"Well, then, let it be three. Ye know, Davy," said Major Duncan, insensibly dropping into the p.r.o.nunciation and dialect of his youth, as is much the practice with educated Scotchmen as they warm with a subject that comes near the heart,--"ye know, Davy, that my own choice has long been made, and in how anxious and hope-wearied a manner I"ve waited for that happy hour when I can call the woman I"ve so long loved a wife; and here have you, without fortune, name, birth, or merit--I mean particular merit--"

"Na, na; dinna say that, Lundie. The Muirs are of gude bluid."

"Well, then, without aught but bluid, ye"ve wived four times--"

"I tall ye but thrice, Lundie. Ye"ll weaken auld friendship if ye call it four."

"Put it at yer own number, Davy; and it"s far more than yer share. Our lives have been very different, on the score of matrimony, at least; you must allow that, my old friend."

"And which do you think has been the gainer, Major, speaking as frankly thegither as we did when lads?"

"Nay, I"ve nothing to conceal. My days have pa.s.sed in hope deferred, while yours have pa.s.sed in--"

"Not in hope realized, I give you mine honor, Major Duncan," interrupted the Quartermaster. "Each new experiment I have thought might prove an advantage; but disappointment seems the lot of man. Ah! this is a vain world of ours, Lundie, it must be owned; and in nothing vainer than in matrimony."

"And yet you are ready to put your neck into the noose for the fifth time?"

"I desire to say, it will be but the fourth, Major Duncan," said the Quartermaster positively; then, instantly changing the expression of his face to one of boyish rapture, he added, "But this Mabel Dunham is a _rara avis!_ Our Scotch la.s.sies are fair and pleasant; but it must be owned these colonials are of surpa.s.sing comeliness."

"You will do well to recollect your commission and blood, Davy. I believe all four of your wives--"

"I wish my dear Lundie, ye"d be more accurate in yer arithmetic. Three times one make three."

"All three, then, were what might be termed gentlewomen?"

"That"s just it, Major. Three were gentlewomen, as you say, and the connections were suitable."

"And the fourth being the daughter of my father"s gardener, the connection was unsuitable. But have you no fear that marrying the child of a non-commissioned officer, who is in the same corps with yourself, will have the effect to lessen your consequence in the regiment?"

"That"s just been my weakness through life, Major Duncan; for I"ve always married without regard to consequences. Every man has his besetting sin, and matrimony, I fear, is mine. And now that we have discussed what may be called the principles of the connection, I will just ask if you did me the favor to speak to the Sergeant on the trifling affair?"

"I did, David; and am sorry to say, for your hopes, that I see no great chance of your succeeding."

"Not succeeding! An officer, and a quartermaster in the bargain, and not succeed with a sergeant"s daughter!"

"It"s just that, Davy."

"And why not, Lundie? Will ye have the goodness to answer just that?"

"The girl is betrothed. Hand plighted, word pa.s.sed, love pledged,--no, hang me if I believe that either; but she is betrothed."

"Well, that"s an obstacle, it must be avowed, Major, though it counts for little if the heart is free."

"Quite true; and I think it probable the heart is free in this case; for the intended husband appears to be the choice of the father rather than of the daughter."

"And who may it be, Major?" asked the Quartermaster, who viewed the whole matter with the philosophy and coolness acquired by use. "I do not recollect any plausible suitor that is likely to stand in my way."

"No, you are the only _plausible_ suitor on the frontier, Davy. The happy man is Pathfinder."

"Pathfinder, Major Duncan!"

"No more, nor any less, David Muir. Pathfinder is the man; but it may relieve your jealousy a little to know that, in my judgment at least, it is a match of the father"s rather than of the daughter"s seeking."

"I thought as much!" exclaimed the Quartermaster, drawing a long breath, like one who felt relieved; "it"s quite impossible that with my experience in human nature--"

"Particularly hu-woman"s nature, David."

"Ye will have yer joke, Lundie, let who will suffer. But I did not think it possible I could be deceived as to the young woman"s inclinations, which I think I may boldly p.r.o.nounce to be altogether above the condition of Pathfinder. As for the individual himself--why, time will show."

"Now, tell me frankly, Davy Muir," said Lundie, stepping short in his walk, and looking the other earnestly in the face with a comical expression of surprise, that rendered the veteran"s countenance ridiculously earnest,--"do you really suppose a girl like the daughter of Sergeant Dunham can take a serious fancy to a man of your years and appearance, and experience, I might add?"

