AN UNWILLING MAID

Being the History of Certain Episodes during the American Revolution inthe Early Life of Mistress Betty Yorke, born Wolcott

By Jeanie Gould Lincoln

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?"

1897

TO A NINETEENTH CENTURY GIRL. 

A great-grandmother's bewitching face, Looks forth from this olden story, For Love is a master who laughs at place, And scoffs at both Whig and Tory. 

To-day if he comes, as a conqueror may, To a heart untouched by his flame, Be loyal as she of the olden day, That Eighteenth Century dame!

CONTENTS

I. MISS MOPPET

II. BULLETS FOR DEFENSE

III. OLIVER'S PRISONER

IV. FRIEND OR FOE

V. A LOYAL TRAITOR

VI. BY COURIER POST

VII. WHAT FOLLOWED A LETTER

VIII. INSIDE BRITISH LINES

IX. BETTY'S JOURNEY

X. A MAID'S CAPRICE

XI. ON THE COLLECT

XII. A FACE ON THE WALL

XIII. AT THE VLY MARKET

XIV. THE DE LANCEY BALL

XV. LOVE OR LOYALTY

XVI. MOPPET MAKES A DISCOVERY

XVII. A KNOT OF ROSE-COLORED RIBBON

CHAPTER I

MISS MOPPET

It was a warm summer day. Not too warm, for away up in the Connecticuthills the sun seemed to temper its rays, and down among the shadows ofthe trees surrounding Great Pond there were cool, shady glades where onecould almost fancy it was May instead of hot July. 

At a point not far from the water, leaning against the trunk of astately maple, stood a young man. His head, from which he had raised asomewhat old and weather-beaten hat, was finely formed, and covered withchestnut curls; his clothes, also shabby and worn, were homespun andill-fitting, but his erect military carriage, with an indescribable airof polish and fine breeding, seemed strangely incongruous in connectionwith his apparel and travel-worn appearance. 

"I wonder where I am, " he said half aloud, as he surveyed the prettysheet of water sparkling in the afternoon sun. "Faith, 'tis hard enoughto be half starved and foot-sore, without being lost in an enemy'scountry. The woman who gave me that glass of milk at five o'clock thismorning said I was within a mile of Goshen. I must have walked ten milessince then, and am apparently no nearer the line than I wasyesterday--Hark! what's that?"--as a sound of voices struck his earfaintly, coming from some distance on his right. "Some one comes thisdirection. I had best conceal myself in these friendly bushes until Iascertain whether 'tis friend or foe. "

So saying, he plunged hastily into a thicket of low-lying shrubs closeat hand, and, throwing himself flat upon the ground under them, wascomparatively secure from observation as long as he remained perfectlystill. The next sound he heard was horses' feet, moving at a walk, andpresently there came in view a spirited-looking bay mare and a graypony, the riders being engaged in merry conversation. 

"No, no, Betty, " said the little girl of about nine years, who rode thepony; "it is just here, or a few rods farther on, where we had theMaypole set last year, and I know I can find the herbs which Chloe wantsnear by on the shore of the pond. Let's dismount and tie the horseshere, and you and I can search for them. "

"It's well I did not let you come alone, " said the rider of the baymare, laughing as she spoke. "Truly, Miss Moppet, you are a courageouslittle maid to wish to venture in these woods. Not that I am afraid, "said Betty Wolcott suddenly, remembering the weight and dignity of hersixteen years as compared with her little sister, "but in thesetroublous times father says it were well to be careful. "

"Since when have you grown so staid?" said Miss Moppet, shaking her longyellow hair back from her shoulders as she jumped off her pony and ledhim up to a young ash-tree, whose branches allowed of her securing himby the bridle to one of them, "Of all people in the world, Betty, you toread me a lecture on care-taking, " and with a mischievous laugh thechild fled around the tree in pretended dismay, as Betty sprang to theground and shook her riding-whip playfully in her direction. 

"Ungrateful Moppet, " she said, as she tied both horses to the treebeside her, "did I not rescue you from punishment for dire naughtinessin the pantry and beg Aunt Euphemia to pardon you, and then go for thehorses, which Reuben was too busy to saddle. 

"Yes, my own dear Betty, " cried the small sinner, emerging suddenly fromthe shelter and seizing her round the waist, "but you know thissoberness is but 'skin-deep, ' as Chloe says, and you need not cease tobe merry because you are sixteen since yesterday. Come, let's find theherbs, " and joining hands the two ran swiftly off to the shore, Bettytucking up her habit with easy grace as she went. The occupant of thecovert raised his head carefully and looked after the pair, the sound oftheir voices growing faint as they pushed their way through theundergrowth which intercepted their progress. 

"What a lovely creature!" he ejaculated, raising himself on one elbow. "I wonder who she is, and how she comes in this wild neighborhood. Perhaps I am not so very far off my road after all; they must have comefrom a not very distant home, for the horses are not even wet this warmday. Egad, that mare looks as if she had plenty of speed in her; 'twould not be a bad idea to throw my leg over her back and be off, and sodistance those who even now may be pursuing me. " He half rose as thethought occurred to him, but in an instant sank back under the leaves. 

"How would her mistress fare without her?" he said ruefully "'Tis not tobe thought of; they may be miles from home, even here, and I am too mucha squire of dames to take such unkind advantage. There must be someother way out of my present dilemma than this, " and rolling over on themixture of grass and dry leaves which formed his resting-place he laystill and began to ponder. 

Half an hour passed; the shadows began to deepen as the sun crept downin the sky, and the horses whinnied at each other as if to remind theirabsent riders that supper-time was approaching. But the girls did notreturn, and the thoughts which occupied the young wanderer were soengrossing that he did not hear a cry which began faintly and then roseto a shriek agonized enough to pierce his reverie. 

"Good heavens!" he cried, springing to his feet, as borne on the summerwind the frantic supplication came to him--

"Help, help! oh, will nobody come!" and then the sobbing cryagain--"help!"

Tim tall muscular form straightened itself and sped through the bushes, crushing them down on either side with a strong arm, as he went rapidlyin the direction of the cries. 

"Courage! I am coming, " he cried, as, gaining the shore of the pond, hesaw what had happened. Just beyond his halting-place there was a juttingbank, and overhanging it a large tree, whose branches almost touched thewater beneath. At the top of the bank stood the elder of the two girls;she had torn off the skirt of her riding-habit, and was about to leapdown into the water where a mass of floating yellow hair and a wisp ofwhite gown told their story of disaster. As he ran the stranger flungoff his coat, but there was no time to divest himself of his heavyriding-boots, so in he plunged and struck out boldly with the air of astrong and competent swimmer. 

The pond, like many of our small inland lakes, was shallow for somedistance from the shore, and then suddenly shelved in unexpectedquarters, developing deep holes where the water was so cold that itseffect on a swimmer was almost dangerous. Into one of these depths thelittle girl had evidently plunged, and realizing the cause of her suddendisappearance the stranger dived with great rapidity at the spot wherethe golden hair had gone down. His first attempt failed; but as thechild partially rose for the second time, he caught the little figureand with skillful hand supported her against his shoulder, as he struckout for the shore, which he reached quickly, but chilled almost to thebone from the coldness of the water. 

"Do not be so alarmed, " he said, as Betty, with pallid cheeks andtrembling hands, knelt beside the unconscious child on the grass; "shewill revive; her heart beats and she is not very cold. Let me find mycoat, " and he stumbled as he rose to go in search of it. 

"It is here, " gasped Betty; "I fetched it on my way down the slope; oh, sir, do you think she lives?"

For answer the young man produced from an inner pocket of his shabbygarment a small flask, which he uncorked and held toward her. 

"It is cognac, " he said; "put a drop or two between her lips while Ichafe her hands--so; see, she revives, " as the white lids quivered for asecond, and then the pretty blue eyes opened. 

"Moppet, Moppet, my darling, " cried her sister, "are you hurt? Did youstrike anything in your fall?"

"Why, Betty!" ejaculated the child, "why are you giving me nasty stuff;here are the tansy leaves, " and she held up her left hand, where tightlyclenched she had kept the herbs, whose gathering on the edge of thetreacherous bank had been her undoing. 

"You are a brave little maid, " said the stranger, as he put the flask tohis own lips. "The shock will be all you have to guard against, and eventhat is passing;" for Miss Moppet had staggered upon her feet and waslooking with astonished eyes at her dripping clothing. 

"Did I fall, Betty?" she said. "Why my gown is sopping wet, --oh! have Ibeen at the bottom of the pond?"

"You had stopped there, sweetheart, but for this good gentleman, " saidBetty, holding out a small, trembling hand to the stranger, a lovelysmile dimpling her cheeks as she spoke. "Sir, with all my heart I thankyou. My little sister had drowned but for your promptness and skill; Ido not know how to express my gratitude. "

"I am more than rewarded for my simple service, " replied the young man, raising the pretty hand to his lips with a profound bow and easy grace, "but I am afraid your sister may get a chill, as the sun is so low inthe sky: and if I may venture upon a suggestion, it would be well toride speedily to some shelter where she can obtain dry clothing. If youwill permit me to offer you the cape of my riding-coat (which is near athand) I will wrap her in it at once, and then I think she will he safefrom any after-effects of her cold bath in the pond. "

"Oh, you are too kind, " cried Betty, as the stranger disappeared in theunderbrush. "Moppet, Moppet, what can we say to prove our gratitude? Youhad been drowned twice over but for him. "

"Ask him to come to the manor, " said Miss Moppet, much less agitatedthan her sister, and being always a small person of many resources. "Father will be glad to bid him welcome, and you know"--

"Yes, " interrupted Betty, as their new friend appeared at her elbow witha cape of dark blue cloth over his arm. 

"Here is my cape, " he said, "and though not very large it will cover hersufficiently. Let me untie your horses and help you to mount. "

"Oh, we can mount alone, " said Miss Moppet, who had by this timerecovered her spirits, "but you must come home with us; you are drippingwet yourself; and if you like, you may ride my pony. He has carrieddouble before now, and I am but a light weight, as my father says. "

"Will you not come home with us?" asked Betty wistfully. "My father, General Wolcott is away just now from the manor, but he will have warmwelcome and hearty thanks, believe me, for the strength and couragewhich have rescued his youngest child from yonder grave, " and Bettyshuddered and grew pale again at the very thought of what Miss Moppethad escaped. 

