy them larger and more commanding than they actually are.

Your mother, Mabel, was as near your height as one woman could be to another.""And her eyes, father?"

"Her eyes were like thine, child, too; blue and soft, and inviting like, though hardly so laughing.""Mine will never laugh again, dearest father, if you do not take care of yourself in this expedition.""Thank you, Mabel -- hem -- thank you, child; but Imust do my duty.I wish I had seen you comfortably married before we left Oswego; my mind would be easier.""Married! -- to whom, father?"

"You know the man I wish you to love.You may meet with many gayer, and many dressed in finer clother; but with none with so true a heart and just a mind.""None father?"

"I know of none; in these particulars Pathfinder has few equals at least.""But I need not marry at all.You are single, and Ican remain to take care of you."

"God bless you, Mabel! I know you would, and I do not say that the feeling is not right, for I suppose it is;and yet I believe there is another that is more so.""What can be more right than to honor one's parents?""It is just as right to honor one's husband, my dear child.""But I have no husband, father."

"Then take one as soon as possible, that you may have a husband to honor.I cannot live for ever, Mabel, but must drop off in the course of nature ere long, if I am not carried off in the course of war.You are young, and may yet live long; and it is proper that you should have a male protector, who can see you safe through life, and take care of you in age, as you now wish to take care of me.""And do you think, father," said Mabel, playing with his sinewy fingers with her own little hands, and looking down at them, as if they were subjects of intense interest, though her lips curled in a slight smile as the words came from them, -- "and do you think, father, that Pathfinder is just the man to do this? Is he not, within ten or twelve years, as old as yourself?""What of that? His life has been one of moderation and exercise, and years are less to be counted, girl, than constitution.Do you know another more likely to be your protector?"Mabel did not; at least another who had expressed a desire to that effect, whatever might have been her hopes and her wishes.

"Nay, father, we are not talking of anotber, but of the Pathfinder," she answered evasively."If he were younger, I think it would be more natural for me to think of him for a husband.""'Tis all in the constitution, I tell you, child; Pathfinder is a younger man than half our subalterns.""He is certainly younger than one, sir -- Lieutenant Muir."Mabel's laugh was joyous and light-hearted, as if just then she felt no care.

"That he is -- young enough to be his grandson; he is younger in years, too.God forbid, Mabel, that you should ever become an officer's lady, at least until you are an officer's daughter!""There will be little fear of that, father, if I marry Pathfinder," returned the girl, looking up archly in the Sergeant's face again.

"Not by the king's commission, perhaps, though the man is even now the friend and companion of generals.