English
ChristyPassforddroppedasleepwhenleftaloneinthesitting-room,andhisslumberlastedafullhour.
DuringthistimeMr.Graineshadrelatedtheincidentsoftheactioninwhichhehadbeenwounded,andgivenafullaccountoftheexpeditiontoMobilePoint.
Hewasnotsparinginhispraise;buthebroughtitoutinwhathadbeensaidbyothers,especiallybythecommandersofbothvesselsandinthedemonstrationsoftheseamenoftheBellevite.
Whenthewoundedofficerawokeitwaswithastart,andhewassurprisedtofindhehadbeenasleepinthemidstofsuchhappysurroundings.
Herosefromhiscouch,andfoundthathismotherandsisterhadlefttheroom.
Hepassedoutintothehall,andthereheardthevoiceoftheengineerinthelibrarywhichheenteredatonce.
“Ihopeyoufeelbetter,myson,”saidhismother,assheandFlorryrosefromtheirchairsrejoicinganewathisreturnhomeafterthefearfulperilthroughwhichhehadpassed,fortherecitalofhisbrilliantexploitsbyhisfriendhadbeenintenselythrillingtobothofthem.
“I’mallright,motherdear;Iwasonlytiredalittle,forIhavetakenmoreexerciseto-daythanusuallately,”repliedChristy,asMrs.Passfordkissedhimagainandagain,andFlorryfollowedherexample.
“CharleyGraineshastoldusallaboutit,Christy,”saidhissister.
“Soyouhavebeenspinningayarn,haveyou,Charley?”askedthehero.
“Ihaverelatedonlythesimpletruth,Christy,forIknewyouwouldnottellthemthewholeofit,”repliedtheengineer.
“Iamafraidyouwerereckless,myson,”addedMrs.Passford.
“Reckless!”exclaimedChristy.“WhenIsawmydutytherewasnoalternativebuttodoit;andthatwasallIdid.Youhavebeendecoratingyouryarn,Charley.”
“Notaparticle;andCaptainBreakerwouldconfirmeverythingIhavesaid,”protestedMr.Graines.“SowouldCaptainRombold,ifhewerehere,asIsupposehewillbesoon.”
“Thatremindsme,mother,thatyouaretohavesomevisitors;forIexpectCaptainRomboldandDr.Davidsonwillbeheresometimeto-day,forIhavespokentohavethemparoled,”interposedChristy.
“WhoisDr.Davidson,myson?”askedhismother.
“HewasthesurgeonoftheTallahatchie.
Bothofyourvisitorsarerebelstotheverycore,”addedthelieutenantplayfully.
“IwashitinthearmbyabulletwhenIwasinthemizzenrigging;butIdidnotreporttothesurgeon”—
“Asyououghttohavedone,”interruptedtheengineer.
“Dr.Linscotthadhishandsfull,andIdidnotwanttobotherhimthen.
IwentonboardoftheprizetotakealookatthedisabledArmstronggun.
CaptainRombold,whowaswoundedintherightthigh,wassittingonthequarter-deck.
Hespoketome,forIwaswellacquaintedwithhim.
Whileweweretalking,Ibegantofeelfaint,andslumpeddownonthedecklikeawoman.
Thecaptainsentforhissurgeon,thoughhisownwoundhadnotbeendressed;andDr.Davidsonwasthegentlemanwhocame,andverysoonIfeltbetter.
Theytreatedmelikeabrother;andthatisthereasonIhaveaskedtohavethembothsenthere.”
“Iamverygladyoudid,Christy;andwewilldoeverythingwecanforthem,”addedMrs.Passford.
ThefatherandmotherofMr.GraineslivedinMontgomery,twomilesdistant,andhewasanxioustoseethem.
LeavingChristieinthehandsofhismotherandsister,hetookhisleaveearlyintheafternoon.
Laterinthedayacarriagestoppedatthemansion,andtheexpectedvisitors,attendedbythenavalofficerwhohadparoledthem,wereadmittedbytheservant.
Assoonastheywereannounced,Christyhastenedtothehall,followedbyhismotherandsister.
Thecaptaincarriedacrutch,andwasalsosupportedbythedoctorandthenavallieutenant.