"General Wolcott, " said the stranger, with a start. "Ah, then you arehis daughters. And he is away?"

"Yes, " said Betty, as they walked toward the tree where the horses weretied. "There has been a raid upon our coast by Governor Tryon and hisHessians; we got news three days ago of the movement of the Loyalists, and my father, with my brother Oliver, has gone to the aid of the poorpeople at Fairfield. Do you know of it, sir? Have you met any of ourtroops?"

"I have seen them, " said the stranger briefly, with a half smile curvinghis handsome mouth, "but they are not near this point"--and beneath hisbreath he added, "I devoutly hope not. "

"Which way are you traveling?" asked Betty, as she stood beside her baymare. "Surely you will not refuse to come to the manor? Aunt Euphemiaand my elder sister are there, and we will give you warm welcome. "

"I thank you, " said the stranger, with great courtesy, "but I must be onmy way westward before night overtakes me. Can you tell me how manymiles I am from Goshen, which I left this morning?"

"You are within Litchfield township, " said Betty. "We are some fourmiles from my father's house. Pray, sir, come with us; I fear for yourhealth from that sudden plunge into the icy waters of our pond. "

"Oh, no, " said the stranger, laughing. "I were less than man to mind abath of this sort. With all my heart I thank you for your solicitude;that I am unable to accept your hospitality you must lay at the door ofcircumstances which neither you nor I can control. "

"But your cape, sir, " faltered Betty, her eyes dropping, as she blushedunder the ardent yet respectful gaze which sought hers; "how are we toreturn that? And you may need it; I am sorely afraid you will yet sufferfor your kindness. "

"Not I, " said the stranger, pressing her hand, as he gave the reins intoher fingers; "as for the cape, keep it until we meet again, and--farewell!"

But Miss Moppet threw her arms around his neck as he bent over the graypony and secured the cape more tightly around her small shoulders. 

"I haven't half thanked you, " she said, "but I will do so properly someday, when you come to Wolcott Manor. Farewell, " and waving her littlehand in adieu, the horses moved away, and were presently lost to sightin the underbrush. 

"Egad!" said the stranger, gazing after thorn, as he picked up his coatand started for the spot where he had left his hat. "What a marvelouscountry it is! The soldiers are uncouth farmer lads, yet they fight anddie like heroes, and the country maids have the speech and air of courtladies. Geoffrey Yorke, you have wandered far afield; I would you hadtime and chance to meet that lovely rebel again!" and with a deep-drawnsigh he plunged farther into the woods. 

CHAPTER II

BULLETS FOE DEFENSE

"Oh, Betty, Betty, " cried Miss Moppet, as the pair gained the morefrequented road and cantered briskly on their homeward way, "what anadventure we have had! Aunt Euphemia will no doubt bestow a sound ratingon me, for, alas!"--with a doleful glance downward--"see the draggledcondition of my habit. "

"Never mind your habit, Moppet, " said Betty. "Thank Heaven instead thatyou are not lying stiff and cold at the bottom of the pond. You cannever know the agony I suffered when I saw you fall; I should haveplunged in after you in another second. "

"Dearest Betty, " said the child, looking lovingly at her, "I know youcan swim, but you never could have held me up as that stranger did. Oh!"with sudden recollection, "we did not ask his name! Did you forget?"

"No, " said Betty, "but when I told him ours and he did not give his namein return, I thought perhaps he did not care to be known, and of courseforbore to press him. "

"How handsome he was, " said Moppet; "did you see his hair? And howtightly it curled, wet as it was? And his eyes--surely you noted hiseyes, Betty?"

"Yes, " replied Betty, blushing with remembrance of the parting glancethe hazel eyes had bestowed upon her; "he is a personable fellowenough. "

"Far handsomer than Josiah Huntington, " said Moppet mischievously, "oreven Francis Plunkett. "

"What does a little maid like you know of looks?" said Bettyreprovingly, "and what would Aunt Euphemia say to such comments, Iwonder?"

"You'll never tell tales of me, " said Moppet, with the easy confidenceof a spoiled child. "Do you think he was a soldier--perhaps an officerfrom Fort Trumbull, like the one Oliver brought home last April?"

"Very likely, " said Betty. "Are you cold, Moppet? I am so afraid you maysuffer; stop talking so fast and muffle yourself more closely in thecape. We must be hastening home, " and giving her horse the whip, theyrode rapidly down hill. 

Wolcott Manor, the house of which Betty spoke, was a fine, spacioushouse situated on top of the hills, where run a broad plateau whichlater in its history developed into a long and broad street, on eitherside of which were erected dwellings which have since been interwovenwith the stateliest names in old Connecticut. The house was double, built in the style of the day, with a hall running through it, and largerooms on either side, the kitchen, bakery, and well-house all at theback, and forming with the buttery a sort of L, near but not connectingthe different outhouses. It was shingled from top to bottom, and thedormer windows, with their quaint panes, rendered it both stately andpicturesque. As the girls drew rein at the small porch, on the southside of the mansion, a tall, fine-looking woman of middle age, her graygown tucked neatly up, and a snowy white apron tied around her shapelywaist, appeared at the threshold of the door. 

"Why, Betty, " she said in a surprised voice, "you have been absent solong that I was about to send Reuben in search of you. The boxes areundone, and we need your help; Moppet--why, what ails the child?" andMiss Euphemia Wolcott paused in dismay us she surveyed Miss Moppet'sstill damp habit and disheveled hair. 

"I've been at the very bottom of Great Pond. " announced the child, enjoying the situation with true dramatic instinct, "and Betty has allthe herbs for Chloe safe in her basket. "

"What does the child mean" asked her bewildered aunt, unfastening theheavy cloth cape from the small shoulders, and perceiving that she hadhad a thorough wetting. 

"It is true, Aunt Euphemia, " said Betty, springing off her mare andthrowing the reins to Reuben as he came slowly around the house. "Wewere on one of the hillocks overlooking the pond, and somehow--it allhappened so swiftly that I cannot tell how--but Moppet must haveventured too near the edge, for the treacherous soil gave way, and downshe pitched into the water before I could put out hand to stay her. Ithink I screamed, and then I was pulling off my habit-skirt to plungeafter her when a young man ran hastily along the below and cried out tome, 'Courage!' and he threw off his coat and dived down, down, "--Bettyshuddered and turned pale, --"and then he caught Moppet's skirt and heldher up until he swam safely to shore with her. She was quiteunconscious, but by chafing her hands and giving her some spirits (whichthe young stranger had in his flask) we recovered her, and, indeed, Ithink she is none the worse for her experience, " and Betty put both armsaround her little sister and hugged her warmly, bursting into tears, which until now had been so carefully restrained. 

"Thank Heaven!" cried Miss Euphemia, kissing them both. "You could neverhave rescued her alone, Betty; perhaps you might both have drowned. Where is the brave young man who came to your aid? I trust you gave himclear directions how to reach the house. "

"He would not come, " answered Betty simply; "he said he was travelingwestward, and I thought he seemed anxious to be off. "

"But we pressed him, Aunt Euphemia, " put in Moppet, "and I told him mypony could carry double. And I do not know how we will return his cape;do you?"

"You must come indoors at once and get dry clothing, " said her aunt, "and I will tell Chloe to make you a hot posset lest you get a chill;run quickly, Moppet, and do not stand a moment longer in those wetclothes. Now, Betty, " as the child disappeared inside, "have you anyidea who this stranger can be, or whence he came?"

"I have not, " said Betty, blushing rosy red (though she could not havetold why) under her aunt's clone scrutiny. 

"What did he look like?" questioned Miss Euphemia. 

"Like a young man of spirit, " said Betty, mischief getting the better ofher, "and he had a soldierly air to boot and spoke with command. "

"I trust with all due respect as well, " said Miss Euphemia gravely. 

"Truly, he both spoke and behaved as a gentleman should. "

"Do you think it could be Oliver's friend, young Otis from Boston?" saidMiss Euphemia. "He was to arrive in these parts this week. "

"It may be he, " said Betty, "ask Pamela, she has met him;" and as sheturned to enter she almost fell into the arms of a tall, slender girlwho was hurrying forth to meet her. 

At first glance there was enough of likeness between the girls to saythat they might be sisters, but the next made the resemblance less, andtheir dissimilarity of expression and coloring increased withacquaintance. Both had the same slender, graceful figure, but whileBetty was of medium height, Pamela was distinctly taller than hersister, and her pretty head was covered with golden hair, while Betty'sluxuriant locks were that peculiar shade which is neither auburn norgolden, but a combination of both, and her eyes were hazel-gray, withlong lashes much darker than her hair. Both girls wore their hair piledon top of the head, as was the fashion of the time, and both wereguiltless of powder, but Pamela's rebellious waves were trained to lieas close as she could make them, while Betty's would crop out intolittle dainty saucy curls over her forehead and down the nape of herslender neck in a most bewildering fashion. Their complexions, like MissMoppet's, were exquisitely satin-like in texture, but there was no breakin Pamela's smooth cheeks, whereas Betty's dimples lurked not onlyaround her willful mouth, but perched high in her right cheek, and youfound yourself unconsciously watching to see them come and go at thetricksy maid's changing will. There was but little more than a year'sdifference in their ages, yet Betty seemed almost a child besidePamela's gracious stateliness. 

"What is it all about?" asked the bewildered Pamela, catching hold ofBetty. "Moppet dashes into the kitchen, damp and moist, and says she hasbeen at the bottom of the pond, and orders hot posset, and you, Betty, have an air of fright"--

"I should think she might well, " interrupted Miss Euphemia; "I will tellyou, Pamela--Betty, go upstairs and change your habit for a gown, andthen come down to assist me. We are about to mould the bullets. "

"Oh, Aunt Euphemia!" cried Betty, interrupting in her turn, "I beg yourpardon, but did those huge boxes contain the leaden statue of KingGeorge, as my father's letter advised us?"

