"
"Oh, heaven! had I but waited three days longer!" exclaimed
Traverse, in such acute distress that Herbert hastened to console
him by saying:
"Do not repine, Traverse; these things go by fate. It was your
destiny--let us hope it will prove a glorious one."
"It was my impatience!" exclaimed Traverse. "It was my impatience!
Doctor Day always faithfully warned me against it; always told me
that most of the errors, sins and miseries of this world arose from
simple impatience, which is want of faith. And now I know it! and
now I know it! What had I, who had an honorable profession, to do
with becoming a private soldier?"
"Well, well, it is honorable at least to serve your country," said
Herbert, soothingly.
"If a foreign foe invaded her shores, yes; but what had I to do with
invading another's country?--enlisting for a war of the rights and
wrongs of which I know no more than anybody else does? Growing
impatient because fortune did not at once empty her cornucopia upon
my head! Oh, fool!"
"You blame yourself too severely, Traverse. Your act was natural
enough and justifiable enough, much as it is to be regretted," said
Herbert, cheerfully.
"Come, come, sit on this plank bench beside me--if you are not
ashamed to be seen with a private who is also a donkey--and tell me
all about it. Show me the full measure of the happiness I have so
recklessly squandered away," exclaimed Traverse, desperately.
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