Останній з Могікан
Chapter 17
Hehaddischargedhisownduty,andhenowpressedtothesideoftheoldman,toknowinwhatparticularhemightservehim.
"Mydaughters,"wasthebriefbutexpressivereply.
"Goodheavens!arenotarrangementsalreadymadefortheirconvenience?"
"To-dayIamonlyasoldier,MajorHeyward,"saidtheveteran."Allthatyouseehere,claimaliketobemychildren."
Duncanhadheardenough.Withoutlosingoneofthosemomentswhichhadnowbecomesoprecious,heflewtowardsthequartersofMunro,inquestofthesisters.Hefoundthemonthethresholdofthelowedifice,alreadypreparedtodepart,andsurroundedbyaclamorousandweepingassemblageoftheirownsex,thathadgatheredabouttheplace,withasortofinstinctiveconsciousnessthatitwasthepointmostlikelytobeprotected.ThoughthecheeksofCorawerepale,andhercountenanceanxious,shehadlostnoneofherfirmness;buttheeyesofAlicewereinflamed,andbetrayedhowlongandbitterlyshehadwept.Theyboth,however,receivedtheyoungmanwithundisguisedpleasure;theformer,foranovelty,beingthefirsttospeak.
"Thefortislost,"shesaid,withamelancholysmile;"thoughourgoodname,Itrust,remains."
"’Tisbrighterthanever.But,dearestMissMunro,itistimetothinklessofothers,andtomakesomeprovisionforyourself.Militaryusage—pride—thatprideonwhichyousomuchvalueyourself,demandsthatyourfatherandIshouldforalittlewhilecontinuewiththetroops.