"It was cut in pieces, Betty, " said Pamela demurely. 

"As if I didn't know that, " flashed out Betty; "and that it disappearedafter the patriots hauled it down in Bowling Green, and that GeneralWashington recommended it should be used for the cause of Freedom, andthat we are all to help transform it into bullets far oursoldiers, --truly, Pamela, I have not forgot my father's account of it, "and Betty vanished inside the door with a rebellious toss of her head, resenting the implied air of older sister which Pamela sometimesindulged in. 

"Our little Moppet has come perilously near death, " said Miss Euphemia, following Pamela into the house. "She has been rescued from drowning inGreat Pond by a gentleman whom Betty had never seen before. Shedescribes him as a fine personable youth, and I think it maybe Oliver'sfriend, young Otis, who in expected at the Tracys' on a visit fromBoston. "

"It can hardly be he, aunt, " said Pamela, "for Sally Tracy has just toldme that he will not arrive for two days, and moreover he comes with Mrs. Footer and Patty Warren, who are glad to take him as escort in thesetroublous times, I will run up to Moppet, for the girls are waiting foryou; the lead got somewhat overheated, and they want your advice as tousing it. "

Miss Euphemia went slowly down the hall and through the largedining-room, pausing as she passed to knock at a small door opening offthe hall into a sitting-room. 

"Are you there, Miss Bidwell?" she said, as a small elderly woman, withbent figure and pleasant, shrewd face, rose from her chair in response. "Will you kindly go up and see that Miss Moppet be properly rubbed andmade dry, and let her take her hot posset, and then, if not too tired, she may come to me in the kitchen. "

Miss Bidwell, who was at once house-keeper, manager, and confidentialservant to the Wolcott household, gave a cheerful affirmative; and asshe laid down the stocking she was carefully darning, and prepared toleave the room, Miss Euphemia resumed her interrupted walk toward thekitchen. 

Standing and sitting around the great kitchen fireplace were a group ofyoung people, whose voices rose in a lively chorus as she entered. Overthe fire, on a crane, hung a large kettle, from the top of which issuedsounds of spluttering and boiling, and a young man was in the act ofendeavoring to lift it amid cries of remonstrance. 

"Have a care, Francis, " cried a pretty, roguish-looking girl in a grayhomespun gown, brandishing a wet towel as she spoke; "hot lead will beyour portion if you dare trifle with that boiling pot. What are we to dowith it, Miss Euphemia?" as that lady came forward in haste; "a fewdrops of water flirted out of my towel and must have fallen inside, for't is spluttering in terrific fashion. "

"Shall I lift it off the fire?" asked the young man, whose name wasFrancis Plunkett. 

"Certainly, " said Miss Euphemia, inspecting the now tranquil kettle;"here are the moulds all greased; gently, now, " as she put a small ladleinside the pot; "now move it slowly, and put the pot here beside me onthe table. "

"Will they really turn out bullets?" asked another girl in a whisper, asSally Tracy moved a second big pot with the intention of hanging it onthe fire, but was prevented by a tall, silent young man, who stopped hisoccupation of sorting out bits of lead to assist her. 

"Thank you, Josiah, " said Sally. "Turn out bullets, Dolly?--why, ofcourse, when they come out of the moulds. What did you suppose we wereall about?"

Dolly Trumbull (who was on a visit to the Wolcotts') looked shy andsomewhat distressed, and promptly retired into a corner, where sheresumed her conversation with her cousin, Josiah Huntington; andpresently Betty came flying into the kitchen, her gown tucked up readyfor work, and full of apologies for her tardy appearance. Sally Tracy, who was Betty's sworn friend and companion in all her fun and frolics, pounced upon her at once; but Miss Euphemia called them both to assisther with the moulds, Betty had to reserve the story of her adventureuntil a more propitious moment. 

"Has there been any news from Oliver when he set forth on this lastexpedition?" asked Dolly. 

"It is too soon yet to hear, " said Josiah, "though possibly by to-morrowsome intelligence may reach us. Francis and I did not reach here fromNew Haven for four days, and we return there on Saturday. As it was, Ileft only in obedience to my father's command, and brought news ofLyon's ravaging the city to General Wolcott, dodging Hessians andoutlying marauders by the way. Do you stop here long, Dolly, or willyou have my escort back to Lebanon?"

"I came for a month, " answered Dolly; "I was ill of spring fever, andsince then my mother thinks this mountain air benefits me. But you goback to your duties at Yale College, though it's early yet for them. "

"My students and I have spent our vacation handling cartridges, " saidJosiah grimly, for he was a tutor at Yale, and had done yeoman servicein the defense of New Haven. "'Tis a sorry sight to see our beautifulcity now laid waste; but that our faith is strong in the ContinentalCongress and General Washington, I know not how heart could bear it. "

"Who speaks of faith?" said Pamela's gentle voice, as she slipped into achair on Dolly's right. "I think hope is ever a better watchword. "

"Aye, " murmured Huntington, as Dolly summoned courage to cross the room, "it is one I will carry ever with me, Pamela, if _you_ bid me do so. "

"I did not mean, " faltered Pamela, casting down her dove-like eyes, butnot so quickly that she did not see the ardent glance of her lover, "I--that is--oh yes, Aunt Euphemia, " with sudden change of tone, "it isgrowing somewhat dark, and we had better leave the moulds to harden. Shall I tell Miss Bidwell that you are ready for supper?"

To which Miss Euphemia returned an affirmative, and the whole partytrooped back to the dining-room, Pamela leading the way, and Huntingtonfollowing her with a half-mischievous smile curving his usually gravemouth. 

CHAPTER III

OLIVER'S PRISONER

"I don't care anything about it, " said Miss Moppet with decision. "It'sa nasty, horrid letter, and I've made it over and over, and it will notget one bit plainer. Count one, two, jump one; then two stitches plain;it's no use at all, Miss Bidwell, I cannot make it any better. " And witha deep sigh Miss Moppet surveyed her sampler, where she had for sixweeks been laboriously trying to inscribe "Faith Wolcott, her sampler, aged nine, " with little success and much loss of temper. 

"W is a hard letter, " said Miss Bidwell, laying down one of theperpetual stockings with which she seemed always supplied for mendingpurposes; "you will have to rip this out again; the first stroke is toonear the letter before it;" and she handed the unhappy sampler back tothe child. 

"It's always like that, " said Miss Moppet in a tone of exasperation. "Ithink a sampler is the very _devil_!"

"Oh, " said Miss Bidwell in a shocked voice, "I shall have to report youas a naughty chit if you use such language. "

"Well, it just _is_" said Moppet; "that's what the minister said in hissermon Sunday week, and you know, Miss Bidwell, that you admired itextremely, because I heard you tell Pamela so. "

"Admired the devil?" said Miss Bidwell. "Child, what are you talkingabout?"

"The sermon, " said Miss Moppet, breaking her silk for the fourth time;"the minister said the devil went roaring up and down the earth seekingwhom he might devour. Wouldn't I like to hear him roar. Do you conceiveit is like a bull or a lion's roar?"

"The Bible says a lion, " said Miss Bidwell, looking all the more severebecause she was so amused. 

"I am truly sorry for that poor devil, " said Miss Moppet, heaving a deepsigh. "Just think how tired he must become, and how much work he musthave to do. O--o--oh!"--a prolonged scream--"he certainly has possessionof my sampler"--dancing up and down with pain--"for that needle hasgone one inch into my thumb!"

"Come here and let me bind it up, " said Miss Bidwell, seizing the smallsinner as she whirled past her. "How often must I tell you not to giveway to such sinful temper? And talking about the devil is not proper forlittle girls. "

"Why not just as well as for older folk?" said Moppet, submitting tohave a soft bit of rag bound around the bleeding thumb. "I think thedevil ought to be prayed for if he's such an abominable sinner--yes, Ido. " And Moppet, whose belief in a personal devil was evidently large, surveyed Miss Bidwell with uncompromising eyes. 

"Tut!" said Miss Bidwell, to whom this novel idea savored ofungodliness, but wishing to be lenient toward the child whose adoringslave she was. "Miss Euphemia would be shocked to hear you. "

"I shall not tell her, " said the child shrewdly, "but I am going to prayfor the devil each night, whether any one else does or not. "

"As you cannot work any longer on the sampler, you had best go to MissPamela for your writing lesson, " said Miss Bidwell. 

"Pamela is out in the orchard with Josiah Huntington, " said Moppet, "and she would send me forthwith into the house if I went near her. "

"Then find Miss Betty and read her a page in the primer. You know youpromised your father you would learn to read it correctly against hisreturn. "

"Betty is gossiping in the garret chamber with Sally Tracy; surely Imust stop with you, Biddy, dear;" and Moppet twined her arms around MissBidwell's neck, with her little coaxing face upraised for a kiss. WhenMoppet said "Biddy dear" (which was her baby abbreviation for the oldservant), she became irresistible; so Miss Bidwell, much relieved atdropping so puzzling a theological question as the propriety ofsupplications for the well-being of his Satanic majesty, proposed thatshe should tell Miss Moppet "a story, " which met with delighted assentfrom the little girl. 

Miss Bidwell's stories, which dated back for many years and always beganwith "when I was a little maid, " were never failing in interest besidesbeing somewhat lengthy, as Moppet insisted upon minute detail, andinvariably corrected her when she chanced to omit the smallestparticular. That the story had been often told did not make it lose anyof its interest, and the shadows of the great elm which overhung thesitting-room windows grew longer, while the sun sank lower and lowerunheeded, until Miss Bidwell, at the most thrilling part of her tale, where a bloodthirsty and evil-minded Indian was about to appear, suddenly laid down her work and exclaimed:--

"Hark! surely there is some one coming up the back path, " and rising asshe spoke, she hurried out to the side porch, closely followed byMoppet, who said to herself, with all a child's vivid and dramaticimagination, "Perhaps it's an Indian coming to tomahawk us in our beds!"which thought caused her to seize a fold of Miss Bidwell's gown tightlyin her hand. 

As they came into the hall they were joined by Miss Euphemia, who hadalso heard the sounds of approach; and as they emerged from the housetwo tall figures, dusty and travel-worn, confronted them, with Reubenfollowing in their rear. 