“Iamverygladtoseeyou,CaptainRombold,”saidChristy,ashegavehishandtothecommander.“Andyou,Dr.Davidson;”andheproceededtopresentthemtohismotherandsister.
“ThisisLieutenantAlburghofyournavy,Mr.Passford;andhehasbeenveryattentivetous,”interposedthesurgeon,introducingtheparolingofficer.
“Iamveryhappytoknowyou,Mr.Alburgh;”andhepresentedhimtoMrs.PassfordandFlorry.
Thelieutenantdeclinedaninvitationtodinner;forhewasinhastetoreturntoNewYork,goingbacktothestationinthecarriagethathadbroughthim.
Mrs.Passfordinvitedthepartytothesitting-room,andChristyandthedoctorassistedthewoundedcommander.
Hewasplaceduponthesofa,wherehereclined,supportedbythecushionsarrangedbytheladyofthehouse.
“Iamextremelygratefultoyouboth,gentlemen,foryourkindnesstomysonwhenhewasbeyondmyreach,anditaffordsmeverygreatpleasuretoobtaintheopportunitytoreciprocateitinsomeslightdegree,”saidMrs.Passford,whenthecaptaindeclaredthathewasverycomfortableinhispositiononthesofa.
“AndIthankyouwithallmyheartforwhatyoudidformybrother,”addedFlorry.
“Youmorethanrepayme;and,madam,permitmetocongratulateyouonbeingthemotherofsuchasonasLieutenantPassford,”repliedCaptainRomboldwarmly.
“Iamstillarebeltotheverycentreofmybeing;butthatdoesnotpreventmefromgivingthetributeofmyadmirationtoanenemywhohasbeenasbrave,noble,andgenerousasyourson.
ThebrilliantexploitofMr.Passford,Isincerelybelieve,costmemyship,andatleastthelivesorlimbsofaquarterofmyship’scompany.
Itwasoneofthemostdaringandwell-executedmovementsIeverwitnessedinmylife,madam.”
“Pleasetoletup,Captain,”interposedChristy,blushingasFlorrywouldhavedoneifPaulVapoorhadenteredtheroomatthatmoment.
“Heisasmodestasheisbrave,Mrs.Passford.
Itwassheeradmirationfortheyoungofficerwhichcompelledmetosendformyownsurgeonwhenhesankfaintinguponthedeck,withthebloodstreamingfromtheendsofhisfingers,”addedthecommander.
“Ifyouaregoingtotalkaboutthismattertherestoftheday,CaptainRombold,ImustbegyoutoexcusemeifIretire,”interposedChristy,risingfromhischair.
“Iwon’tsayanotherwordaboutit,Mr.Passford!”protestedthecaptain.
“ButIhopeyourmotherwillhaveachancetoreadCaptainBreaker’sreportoftheaction,forheandIareofthesameopinioninregardtotheconductofyourson.”
“Myhusbandwilldoubtlessbringmeacopyofit,”addedthelady.
IndeferencetothewishesofChristy,nothingmorewassaidabouttheaction,atleastsofarasitrelatedtohim.
Aftersomegeneralconversation,thesurgeonsuggestedthathehadnotdressedthewoundsofhispatientsthatday,andthecommanderwasassistedtotheprincipalguestchamber,whilethelieutenantwenttohisownapartment.
CaptainPassfordwasdetainedthreedaysinWashingtonbyimportantbusinessattheNavyDepartment.
CaptainBreaker’sreportoftheactionresultinginthecaptureoftheTallahatchiehadreacheditsdestination,andtheproudfatherwasinpossessionofallthedetailsofthebattle.
Hetelegraphedandwrotetohisson;anditwasanotherjoyfuloccasionatBonnydalewhenhearrivedthere.
Dr.Davidsonremainedatthemansionforthreeweeks,untilhispatientswereconvalescent,thoughhewenteverydaytothehospitaloftheprisonersofwartoseethewoundedofhisship.
CaptainPassfordhadgiventhevisitorsaverycordialandheartywelcomeonhisreturn,andexpressedhisgratitudetothemfortheirkindnesstohissoninthestrongestterms.
Hedideverypossiblethingtopromotetheircomfortandhappiness,andthereignofChristianitycontinuedatBonnydaleasithadbeenbegunonboardoftheBelleviteandtheTallahatchie.