"Hout, awa", Lundie! ye dinna know the sax, and that"s the reason yer unmarried in yer forty-fifth year. It"s a fearfu" time ye"ve been a bachelor, Major!"

"And what may be your age, Lieutenant Muir, if I may presume to ask so delicate a question?"

"Forty-seven; I"ll no" deny it, Lundie; and if I get Mabel, there"ll be just a wife for every twa l.u.s.trums. But I didna think Sergeant Dunham would be so humble minded as to dream of giving that sweet la.s.s of his to one like the Pathfinder."

"There"s no dream about it, Davy; the man is as serious as a soldier about to be flogged."

"Well, well, Major, we are auld friends,"--both ran into the Scotch or avoided it, as they approached or drew away from their younger days, in the dialogue,--"and ought to know how to take and give a joke, off duty.

It is possible the worthy man has not understood my hints, or he never would have thought of such a thing. The difference between an officer"s consort and a guide"s woman is as vast as that between the antiquity of Scotland and the antiquity of America. I"m auld blood, too, Lundie."

"Take my word for it Davy, your antiquity will do you no good in this affair; and as for your blood, it is not older than your bones. Well, well, man, ye know the Sergeant"s answer; and so ye perceive that my influence, on which ye counted so much, can do nought for ye. Let us take a gla.s.s thegither, Davy, for auld acquaintance sake; and then ye"ll be doing well to remember the party that marches the morrow, and to forget Mabel Dunham as fast as ever you can."

"Ah, Major! I have always found it easier to forget a wife than to forget a sweetheart. When a couple are fairly married, all is settled but the death, as one may say, which must finally part us all; and it seems to me awfu" irreverent to disturb the departed; whereas there is so much anxiety and hope and felicity in expectation like, with the la.s.sie, that it keeps thought alive."

"That is just my idea of your situation, Davy; for I never supposed you expected any more felicity with either of your wives. Now, I"ve heard of fellows who were so stupid as to look forward to happiness with their wives even beyond the grave. I drink to your success, or to your speedy recovery from this attack, Lieutenant; and I admonish you to be more cautious in future, as some of these violent cases may yet carry you off."

"Many thanks, dear Major; and a speedy termination to an old courtship, of which I know something. This is real mountain dew, Lundie, and it warms the heart like a gleam of bonnie Scotland. As for the men you"ve just mentioned, they could have had but one wife a piece; for where there are several, the deeds of the women themselves may carry them different ways. I think a reasonable husband ought to be satisfied with pa.s.sing his allotted time with any particular wife in this world, and not to go about moping for things unattainable. I"m infinitely obliged to you, Major Duncan, for this and all your other acts of friendship; and if you could but add another, I should think you had not altogether forgotten the play-fellow of your boyhood."

"Well, Davy, if the request be reasonable, and such as a superior ought to grant, out with it, man."

"If ye could only contrive a little service for me, down among the Thousand Isles, for a fortnight or so, I think this matter might be settled to the satisfaction of all parties. Just remember, Lundie, the la.s.sie is the only marriageable white female on this frontier."

"There is always duty for one in your line at a post, however small; but this below can be done by the Sergeant as well as by the Quartermaster-general, and better too."

"But not better than by a regimental officer. There is great waste, in common, among the orderlies."

"I"ll think of it, Muir," said the Major, laughing, "and you shall have my answer in the morning. Here will be a fine occasion, man, the morrow, to show yourself off before the lady; you are expert with the rifle, and prizes are to be won. Make up your mind to display your skill, and who knows what may yet happen before the _Scud_ sails."

"I"m thinking most of the young men will try their hands in this sport, Major!"

"That will they, and some of the old ones too, if you appear. To keep you in countenance, I"ll try a shot or two myself, Davy; and you know I have some name that way."

"It might, indeed, do good. The female heart, Major Duncan, is susceptible in many different modes, and sometimes in a way that the rules of philosophy might reject. Some require a suitor to sit down before them, as it might be, in a regular siege, and only capitulate when the place can hold out no longer; others, again, like to be carried by storm; while there are hussies who can only be caught by leading them into an ambush. The first is the most creditable and officer-like process, perhaps; but I must say I think the last the most pleasing."

"An opinion formed from experience, out of all question. And what of the storming parties?"