"Oliver!" exclaimed Miss Euphemia, as she recognized her youngest nephewin one of the wayfarers, "whence come you, and what news? Where is yourhonored father?"

[Illustration: MISS EUPHEMIA MEETS OLIVER AND HIS PRISONER]

"My father, madam, " said Oliver Wolcott, uncovering his head as hemotioned to Reuben to take his place near his companion, "my father issome thirty miles behind me, but hastening in this direction. Whatnews?--Fairfield burnt, half its inhabitants homeless, but Tryon'smarauders put to flight and our men in pursuit. "

"And who is this gentleman?" said Miss Euphemia, as Oliver kissed hercheek and stepped back. 

"'Tis more than I can answer, " said Oliver, "for not one word concerninghimself can I obtain from him. He is my prisoner, Aunt Euphemia; I foundhim lurking in the woods ten miles away this morning, and should perhapshave let him pass had not a low-lying branch of a tree knocked off hishat, when I recognized him for one of Tryon's crew. "

"Speak more respectfully, sir, " said the stranger suddenly, "to me, ifnot to those whom you term 'Tryon's crew. '"

"I grant the respect due your arm and strength, " said Oliver, "for youcame near leaving me in the smoke and din of Fairfield when you gave methis blow, " and he touched the left side of his head, where could beseen some clotted blood among his hair. "Come, sir, my aunt has askedthe question. Do you not reply to a lady?"

"The gibe is unworthy of you, " said the other, lifting the hat which hadbeen drawn down closely over his brow; "and I"--

"Oh, Oliver, 'tis my good kind gentleman!" cried Moppet, darting forwardand seizing the stranger by the hand; "he plunged into Great Pond lastnight and pulled me forth when I was nearly drowning, and we begged himto come home with us, did we not, Betty?"--seeing her sister standing inthe doorway. "Betty, Betty, come and tell Oliver he has made a mistake. "

A smile lit up the stranger's handsome face as he bowed low to Betty, who came swiftly to his side as she recognized him. 

"Will you not bring the gentleman in, Oliver?" she said. "The thankswhich are his due can hardly be well spoken on our doorstep, " and Bettydrew herself up, and waved her hand like the proud little maid she was, her eyes sparkling, her breast heaving with the excitement she strove tosuppress. 

Oliver looked from Moppet to Betty, in bewilderment then back at hisprisoner, who seemed the most unconcerned of the group. 

"You are right, Betty, " said Miss Euphemia, beginning to understand thesituation. "Will you walk in, sir, and let me explain to my nephew howgreatly we are indebted to you?" And she led the way into the mansion, the others following, and opened the door of the parlor on the left, Reuben, obedient to a sign from Oliver, remaining with Miss Bidwell inthe hall. 

The stranger declined the chair which Oliver courteously offered him, and remained standing near Betty, Moppet clinging to his hand andlooking up gratefully into his face while Miss Euphemia related to hernephew the story of Moppet's rescue from her perilous accident of theprevious day. 

"A brave deed!" cried Oliver impetuously, as he advanced withoutstretched hand toward his prisoner, "and with all my heart, sir, Ithank you. Forgive my pettish speech of a moment since; you were rightto reprove me. No one appreciates a gallant foe more than I; and thoughthe fortune of war has to-day made you my prisoner, to-morrow may makeme yours. "

"I thank you, " said the stranger, giving his hand as frankly in return. "Believe me, my plunge in the pond was hardly worth the stress you arekind enough to lay upon it, and but for the mischance to my littlefriend here, " smiling at Miss Moppet, who regarded him with affectionateeyes, "is an affair of little moment. May I ask where you will bestow mefor the night, and also the privilege of a dip in cold water, as I amtoo soiled and travel-worn to sit in the presence of ladies, even thoughyour prisoner. "

"Prisoner!" echoed Betty, with a start. "Surely, Oliver, you will nothold as a prisoner the man who saved our little Moppet's life, and that, too (though he makes so light of it) at the risk of his own?"

"You will let him go free, brother Oliver, " cried Moppet, flying to theyoung officer's side; "you surely will not clap him into jail?"

"It was my purpose, " said Oliver, looking from one to the other, "toconfine you until to-morrow and then carry you to headquarters, whereGeneral Putnam will determine your ultimate fate. I certainly recognizeyou as the author of this cut on my head. Do you belong to the Britisharmy or are you a volunteer accompanying Tryon in his raid upon ourinnocent and unoffending neighbors at Fairfield?"

"Sir, " said the other haughtily, "I pardon much to your youthfulpatriotism, which looks upon us as invaders. My name is Geoffrey Yorke, and I have the honor to bear his majesty's commission as captain in theSixty-fourth Regiment of Foot. "

Betty gave a faint exclamation. Oliver Wolcott stepped forward. 

"Captain Yorke, " he said, "I regret more than I can say my inability, which you yourself will recognize, to bid you go forth free and insafety. My duty is unfortunately but too plain. I, sir, serve theContinental Congress, and like you hold a captain's commission. I shouldbe false alike to my country and my oath of allegiance did I permit youto escape; but there is one favor I can offer you; give me your parole, and allow me and my family the pleasure of holding you as a guest, notprisoner, while under our roof. "

Geoffrey Yorke hesitated; he opened his lips to speak, when someinstinct made him glance at Betty, who stood directly behind herbrother. Her large, soft eyes were fixed on his with most beseechingwarning, and she raised her dainty finger to her lips as she slowly, almost imperceptibly, shook her head. 

"Captain Wolcott, " he said, "I fully appreciate your kindness and themotive which prompts it. I have landed on these shores but one shortmonth ago, and Sir Henry Clinton ordered me--but these particulars willnot interest you. I thank you for your offer, but I decline to takeparole, and prefer instead the fortunes of war. "

"Then, sir, I have no choice, " said Oliver. "Aunt Euphemia, will youpermit me to use the north chamber? I will conduct you there, CaptainYorke, and shall see that you are well guarded for the night. " And witha courtly bow to the ladies Geoffrey Yorke followed his captain from theroom, as Moppet threw herself into Betty's arms and sobbed bitterly. 

CHAPTER IV

FRIEND OR FOE

Betty Wolcott sat alone in her own room, thinking intently. The windowswere all open, and the soft night air blew the dainty curls off herwhite forehead and disclosed the fact of her very recent tears. Never, in all her short, happy life, had Betty been so moved as now, for thetwin passions of gratitude and loyalty were at war within her, and sherealized, with a feeling akin to dismay, that she must meet theresponsibility alone, that those of her household were all arrayedagainst her. 

"If my father were but at home, " said Betty to herself, "he would knowand understand, but Oliver will not listen, no, not even when I imploredhim to keep Captain Yorke close prisoner here for two days by which timemy father is sure to arrive. Aunt Euphemia is too timid and Pamela ismuch the same; as Josiah happens to agree perfectly with Oliver, Pamelacould never be induced to see how cruel it is to repay our debt in thisway. Oliver is but a boy, "--and Betty's lips curved in scorn over herbrother's four years' seniority, --"and--and--oh! I am, indeed, astray. What, here I am, one of the loyal Wolcotts, --a family known all throughthe land as true to the cause of Freedom and the Declaration, --and hereI sit planning how to let a British officer, foe to my country, escapefrom my father's house. I wonder the walls do not open and fall on me, "and poor Betty gazed half fearfully overhead, as if she expected therafters would descend upon the author of such treasonable sentiments. "But something must be done, " she thought rapidly. "I care not whetherhe be friend or foe, I take the consequences; be mine the blame, " andshe lifted her pretty head with an air of determination, as a soft knockfell upon her chamber door; but before she could rise to open it, thelatch was raised and a little figure, all in white, crept inside. 

"I can't sleep, Betty, " sobbed Moppet, as her sister gathered the childin her arms; "it's too, too dreadful. Will General Putnam hang my dear, kind gentleman as the British hanged Captain Nathan Hale, and shall wenever, never see him more?"

"Dear heart, " said Betty, smoothing the yellow hair, and tears springingagain to her eyes as she thought of the brave, manly face of hercountry's foe. "No, Moppet, Captain Yorke is not a spy, as, alas! waspoor Nathan Hale, but"--

"Betty, " whispered Moppet, so low that she was evidently alarmed at herown daring, "why can't we let him go free and never tell Oliver a wordabout it?"

"How did you come to think of that?" said Betty, astonished. 

"I am afraid it is the devil prompting me, " said Moppet, with a sigh, partly over her own iniquity, and part in wonderment as to whether thatoverworked personage was somewhere soaring in the air near at hand; "butI always thought the British were big ogres, with fierce eyes and redwhiskers, and I am sure my good, kind gentleman is very like ourselves. "

Betty was betrayed into a low laugh. Moppet was always original, butthis was delicious. 

"No, child, " she said softly, "the British are some bad, some good, andthere are no doubt cruel men to be found in all wars. Moppet, as youcame by the north door, whom did you see on guard in the hall?"

"Josiah Huntington, " said Moppet promptly; "but you heard what Oliversaid at supper?"

"Yes, " answered Betty, "Oliver was so weary that Josiah was to watchuntil twelve o'clock; then, at midnight, Reuben was to guard the halluntil four in the morning, when Oliver would take his place untilbreakfast. Did you note the time on the hall clock?"

"It was half past eleven, " said Moppet; "the half hour sounded as Irapped. "

Betty sat pondering for a moment, then she slid Moppet gently from herlap to the floor and rose. 

"Moppet, " she said gravely, "you are a little maid, but you have a trueheart, and I believe you can keep a secret. I am going to try to releaseCaptain Yorke, and I think you can help me. I bind you to keep silent, except to our dear and honored father, and even to him you shall notspeak until I permit you. Promise me, dear heart?"

"I promise, " said Moppet solemnly, and Betty knew that, no matter whathappened, she could depend on her devoted little sister. 

"Moppet, " said Betty, "I have a plan, but 'tis a slender one. Do yourecollect how close the great elm-tree boughs come to your window?"