IntwoweeksChristy’swoundhadpracticallyhealed,thoughhisarmwasnotyettheequaloftheother.
Hisfatherspentallthetimehecouldspareathome,andlongtalksbetweenfatherandsonweretheorderoftheday.
ThelieutenanthadbeeninformedonhisarrivalofthedeathofMr.Pembroke,Bertha’sfather,twomonthsbefore;butshehadgonetovisitanuncleinOhio,andChristyhadnotyetseenher.
“IexpectMissPembrokewillbehereto-morrow,Christy,”saidCaptainPassfordoneday,aboutthreeweeksafterhisreturn.“Isupposeyouareofthesamemindinregardtoher.”
“Iam,father,”repliedChristy,forhewasaboutthesameasayoungerbrotherinhisrelationswithhim.“ButIhavenotheardawordfromher,anymorethanfromyou,sinceIlefthome.”
“Therehasbeennooccasiontosendastore-shiporothervesseltotheEasternGulfsquadron,thoughonesailedaboutaweekbeforeyourarrival,andletterswereforwardedtoyou,”repliedthecaptain.
“Doubtlessoneormorewentfromhertoyou.
Shecannothaveheardofyourarrival;forIlosttheaddressofheruncleinOhio,andwecouldnotwritetoher.
Herfatherhadalittleproperty;andatherrequestIhavebeenappointedherguardian,andshewillresideatBonnydaleinthefuture.”
BerthaPembrokearrivedthenextday,andwhatChristyneededtocompletehishappinesswassupplied,andnowhiscupwasoverflowing.
Buthedidnotforgetthathestillowedadutytohissufferingcountry.
Eventhefascinationsofthebeautifulgirlcouldnotenticehimtoremaininhisbelovedhomewhilehisarmwasneededtohelponthenation’scausetoavictoriousUnion.
Attheendoffourweeks,hefeltaswellaseverbeforeinhislife,andhewasimpatienttoreturntotheBellevite.
Foraweekbeforehehadbeentalkingtohisfatheraboutthematter;andBerthaknewherbetrothed,ashewasbythistime,toowelltomakeanyobjectiontohisintendeddeparture.
TheTallahatchiehadbeenpromptlycondemned,andthefactthatshewasasuperiorvesselforwarpurposes,andhergreatspeedcomparedwithmostvesselsinthenavy,hadcausedhertobeappropriatedtotheuseofthegovernment.
Ordershadbeengivenweeksbeforeforherthoroughrepairandbetterarmament,allofwhichhadbeenhastilyaccomplished.
ChristyhadnotbeentoNewYorksincehisreturn;andforsomereasonofhisown,hisfatherhadsaidverylittletohimabouttheservice,perhapsbelievingthathissonhadbettergivehiswholemindtotheimprovementofhishealthandstrength.
“IhopeyouhavefoundavesselbywhichIcanreturntotheEasternGulfsquadron,father,”saidChristyonemorning,withmoreearnestnessthanusual.
“IbegintofeelguiltyofneglectofdutywhileIamloafingabouthome.”
“Don’ttroubleyourself,myson,”repliedCaptainPassford,whoseemedtoberatherexhilaratedaboutsomething.
“Youshallreturntoyourdutyinduetime,thoughnotinexactlythesamepositionasbefore.”
“AmItobeappointedtosomeothership,father?”askedChristy,gazingearnestlyintothecaptain’sfacetoreadwhatwasevidentlypassinginhismind,foritmadehimverycheerful.
“Youaretosailinanothership,Christy;butwaitaminuteandIwillreturn,”saidCaptainPassford,asheleftthesitting-roomandwenttohislibrary.
Openinghissafehetookfromitaponderousenvelopebearingofficialimprints,andreturnedtothesitting-room.
Handingittohisson,hedroppedintoanarm-chairandobservedhimwithcloseattention.
“What’sthis,father?”askedtheyoungofficer.
“Ihavehaditaboutthreeweeks,butwaitedforyourentirerecoverybeforeIgaveittoyou,”repliedthecaptain.“Openit.”
Christydidso,readit,andtheninhisexcitement,droppeditonthefloor.Itwashiscommissionasalieutenant-commander.
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