Then she came close to George. "You see," she said, "I am not a pixie or a mermaid. I am the spirit of the storm."
The Admiral's rheumatism had taken Becky to Boston. "There'll be treatments every morning," he said, "and we'll invite the Copes to visit us, and they will look after you while I am away."
The Copes were delighted. "Only it seems like an imposition----"
"The house is big enough for an army," the Admiral told them; "that's what we built houses for in the old days. To have our friends. Charles, my butler, and his wife, Miriam, who cooks, stay in the house the year round, so it is always open and ready."
"And you and I shall see Boston together," Archibald told Becky, triumphantly. "I wonder if you have ever seen Boston as I shall show it to you."
"Well, I've been to all the historic places."
"Bunker Hill and the embattled farmers, of course," said Archibald; "but have you seen them since the war?"
"They aren't, but you are. All of us are."
Louise was not quite sure that her brother ought to leave the island. "You are down here for the air, Arch, and the quiet."
He was impatient. "Do you think I am going to miss this?"
She frowned and shook her head. "I don't want you to miss it. But it will be going against the doctor's orders."
"Oh, hang the doctor, Louise. Being in Boston with Becky will be like--wine----"
But she was not satisfied. "You always throw yourself into things so--desperately----"
"Well, when I lose my enthusiasm I want to--die."
"No, you don't, Arch. Don't say things like that." Her voice was sharp.
He patted her hand. "I won't. But don't curb me too much, old girl. Let me play--while I can----"
They arrived in Boston to find a city under martial law, a city whose streets were patrolled by khaki-clad figures with guns, whose traffic was regulated by soldierly semaphores, who linked intelligence with military training, and picturesqueness with both.
For a short season Boston had been in the hands of the mob. All of her traditions of law and order had not saved her. It had been her punishment perhaps for leaving law and order in the hands of those who cared nothing for them. People with consciences had preferred to keep out of politics. So for a time demagogues had gotten the ear of the people, and chaos had resulted until a quiet governor had proved himself as firm as steel, and soldiers had replaced the policemen who had for a moment followed false gods.