"I can put out my hand and nearly reach them, " said Moppet; "youremember Reuben cut the bough nearest, but oh, Betty, the tree has alimb which runs an arm's length only from the north chamber. "

"So I thought, " answered Betty, who was busily engaged in changing herlight summer gown for one of homespun gray; "and now, Moppet, you and Imust go into your room for the next part of my plot. I must speak toCaptain Yorke, and can you guess how I shall manage to do it?"

Moppet's eyes grew large and round with excitement. "I know, " shewhispered breathlessly, "through my doll's dungeon. Oh, Betty, how lucky'tis that Oliver never once dreamed of that!"

"I doubt if he even knows its existence, " said Betty. "There goes theclock, " as the slow, solemn voice of the timepiece sounded out on thenight, "It is twelve o'clock, and Reuben will be coming upstairs fromthe kitchen. Hark!"--extinguishing her candle and opening her doorsoftly. "Josiah has gone to the turn on the stairs, and is speaking toReuben; quick, Moppet, if you come still as a mouse they will not see usbefore we can gain your door, " and with swift, soft steps the two smallfigures stole across the hall in the semi-darkness which the night lampstanding near the great clock but served to make visible, and in anothersecond, panting and eager, they stood safely within Moppet's chamber, clinging to each other, as they quickly fastened the latch. 

Moppet's chamber was a small one, and occupied the center of the house, Miss Euphemia's being upon one side, and the north chamber (as one ofthe great rooms was called) upon the other. The great chimney of themansion ran up between the large and small room, and what Moppet calledher "doll's dungeon" was a hollow place, just high enough for the childto reach, in the back of the chimney. For some purpose of ventilationthere was an opening from this aperture into the north chamber. It wascovered with a piece of movable iron; and in summer, when no fire wasused in that part of the house, Moppet took great delight in consigningher contumacious doll (a rag baby of large size and much plainness offeature) to what she was pleased to call her "dungeon. " To-night Betty'squick wit had divined what an important factor the aperture might proveto her, and directly she had secured the door, she walked softly towardthe chimney, and felt in the darkness for the movable bit of iron whichfilled the back. 

When Geoffrey Yorke had finished the ample and delicious supper withwhich Miss Euphemia's hospitable and pitying soul had furnished him, helighted his candle and made thorough search of his temporary prison toascertain whether he could escape therefrom. Betty's gesture ofdisapproval when he was about to give his parole had seemed to promisehim assistance; could it be possible that the lovely little rebel'sheart was so moved with pity?"

"Sweet Betty, " thought Geoffrey, "was ever maid so grateful for a smallservice! I wish with all my soul I might have chance and opportunity todo her a great one, for never have I seen so bewitching and dainty acreature, " and Geoffrey's heart gave a mad leap as he remembered thetearful, beseeching glance which Betty had bestowed upon him as Oliverhad conducted him from her presence. 

The windows, of which there were two, looking north, received his firstattention, but he found them amply secured; and although a strong armmight wrench them open, it would be attended by such noise as could notfail to attract the attention of his guard posted outside the door. Thisreflection prompted him to inspect the door; and discovering an insidebolt as well as the outer one, he drew it, thus assuring his privacyfrom intrusion. The large chimney was his next point of investigation;and although the flue seemed somewhat narrow, Geoffrey decided that itafforded some slight chance, provided he had the means of descent whenonce he reached the roof. Back to the windows again; yes, the great elmof which Moppet had spoken stood like a tall sentinel guarding themansion, and Geoffrey felt confident that he could crawl from roof totree and thus reach the ground. To be sure, it was most hazardous; therewas the chance of some one sleeping in the chambers near who might heareven so slight a noise; he might become wedged in the chimney, or--pshaw! one must risk life, if need be, for liberty; and hereGeoffrey smiled, as it occurred to him that this was what these verycolonists were engaged in doing, and for a moment the British officerfelt a throb of sympathy hitherto unknown to him. He had landed at NewYork but a month before, filled with insular prejudices and contempt forthese country lads and farmers, whom he imagined composed theContinental army; but the fight at Fairfield, which was carried on bythe Hessians with a brutality that disgusted him, and the encounter withsuch a family as this under whose roof he was, began to open his eyes, and he acknowledged frankly to himself that young Oliver Wolcott was botha soldier and a gentleman. 

"The boy looked every inch a soldier, " thought Geoffrey, "when herefused his sister's pleading; faith, he is made of firm stuff towithstand her. Oh, Betty, Betty! I wonder if the fortunes of war willever let me see your face again, " and with a sigh compounded of manythings, Geoffrey picked up a book that was lying on the table, andresolved to read until it should be far on into the night, when hewould make a bold attempt to escape. 

The clock on the stairs struck twelve and Geoffrey, roused from thelight slumber into which he had fallen, heard the steps outside his dooras Josiah Huntington was joined by Reuben, who was to relieve his guard, and straightened himself, with a long breath, as he rose from his chair. As he did so, he became conscious of a slight, very slight, noise in thedirection of the chimney; and turning his eyes toward it, a soft whisperreached his ear. 

"Captain Yorke, " murmured the sweetest voice in the world; and as theslight grating noise ceased, to his amazement a little white handbeckoned him to approach a small aperture, which he now perceived in thebricks about four feet from the floor. Very softly Geoffrey obeyed thesummons, and cautiously made his way to the chimney. 

"Kneel down and put your ear near me, " said Betty, and the tall soldierdropped on one knee obediently; "be very careful, for though AuntEuphemia's chamber is on this side, and she is usually a sound sleeper, it might be our ill fortune that to-night she would wake. I have made upmy mind, sir; I cannot keep you prisoner under a roof that but for youmight be mourning my little sister dead. "

"I pray you say no more of that, " interrupted Geoffrey softly. "I ammore than repaid by your interest in my unhappy condition. "

"It may be wrong, it doubtless is, " said Betty, sighing, "but I have twoplans for your escape. Tell me, are your windows securely fastened?"

"Too strongly to be tampered with except by making noise that is certainto be overheard, " returned Geoffrey. 

"Then we must try other means; if you can but manage to scale thechimney, --and I think there are still some pegs inside which Reuben putthere in the spring when he went up after burning it out, --if you canreach the roof by the chimney you will find on the south side, close tothe chimney itself, a trap-door which lets down by a ladder into ourgarret. The ladder is stationary, and I will meet you there at its foot, and from the garret there is a back stairway, down which you may creepto the buttery, and once there 'tis but a step outside when I open thedoor. "

"God bless you, " whispered Geoffrey, feeling a mad desire to kiss thepretty pink ear and soft cheek which he could just see by the dim lightof Miss Moppet's candle; "shall I start at once?"

"No, " returned Betty, "Josiah Huntington has just sought his chamber, and he will be watchful. Wait until you hear the old clock on thestaircase strike three; that is the hour, I have been told, when allsleep most soundly. Then Moppet will tell you if all goes right, for Ishall be waiting for you, as I said, above;" and with a soft "be very, very careful to make no noise, " Betty moved away from the "doll'sdungeon" and Yorke bounded to his feet. 

"Now, Moppet, " said Betty softly, "let me wrap you well in your woolenhabit, lest you take cold. "

"Oh, Betty darling, " whispered the child, "how will you ever gain thegarret stairs when Reuben is watching? He will be sure to think itstrange; can I not go for you?"

"No, never, " said Betty tenderly. "I will slip by Reuben, and you mustnot fret. Sit here on my knee and go fast asleep until I wake you. "

Moppet nestled her little head down obediently on Betty's shoulder; buttry hard though she did to keep her eyes wide open, sleep at lastovercame her, --sleep so profound after all this excitement that Bettywas able to lay her softly upon her bed without awaking, and for theremainder of those long hours Betty kept her vigil alone. It was nervouswork: for determined though she was to release Yorke, Betty possessed amost sensitive and tender conscience, and love for her country and herpeople was as the air she breathed. It proved the tenacity of herpurpose and the strength of her will that, notwithstanding her manymisgivings, when she heard the clock sound the quarter she rose from herlow seat by the window, where she had been gazing out into the night, and whispered softly to Moppet that it was time to wake. The childsprang up, alert and quick as Betty herself, and listened to hersister's last warning instructions to have no fear, but wait quietly forher return, and when the clock struck the hour to whisper through thehole in the chimney to Yorke that she had gone. 

Very softly, her slippers held tightly in her hand, Betty pulled up thelatch of the bedroom door and stepped into the almost dark hall. Thenight lamp had partly died out, but there was still enough of itsflickering light to permit her, when her eyes grew accustomed to it, tosee the dim outline of Reuben's figure sitting on a stool at the door ofthe north chamber. In order to reach the garret from this part of thehouse she must go directly down the hall to where it parted at the L, where the stairs reaching the garret were shut off by a door, on theother aide of which was a square landing, where you could turn down anddescend directly from the garret to the buttery. Once past Reuben, shewould feel comparatively safe, for although Oliver's room was oppositehe was too weary to be wakeful. It took scarcely a minute to creeptoward Reuben, and Betty drew a quick breath of relief when sheperceived that the farmer-bred lad, unaccustomed to night watches, andfeeling that his prisoner was secure behind the bolted door, had fallenfast asleep. Another minute and she had fairly flown through the halland reached the door of the garret stairs; she recollected that thelatch had a troublesome creak occasionally; indeed, she had noticed itonly that very day, as she and Sally Tracy had mounted to their eyriein the big dormer window of the garret, where safe from all ears theywere wont to confide their girlish secrets to each other. 

"Pray Heaven it creak not to-night, " said Betty to herself as she gentlyand steadily pulled the handle of the latch and saw the dreaded dooropen to her hand. Inside stepped Betty, and made breathless pause whileshe closed it, and the amiable latch fell softly down again into itsplace. Swift as a flash the girlish figure flitted up the winding narrowstairs, and gasping but triumphant Betty seated herself on the loweststep of the trap-ladder to await the coming of Geoffrey Yorke. 

In the bedroom below, Miss Moppet, whose soul was thrilling with mingleddelight and terror at being an actor in a "real story, " waited as shewas told until she heard the deep voice of the clock, sounding rathermore awful than usual, say "one, two, three!" and then tiptoeing overthe bare floor she opened with small trembling fingers the tiny apertureand whispered, "Are you there?" starting back half frightened as theinstant answer came, close beside her:

"Yes, is it time?"

