' I
trust that you will remember your mother and your betrothed, and for
their dear sakes practise every sort of self-control, patience and
forbearance under the provocations you may receive from our colonel.
And in advising you to do this I only counsel that which I shall
myself practise. I, too, am under the ban of Le Noir for the part I
played in the church in succoring Capitola, as well as for happening
to be 'the nephew of my uncle,' Major Warfield, who is his mortal
enemy."
"I? Will I not be patient, after the lesson I have just learned upon
the evils of the opposite? Be easy on my account, dear old friend, I
will be as patient as Job, meek as Moses and long-suffering as--my
own sweet mother!" said Traverse, earnestly.
The drum was now heard beating to quarters, and Traverse, wringing
his friend's hand, left him.
Herbert returned to his ship full of one scheme, of which he had not
spoken to Traverse lest it should prove unsuccessful. This scheme
was to procure his free discharge before they should set sail for
the Rio Grande. He had many influential friends among the officers
of his regiment, and he was resolved to tell them as much as was
delicate, proper and useful for them to know of the young recruit's
private history, in order to get their cooperation.
Herbert spent every hour of this day and the next, when off duty, in
this service of his friend.
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