Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 78: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

62 Tom ANDERSON, Dare-DEVIL The tears were rolling down the child’s face. “Does Tom know? — and Mimir” | “Yes. But I thought it best to keep the whole matter from my little Dare. I was afraid distress and anxiety would make her ill. At first we did n’t know what ailed me. When we knew — I gave orders that no one should set foot abovestairs. Every precaution against infection was used. How did J escape pock-marks? That’s a curious story. Our remote ancestor, Sir Humphrey Denny — Who was he?”’ “Councilor of Henry the Eighth.” Grandmother nodded. “In his day court physicians thought the use of red- globed lamps would mitigate pitting in smallpox. Tradi- tions to this effect existed in our family. I recalled that old echo of Elizabethan science. My red silk bed-curtains were kept closed. A red screen kept before the fire. Over my face, a red silk mask. No white rays found me out — and so, no pock-marks.” “Wonderful! Who else could have thought of such a thing?” ‘ “All my life I’ve had to meet emergencies — to over- come.” ‘And Tom is just like you; always with an idea between his thumb and forefinger; like that,” bringing the tips of her thumb and finger together. Grandmother smiled. Yes, Tom was like her, she said. “Well, before I went out of my head I plotted against contagion, pock-marks, and death.” ‘Dearest, I think it was perfectly matchless! With nothing but some old legends to help you. Ghosts of the physicians to the Empress of Virginia! Goon, dear madam. Tell me all about it, please.” “I sent for Daddy Mingo — he had smallpox years ago, in Barbados — and had the furniture all chopped into bits and burnt in the fireplace —”’ ‘The beautiful carved rosewood!” ‘T watched it all burn; the curtains; the bed-curtains. EGomicbooksTGo m