"Betty is in the garret by now, " she faltered. "Oh, sir, be careful andfare you well!"

For answer Geoffrey Yorke bent down, and taking the small cold fingersextended to him, pressed a kiss on them, and with a soft "farewell"began his passage up the chimney. 

It was no such very difficult task he found, to his satisfaction, forBetty was right, and by feeling carefully with his hands he perceivedthe friendly pegs which Reuben had inserted, and of which Oliver had noknowledge, else he would not have trusted so agile and strong a prisonerwithin their reach. Geoffrey's broad shoulders were the only sufferers, but the rough homespun which covered them was a better protection thanhis uniform would have been, and he again blessed the good fortune whichhad thrown the disguise in his way as he left Fairfield four daysbefore. 

Betty, sitting on the ladder step, straining her ears to catch the firstsound, became conscious of a light sound as Geoffrey swung himself fromthe chimney top to the roof, and she sped up the ladder to unhook thedoor of the trap just as he reached it. 

"Speak not a word, " she said in his ear, as he set his foot on theladder, "but fasten the hook lest they discover that the door has beenopened. Now, give me your hand, " and in the darkness the strong, manlyhand closed firmly over her dainty fingers with a clasp which, strangelyenough, inspired her with fresh courage. 

"Stop, " said Betty suddenly, as they were at the top stair, "you mustremove your boots: the slightest creak might wake the sleepers at theend of the hall. "

It took but a second of time to follow her directions; and then verysoftly, with many pauses, the pair crept down the winding stairs, andBetty involuntarily held her breath until the last step was safelypassed and she raised the latch of the buttery door. 

"If Miss Bidwell has locked it, " came the swift thought, --but, no! likeeverything else that dreadful night, fortune seemed to favor Betty, andwith a long-drawn sigh she drew her companion across the threshold andinstantly shot the bolt behind her. 

A faint glow of dawn crept through the pantry windows, and Betty pauseda moment and regarded the rows of milk pans which adorned the shelvesof the small room with grave intentness. 

"Had you not better take a glass of milk?" she said. "You may have totravel far without food, although I am sure that should you ask for itat any of our Connecticut farmhouses you would be cheerfully supplied, "and raising the neat dipper she filled it and handed it to Geoffrey, whotook it gratefully from her hand. 

"And now put on your boots, for freedom lies beyond that door, " shesaid, still in softest tones, as she unbolted the other door which leddirectly outside. "I must go with you as far as the barn, for you willneed my mare to take you out of danger of pursuit. "

"No, no, " answered Geoffrey, speaking for the first time as they spedrapidly over the grass, "I will not take her; you have dared much forme, and I fear censure and harm may come to you for releasing me shouldyou be discovered. "

"Censure, " said Betty, throwing back her small head haughtily, "wherefore? Do you think I shall conceal my share in this night's work?Oliver is but a hot-headed boy; had my father been at home it would havebeen different, and to him I shall make my confession, that I havegiven liberty to--oh, I cannot say a foe, after what you have done forme--to a British officer who comes to slay my countrymen!"

"Never your foe, Betty, " cried Yorke, confronting her with face as paleas her own, and in his admiration of her spirit and nobility forgettingall else. "Say, rather, your adoring friend, who one day, God willing, hopes to prove to you that there are British hearts which are true andhonest as yours, and that none will be more loyal to you than mine own. "

A hot wave of color flashed up over Betty's charming face; her lipstrembled, but no words came from them. What was this impetuous young mandaring to say to her?

"The dawn is breaking over yonder hills, " Geoffrey rushed on, "andbefore the sun rises I must be as many miles away as my feet can carryme. Farewell, farewell!--may God bless and keep you always. Go backstraightway into the mansion; I shall not stir step until I see yousafe. " And through her brimming tears Betty realized that his kisseswere falling on her hands, as without a word she turned and fled towardthe open door. But when she reached it some new-born impulse tearingmadly at her heart made her pause, and looking back she saw Geoffreylift something from the grass at his feet which he waved toward her ashe sped down the path, and raising her hand to her gown she knew that hehad carried with him her breast-knot of rose-colored ribbon. 

CHAPTER V

A LOYAL TRAITOR

Betty stumbled blindly over the threshold, and with shaking fingerssecured the outer bolt of the buttery door. Her head was whirling, andshe dared not stop there even to think over this extraordinaryadventure, for Moppet was doubtless waiting breathlessly for her return;and at the recollection Betty's nerves grew steadier, and she bethoughtherself that a glass of milk would be needed by the child and that shemust take it to her. So she filled the smallest dipper, not wishing togo back into the china pantry for fear of noise, and, with the milk inhand, concluded it was wiser to seek the main staircase in the hall, rather than wake Reuben by drawing his attention to the exit on thegarret stairway. And fortunate it was for Betty that she had sodetermined; for as she set her foot upon the first step of the stairs, she beheld Oliver leaning over the upper balustrade, gazing gravelydown upon her. 

"Good-morning, " said Betty readily, in a cheerful undertone, as shereached his side; "you are up betimes, Oliver. "

"Where have you been?" asked her brother. 

"To the buttery, " said Betty; "this is milk for Moppet. The child iswakeful, and needs it. "

"Why did you not send Reuben?" asked Oliver, who was always kind andattentive to his sisters. 

"Reuben?" echoed Betty. "Did you not set him as guard to your prisoner?"and then, her heart smiting her for the gibe, "Miss Bidwell lets no onemeddle with her milk pans, and I knew best which were last night'smilk, " and she went up the hall with a naughty little throb of mingledmischief and triumph, as she thought how she had outwitted him, whilethe unsuspecting Oliver seated himself near the north chamber door. 

Moppet, sitting up in bed, welcomed her sister with open arms, and drankthe milk thirstily, as Betty told her that all was safe, and thatCaptain Yorke was now well on his way. 

"I'm as glad as can be, " said Moppet, who was troubled with noconscientious scruples whatsoever, and was now beginning to enjoyherself intensely at sharing a mystery with Betty; "I told him you weregone, after the big clock struck three, and oh, Betty, he kissed my handthrough the hole in the chimney. "

"Did he?" said Betty, flushing brightly under Moppet's keen glance. 

"And I sat there and shivered, " went on Moppet, discreetly dropping thatbranch of the subject, "for I could hear his feet as he climbed, andonce he slipped and I was so frightened lest he should come tumblingdown and our fine plot be discovered. Betty, Betty, what a fine flutterOliver and Josiah will be in at breakfast!"

"Don't talk of it, " said Betty, shivering in her turn; "go to sleep, Moppet, and I will fly to my chamber, for it is not well that I shouldbe discovered here, dressed. Oliver is not one to notice; now lie stilluntil you are called for rising;" and Betty tripped back to her ownroom, where, tearing off her dress, she threw her tired little self onthe bed to rest, if not to sleep, for the short hours that remainedbefore breakfast. 

The Wolcott household was one that was early astir, however, and Chloe, the old colored cook, was out in the barn searching for eggs, and MissBidwell had laid the breakfast cloth and polished the silver by halfpast six, when Miss Euphemia knocked briskly at the door where Pamelaand Dolly Trumbull were slumbering sweetly, and resolved that she wouldrequest Oliver to permit Captain Yorke to come down and breakfast withthe family. "For, " mused Miss Euphemia, "our obligations to that youngman should make some difference, I think, in his treatment; I must tryto persuade Oliver to detain him here until my brother's return, foralthough I did not think it prudent to say so, I confess I am no moreanxious to keep him prisoner than Betty was. "

But Miss Euphemia had not more than descended at half past sevenprecisely (her usual hour) when Oliver came hastily into the room, demanding a hammer and chisel, and with such evident dismay upon hiscountenance that Miss Euphemia asked if anything was the matter. 

"I do not know, " said Oliver, searching the drawer for the desiredimplements; "I called and knocked smartly at Captain Yorke's door toask him if he desired hot water, and to offer him a change of cleanlinen (as we are much the same size and build); but although I madesufficient noise to wake the hardest sleeper, no response did I receive. Then I unbolted the door, intending to enter, but he has fastened it onthe inside, and"--

"He is ill, " cried Miss Euphemia, in alarm. "I noted he looked pale lastnight. "

"Much more likely 'tis some device to alarm us, " said Oliver, seizingthe chisel, and Miss Euphemia followed him as he went hurriedly up thefront staircase. At its top stood Huntington. 

"Captain Yorke is a sound sleeper, " he said, addressing Oliver. "I haveknocked at his door several times and get no response. "

"My mind misgives me, " said Oliver, fitting his chisel in the door andstriking vigorously with the hammer; "and yet I made sure there was nochance for escape, --ha!" as the door swung open and discovered theclosed shutters and the last flickering gleams of the dying candle uponthe table. "Good heavens, Huntington, he has flown!"

"Flown!" cried Josiah, rushing after Oliver, as Miss Euphemia joinedthe party, and Pamela, with Dolly, opened her door across the hall, hearing the commotion. "And how? Surely not by the chimney?"

"I wish you had suggested that earlier, " said Oliver bitterly. "I am adolt and a fool's head not to have thoroughly examined it last night, "and he rushed across into Betty's chamber to find a candle with which toinvestigate the treacherous exit. 

"Have a care, Oliver, " cried Betty, as her brother entered withoutknocking, to find her with her hair over her shoulders, brush in hand. "What do you please to want?"

"Your candle, " said Oliver, catching up the one upon her table, and thenpausing, as he was about to rush out again. "Did you hear any noiseslast night, Betty?"

"Noises?" answered Betty, facing him calmly, "of what nature?"

"In the great chimney, " said Oliver, eying her sternly. 

"I did not, " said Betty, with truth, returning inward thanks that tothat question she could reply without falsehood. "Why did you ask?"

"You will find out soon enough, " said Oliver, dashing down the hall, without closing the door, and hurrying to the kitchen for a light. Bythe time he returned, he found Josiah half way up the chimney. 

