She had heard the appalling
story of her brother's escapade, but she had been unable to perceive
in what it was so terrible as it was declared. He had made a mistake.
He had invaded the convent under a misapprehension, for which it was
ridiculous to blame him. It was a mistake which any man might have
made in a foreign country. Lives had been lost, it is true; but that
was owing to the stupidity of other people - of the nuns who had run
for shelter when no danger threatened save in their own silly
imaginations, and of the peasants who had come blundering to their
assistance where no assistance was required; the latter were the
people responsible for the bloodshed, since they had attacked the
dragoons. Could it be expected of the dragoons that they should
tamely suffer themselves to be massacred?
Thus Lady O'Moy upon the affair of Tavora. The whole thing appeared
to her to be rather silly, and she refused seriously to consider that
it could have any rave consequences for Dick. His continued absence
made her anxious. But if he should come to be taken, surely his
punishment would be merely a formal matter; at the worst he might be
sent home, which would a very good thing, for after all the climate
of the Peninsula had never quite suited him.
Pages:
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101