Chapter Fifty Four. Asking an Explanation
Suspense was preying upon me; I could endure it no longer. I at length resolved upon demanding an explanation from my sister, as soon as I should find her alone.
The opportunity soon offered. I chanced to see her in the lawn, down near the edge of the lake. I saw that she was in a mood unusually cheerful.
“Alas!” thought I, as I approached full of my resolutions – “these smiles! I shall soon change them to tears. Sister.”
She was talking to her pets, and did not hear me, or pretended she did not.
“Sister!” I repeated, in a louder voice.
“Well, what is it?” she inquired, drily, without looking up.
“Pray, Virginia, leave off your play, and talk to me.”
“Certainly, that is an inducement. I have had so little of your tongue of late, that I ought to feel gratified by your proposal. Why don’t you bring your friend, and let him try a little in that line too. You have been playing double dummy long enough to get tired of it, I should think. But go on with the game, if it please you; it don’t trouble me, I assure you.
“Come now, little Fan! Fan! don’t go too near the bank, or you may get a ducking, do you hear?”
“Pray, sister Virginia, give over this badinage: I have something of importance to say to you.”
“Importance! What! are you going to get married? No, that can’t be it – your face is too portentous and lugubrious; you look more like one on the road to be hanged – ha, ha, ha!”
“I tell you, sister, I am in earnest.”
“Who said you wasn’t? In earnest? I believe you, my boy.”
“Listen to me, Virginia. I have something important – very important to talk about. I have been desirous of breaking the subject to you ever since my return.”
“Well, why did you not? you have had opportunities enough. Have I been hid from you?”
“No – but – the fact is – ”
“Go on, brother; you have an opportunity now. If it be a petition, as your looks appear to say, present it; I am ready to receive it.”
“Nay, Virginia; it is not that. The subject upon which I wish to speak – ”
“What subject, man? Out with it!”
I was weary with so much circumlocution, and a little piqued as well; I resolved to bring it to an end. A word, thought I, will tame down her tone, and render her as serious as myself, I answered:
“Osceola.”
I looked to see her start, to see her cheek turn alternately red and pale; but to my astonishment no such symptoms displayed themselves; not the slightest indication of any extraordinary emotion betrayed itself either in her look or manner.
She replied almost directly and without hesitation:
“What! the young chief of the Seminoles? our old playfellow, Powell? He is to be the subject of our discourse? You could not have chosen one more interesting to me. I could talk all day long about this brave fellow!”
I was struck dumb by her reply, and scarcely knew in what way to proceed.
“But what of him, brother George?” continued my sister, looking me more soberly in the face. “I hope no harm has befallen him?”
“None that I know of: the harm has fallen upon those nearer and dearer.”
“I do not understand you, my mysterious brother.”
“But you shall. I am about to put a question to you – answer me, and answer me truly, as you value my love and friendship.”
“Your question, sir, without these insinuations. I can speak the truth, I fancy, without being scared by threats.”
“Then speak it, Virginia. Tell me, is Powell – is Osceola – your lover?”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!”
“Nay, Virginia, this is no laughing matter.”
“By my faith, I think it is – a very capital joke – ha, ha, ha!”
“I want no trifling, Virginia; an answer.”
“You shall get no answer to such an absurd question.”
“It is not absurd. I have good reasons for putting it.”
“Reasons – state them, pray!”
“You cannot deny that something has passed between you? You cannot deny that you have given him a meeting, and in the forest too? Beware how you make answer, for I have the proofs. We encountered the chief on his return. We saw him at a distance. He shunned us – no wonder. We followed his trail – we saw the tracks of the pony – oh! you met: it was all clear enough.”
“Ha, ha, ha! What a pair of keen trackers – you and your friend – astute fellows! You will be invaluable on the warpath. You will be promoted to be chief spies to the army. Ha, ha, ha! And so, this is the grand secret, is it? this accounts for the demure looks, and the odd-fashioned airs that have been puzzling me. My honour, eh? that was the care that was cankering you. By Diana! I have reason to be thankful for being blessed with such a chivalric brace of guardians.
“And so if, I have not the dragon prudery to guard me, I am to find a brace of dragons in my brother and his friend. Ha, ha, ha!”
“Virginia, you madden me – this is no answer. Did you meet Osceola?”
“I’ll answer that directly: after such sharp espionage, denial would not avail me. I did meet him.”
“And for what purpose? Did you meet as lovers?”
“That question is impertinent; I won’t answer it.”
“Virginia! I implore you – ”
“And cannot two people encounter each other in the woods, without being charged with love-making? Might we not have come together by chance? or might I not have had other business with the Seminole chief? You do not know all my secrets, nor do I intend you shall either.”
“Oh, it was no chance encounter – it was an appointment – a love-meeting: you could have had no other affair with him.”
“It is natural for you to think so – very natural, since I hear you practise such duettos yourself. How long, may I ask, since you held your last tête-à-tête with your own fair charmer – the lovely Maümee? Eh! brother?”
I started as if stung. How could my sister have gained intelligence of this? Was she only guessing? and had chanced upon the truth?
For some moments I could not make reply, nor did I make any to her last interrogatory. I paid no heed to it, but, becoming excited, pressed my former inquiries with vehemence.
“Sister! I must have an explanation; I insist upon it – I demand it!”
“Demand! Ho! that is your tone, is it? That will scarcely serve you. A moment ago, when you put yourself in the imploring attitude, I had well-nigh taken pity on you, and told you all. But, demand, indeed! I answer no demands; and to show you that I do not, I shall now go and shut myself in my room. So, my good fellow, you shall see no more of me for this day, nor to-morrow either, unless you come to your senses. Good-by, Geordy – and au revoir, only on condition you behave yourself like a gentleman.
“A Yankee ship and a Yankee crew, Tally high ho, you know! Won’t strike to the foe, etc, etc.”
And with this catch pealing from her lips, she passed across the parterre, entered the verandah, and disappeared within the doorway.
Disappointed, mortified, sad, I stood riveted to the spot, scarcely knowing in what direction to turn myself.