"Here are pegs, " he called out, as Oliver sent the ray of the lightedcandle upward. "'Tis easy enough to see how our prisoner escaped. Foolthat I was not to have searched this place, " and he let himself downagain, where the bewildered group stood around the chimney-piece. 

"The fault is mine alone, " cried Oliver furiously; "let us get out onthe roof and see if we can discover how he made his descent to theground. "

"By the great elm, " exclaimed Pamela, who had unfastened the shutterswith Josiah's help; "see, the branches overhang the roof just here, andI think there are some pieces of the bark on the ground below. " All ofwhich was true, and quick-witted of Pamela; but Moppet could haveexplained the presence of the bits of bark, for, as it happened, thechild had emptied her apron under the elm the day before, and the barkwas some she had gathered in the orchard for the bits of fungus which, at night, were phosphorescent, and which Moppet called "fairy lamps. "

"True, " said Josiah, leaning out of the window, "and there arefootsteps in the tall grass yonder, " pointing westward, where his keeneye perceived a fresh path broken in the meadow. "I must follow Oliverto the roof; this will be a dire blow to him, as he thought his prisonerso carefully guarded. "

"How clever of him to escape under our very ears, " said Dolly to Pamela;"how could Captain Yorke contrive to climb down so softly that no oneheard him? Is not Miss Euphemia's chamber on this side?"

"Yes, " said Pamela, turning away from the window, "and so is Moppet's;where is Aunt Euphemia?" and running out into the hall, she encounteredboth Betty and her aunt on the way to Moppet's apartment. 

"Hush!" whispered Betty, with hand on the latch, "I hope she is stillsleeping. Moppet came into my room in the night, Aunt Euphemia, and wasso cold and shivering that I went back with her and put her to bed. Igot a drink of milk for her, and it seemed to quiet her. "

"That was quite right, " said Miss Euphemia. "I have been afraid that theplunge in the pond did her some injury, " and she opened the doorsoftly, only to see Miss Moppet's curly head rise up from her pillow, and to hear her say with a sleepy yawn:--

"What is it all about? Where's Betty?"

"Here I am, " said Betty, giving her a kiss. "Did you sleep soundly afterthe milk?"

"Yes, and I want some more, " said Moppet, seizing the situation withsuch alacrity that Betty suspected on the instant that the keen littleears had been on the alert for more minutes than Moppet cared toacknowledge. "What are you all coming in for? Is it dinner-time?"

"No, " interrupted Pamela, "we have not even had breakfast. Captain Yorkehas escaped in the night"--

"Escaped!" cried Moppet, the liveliest curiosity in her tone. "Oh, I'mso glad! Aren't you, Betty?"

"Better not let Oliver hear you say that, " said Pamela in an undertoneas Miss Euphemia drew Betty aside. 

"How did he get out?" said Moppet, giving way to laughter. "Oh, what aruffle Oliver must be in. "

"Naughty child, " said Pamela, but unable to help smiling at Moppet'sview of the situation. "Did you happen to hear any noises on the roof orin the big elm last night?"

"Not a sound, " said Moppet, like Betty rejoicing inwardly that she couldreply truthfully, for the little maid had never told a lie in her shortlife, and had indeed spent a wakeful half hour that very morningwondering how she would be able to evade any questions that might be putto her. "Did Captain Yorke climb out of his window and go down the bigelm, Pamela? Do you know I thought of that at supper. "

"He could not open the window, Moppet, " answered Pamela, "but he did godown the tree from the roof, whence he climbed from the chimney here. "

"Moppet, you must instantly dress or you will lake cold, " said MissEuphemia, interrupting, to Betty's relief, "and I will be glad if Bettywill assist you, for I must go down and see if breakfast be still hot, as no one is ready yet to eat it, " and out went Miss Euphemia, callingthe others to follow her. 

"What do you think of all this?" asked Pamela of Betty. 

"What do you suppose?" flashed out Betty, whose quick tongue had beenso long restrained that it was absolute relief to her to speak her mind. "I am as glad as I can possibly be that Captain Yorke has escaped, andif that be disloyal"--finished the spirited little maid, mindful ofPatrick Henry--"make the most of it!"

"Oh, Betty!" cried Pamela, shocked beyond expression. 

"It is I that should be shocked, not you, " went on Betty. "Do you holdMoppet's dear life as nothing? Do you not wish to acknowledge anobligation when it is doubly due? I am ashamed of you, Pamela, --you andOliver. I would my father were here to make you see both sides of aquestion clearly. "

"Betty, Betty, " implored Pamela, bursting into tears, "do I not love ourlittle sister as well as you? You do mistake me; I did not dare gocounterwise to Oliver and Josiah, but indeed I love you for yourcourage. "

"There, say no more, " said Betty, dropping the brush with which she wasreducing Moppet's rebellious locks to order, and rushing into Pamela'sarms with quick repentance. "I am cross and upset this morning, and notfit to talk to you, my gentle Pamela, so go down and make the coffee andforgive my petulance. "

Dolly, who had witnessed this little sisterly passage of arms in shyfright, put her hand in Pamela's and whispered, as they gained thestaircase:--

"Dry your eyes, Pamela dear; Betty is most forward to speak thus to herelder sister. "

"There you mistake, " said Pamela, changing front with true feminineinconsistency. "Betty is quite right, and I am displeased, --yesdownright displeased with myself that I did not side with her lastnight, " and with unwonted color flushing her usually pale cheeks Pamelawalked into the breakfast-room, Dolly following meekly behind her. 

Meanwhile, Oliver and Josiah were upon the roof of the mansionconducting most careful investigation. They had decided that it wasuseless to pursue Yorke, for he might have many hours in advance ofthem, and they must take the chances that he would be recaptured by someof Putnam's men, especially if he again mistook the country and wentwest instead of north. They climbed through the trap-door, but as theheavy dews had not yet begun there was no trace of footsteps upon theroof beyond a faint mark, which might be the spot where the prisoner haddropped from the chimney. It was quite possible for an agile fellow, accustomed to use his muscle, to clamber down the sloping roof to theelm and escape to the ground by its branches, and that he was not heardwas partly due to his own care and the unusually heavy slumbers of theinmates of the mansion. Having reached this conclusion, Oliver was fainto make the best of it, and in much chagrin descended to thebreakfast-table. 

Try as she did to look demure and avoid speaking upon the subject whichall were discussing, Betty could not keep her dancing eyes in order, andbefore the meal was over she flashed so roguish a glance at Oliver that, irritated at her mute opposition, he could not refrain from saying:--

"There sits Betty looking fairly pleased because she has her own way, and apparently cares nothing for the escape of an enemy to her country. "

"Fie, Oliver, " spoke up Pamela with unusual fire, "Betty is as loyal asyou or I, and you are unfair to tax her because she heartilydisapproves of your course in regard to Captain Yorke's detention afterthe signal service he has rendered to all us Wolcotts. "

"Pamela!" cried Oliver, good temper returning, and gazing in comicdismay at his favorite sister, much as he would at a dove who hadruffled its plumes. "This from you, Pamela? If Betty be allowed todemoralize the family in this wise, I think it were well my father takesyou all in hand. "

"Heyday?" said a kindly voice from the door of the sitting-room, as afine-looking man dressed in the Continental uniform entered the room. "Who is it that requires my parental hand, Oliver, and why do you solament my absence?"

"Father, father!" shrieked Miss Moppet, tumbling out of her chair andflinging her arms around General Wolcott's neck as he stooped down toembrace her. "Oh, we're so glad you are come. Why didn't you get herelast night?"

"Because I lay over at General Putnam's headquarters, " said her father. "Oliver, you will find Captain Seymour and Lieutenant Hillhouse on theporch. See that their horses be taken and fed, and bid them come tobreakfast. "

Oliver disappeared in haste, and Josiah, with an apology to MissEuphemia, followed him; while General Wolcott, casting off his hat andgloves, seated himself with Moppet on his knee, and Miss Bidwellappeared from the kitchen with fresh reinforcements of breakfast for thenewcomers. Betty, busying herself by fetching cups and saucers from thechina pantry, caught fragments of the conversation, and became awarethat Miss Moppet was telling the story of her adventure at Great Pond, in the child's most dramatic fashion, and that Miss Euphemia was alsoadding her testimony to the tale as it went on. They were presentlyinterrupted by the entrance of Oliver with his father's two aids, andthe large mahogany table was surrounded by guests, whose appetites bidfair to do justice to Miss Bidwell's breakfast. 

No sooner was the meal fairly under way than Oliver, eager to hear hisfather's opinion, began the story of his capture of the day before, andrelated how and where he had found Captain Yorke, and how safely hesupposed he had imprisoned him in the north chamber, from which hisclever and ready escape had been made. Oliver's narrative wasinterrupted by exclamations from the officers and questions from hisfather, who displayed keen interest in the matter. 

"Father, " said Moppet, seeing that the most important point had beenomitted in Oliver's story, and venturing to join in the conversation, asfew children of that period would have done, "Oliver's prisoner was mygood kind gentleman who pulled me out of the pond, and I am very, veryglad he has got away--aren't you?"

"I was indeed hard bestead, sir, " burst in Oliver. "Here were Betty andMoppet insisting that I must let Captain Yorke go free because of hisgallant act (which I fully appreciate), and the gentleman refusing hisparole because he preferred to take the chances of war, while I felt itmy sworn duty to detain him and to forward him to General Putnam withoutdelay, as I know we are in need of exchange for several of our officersnow held by Sir Henry Clinton, and this man is of Clinton's staff, andtherefore a most valuable capture. Was I to blame for retaining him?"

General Wolcott hesitated, but as he was about to make reply his eyefell upon Betty, who confronted him across the table with parted lipsand large, beseeching eyes so full of entreaty that he changed the wordsalmost upon his lips. 

