The different members of the family retired to their usual
places of rest, tranquil in appearance, if not in entire confidence of
peace; and the military messengers took post in the lower of the two
fighting apartments of the citadel. With this simple, and to the strangers
particularly satisfactory arrangement, the hours of darkness passed away
in quiet; morning returning to the secluded valley, as it had so often
done before, with its loveliness unimpaired by violence or tumult.
In the same peaceful manner did the sun set successively three several
times, and as often did it arise on the abode of the Heathcotes, without
further sign of danger, or motive of alarm. With the passage of time, the
agents of the Stuart gradually regained their confidence. Still they never
neglected to withdraw within the protection of the block house with the
retiring light; a post which the subordinate named Hallam, more than once
gravely observed, they were, by their disciplined and military habits,
singularly qualified to maintain. Though the Puritan secretly chafed under
this protracted visit, habitual self-denial, and a manner so long subdued,
enabled him to conceal his disgust.
Pages:
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161