"It is a delicate question, my son, " he said gravely, "and one I wouldrather not discuss at the present moment. More especially"--and ahalf-quizzical smile lit up his grave but kindly face as he turnedtoward Miss Moppet and gently pinched her little ear, --"more especiallyas the gentleman has taken the law in his own hands and escaped fromWolcott Manor despite the fact that as it is the residence of aContinental officer and the sheriff of Litchfield County it might besupposed to have exceptional reasons for detaining him. Captain Seymour, I will be glad to sign the papers of which General Putnam has need, andwe will go at once to my library, for you must be off by noon. "

Some two hours later, as Betty sat watching in her chamber window, shesaw the horses led around to the front door, and shortly after knew fromthe sounds below that Pamela and Dolly wore bidding the young officersgood-by; so, waiting until the sound of their horses' feet had diedaway in the distance, Betty, with outward composure but much inwarddismay, tripped softly downstairs and knocked at the door of thelibrary. 

"Pray Heaven he be alone, " she sighed as she heard her father's voicebid her enter, and then she crossed the threshold and confronted him. 

"Father, " she said, steadying herself by one small hand pressed downwardon the table behind which he sat, "I--that is--I have something to tellyou. "

General Wolcott raised his head from the paper which he had beencarefully reading and looked kindly at her. 

"What is it, my child?" he asked reassuringly, motioning her to a chair. "I thought at breakfast that you had the air of being in distress. "

"Nay, I am hardly that, " replied Betty, clinging to the table, "exceptso far as I may have incurred your censure, though I hope not yourdispleasure. Father, Oliver has told you of the escape of Captain Yorke, which causes him much chagrin and anger. Blame no one but me, for Imyself released him. "

"You!" exclaimed General Wolcott. 

"Yes, I, " said Betty, growing paler. "If you had but been here or Iknown that you were so near us, there had been no such need for haste, and I would have been spared this confession. "

"How did you arrange the escape?" said her father quietly. 

"It was this way, " faltered Betty, but gaining courage as she proceeded. "Oliver would not listen, though I begged and plead with him to delayuntil your arrival. He was so eager to deliver his captive to GeneralPutnam that I made no impression. Father, the Englishman had saved ourMoppet's life at the risk of his own; _he_ did not pause to ask whethershe was friend or foe when he rushed to her rescue--could we he lesshumane? I do not know what they do to prisoners, "--and Betty strangled aswift sob, --"but I could not bear to think of a gallant gentleman, be heBritish or American, confined in a prison, and so I resolved I wouldassist his escape. I waited until midnight, and then I spoke to himthrough the aperture in the great chimney and instructed him how toclimb up through it by the pegs Reuben had left there, and I stole tothe garret and waited until he came. Ruben did not see me pass the doorof the north chamber, for he was asleep (do not tell this to Oliver, asit might bring reproof upon poor Reuben, who was too weary to be of muchservice as a sentinel), and I brought Captain Yorke safely down thestairs which lead from the garret to the buttery. Once there, all waseasy; I opened the door, and--and--I even offered him the mare, father, I was in such fear of his recapture; but he stoutly refused to take her. This is all. If I am a traitor, dear father, punish me as I deserve, butnever think me disloyal to you or to my country. "

There was a pause, as Betty's sweet, passionate tones ceased; she stoodwith head thrown back, but downcast eyes, as fair a picture us evergreeted father's eye. 

"A loyal traitor, Betty, " said General Wolcott slowly; "and I think thatit were well I should look after the condition of my chimneys. "

Scarcely daring to believe her ears, Betty looked up, and in anothersecond she had thrown her arms around her father's neck, sobbing softlyas he caressed her. 

"'Twas a daring, mad scheme, my child, " said General Wolcott, his owneyes not quite guiltless of moisture; "but bravely carried out; andlooking at the matter much as you do, I cannot find it in my heart tocensure you. Captain Yorke is doubtless a manly foe, and of such I haveno fear. It shall be our secret, yours and mine, Betty; we will not eventell Oliver just now, else it might make sore feeling between you. ForOliver was right, and"--smiling kindly, "so were you. Everything dependsupon the point of view, my daughter; but let me beg you never to tryyour hand again to assist the escape of a British officer, or it mightcost me the friendship of General Washington. "

"Father, dear father!" cried Betty, overjoyed to find judgment solenient accorded her, "I crave your pardon; 'twas alone for Moppet'ssake. "

"Aye, " said General Wolcott, and then paused a brief second, for hiswife's death, had been the forfeit paid for Moppet's birth, and this wasone reason why the child had become the family idol. "Now run away, forI must close these papers in time for Oliver, who rides dispatch to FortTrumbull to-night. And, Betty, " as she stood glowing and smiling beforehim "my child, you grow more like your mother every day. " and with ahasty movement General Wolcott turned away to conceal his emotion, asBetty went quickly from the room. 

CHAPTER VI

BY COURIER POST

It had been a wild night, find the morning wind sobbed and sighedthrough the elms, which, denuded of their leaves, stood out tall andbare against the leaden sky, and there was a chill in the air that mightbetoken snow. Pamela Wolcott stood in the sitting-room window and sighedsoftly, as she gazed out at the November landscape, letting her fingersbeat soft tattoo against the lozenge-shaped pane. 

"Pamela, " said Betty from the depths of a big chair, where she satbusily knitting a little stocking whose proportions suggested MissMoppet, "I wish you would stop that devil's march. Believe me, you hadmuch better come and talk to me, and so drive away the vapors, ratherthan stand there and worry over the whereabouts of Josiah. "

"It will take more than that to drive away the thoughts I cannot help, "said Pamela, coming back from the window and seating herself on thewide settle, for Pamela was somewhat given to seeking the warmestcorner, and dreaded a New England winter. "It is full time I had someintelligence, for Josiah promised that he would take advantage of anycourier who started for New London to dispatch me a letter, and you knowthat father had news two days since from Morristown, but nothing camefor me. Betty, I am sore afraid of evil tidings. "

"You are ever faint-hearted, " said Betty, glancing compassionately ather sister. 

"And I dreamed last night of a wedding, " went on Pamela, "and that, youknow, is an evil sign. "

"Best not let Aunt Euphemia hear you, " Replied Betty, with a smile. "Youhave been consulting Chloe, I am sure, as to the portents of dreams. Fie, Pamela; Josiah is strong and well, and there is not likely to be amovement of the troops just now, father says, so why worry? I am anxiousbecause we hear nothing of Clarissa, and I think Aunt Euphemia is thesame, for I heard her talking and sighing last night when Miss Bidwellcarried up the night light. Dear Clarissa, how I wish I could see heragain; I wonder if she be quite, quite happy shut up in New York amongthe Tories. "

"No doubt; though when she married Gulian Verplanck we had littlethought of the occupation of New York by the British. Do you recollecthow pretty she looked on her wedding-day, Betty, and the little caps youand I wore, --mine with a knot of blue, and yours of rose-color? I foundthat ribbon one day last week, tucked away in a little box. Have youkept yours?"

"No, " returned Betty, with a sudden blush and a quick, half-guilty throbof her heart, as she remembered in whose hand she had last seen thatsame bow of rose-color; "that is, I had it until last summer, when--Ilost it. " And Betty dropped two stitches in her confusion, whichfortunately Pamela was too much engrossed in her own thoughts to notice. 

"It is five years last May, " said Pamela. "You and I were tiny things often and eleven years, and Oliver strutted about grand and dignified in anew coat. The first wedding in our family--I wonder whose be the next?"

"Yours, of course. " said Betty quickly. "That is if you and Josiah canever make up your minds. I will not be like you, Pamela, trust me, whenmy turn comes I'll know full well whether I will or I won't. " And Bettytossed her saucy head with a mischievous laugh as there came a rap onthe front door which caused both girls to start up and fly to thewindow. 

"Why, 'tis Sally Tracy, " cried Betty. "I did not know she had returnedfrom her visit to Lebanon. " And she ran rapidly along the hall, andopening the door, embraced her friend with all a girl's enthusiasm. 

"Welcome, Sally, " said Pamela, as the pair came hand in hand towardsher, "Betty has been moping ever since you left, and had a desperate fitof industry from sheer loneliness. I really believe she has made astocking and a half for Moppet--or was it a pair, Betty?"

"The second pair, if you please, " retorted Betty, rejoiced to see Pamelasmile, even if at her own expense; "and Miss Bidwell says they are everybit as fine as yours. "

"They may well be that, " said Pamela, whose pet detestation was themanufacture of woolen stockings (then considered one of the componentparts of a girl's education in New England). "But Sally is such amarvelous knitter that she will no doubt rejoice at your success. Hadyou as severe weather in Lebanon as this? I am fearful that we will havea hard winter, the cold has set in so early. "

"They have had one flurry of snow already, " Sally answered, "but not somuch wind as we of Litchfield rejoice in. But I had a merry visit andsaw much company. Dolly bemoaned daily that you could not come, Pamela. "

"I am to go later, after or about the day set apart for Thanksgiving. But you and Betty have much to say to each other, and I will notinterrupt you; Miss Bidwell has something for me to do, I'll warrant;so, farewell for the present, Sally. " And Pamela left the room. 

"Come, sit beside me on the settle, " said Betty, putting Sally in thewarmest seat. "Your fingers are cold, and the room is not yetsufficiently warm. Well, "--with a significant smile, --"what have you totell me?"

"Not what you think, " with a smiling nod, "for Francis Plunkett is fartoo pressing for my taste, '' answered Sally. 

"Ha, ha, " quoth Betty, much amused, "is that the way you take it? Then Iforesee that Francis will win for his much speaking. "

"Indeed he will not; I teased him well the last evening, and he dare notresume the subject for a while at least. "

"Then there is some one else, " said Betty. "Can it be that Oliver"--

"Oh, no, " cried Sally hastily; "Oliver has not such an idea, believe me, Betty. "

"How can you answer for him?" retorted Betty, laughing. "But your toneanswers for yourself, so I must guess again. I think I have heardsomething of a handsome young lawyer from Branford"--

"Fie!" cried Sally, in her turn averting her face quickly, but notbefore Betty had perceived her heightened color, "I have but met himthree times, and there are plenty of other personable men as well as he, for while one stops with Dolly the officers from Fort Trumbull are evercoming and going, you know. "

"Ah, Sally, you are growing giddy, I fear, " continued Betty with comicalpretense of solemnity. "I think it behooves me to caution you. "

"Caution me, indeed!" laughed Sally. "Wait until we both go, as we allare invited to Hartford with Dolly this winter when the Assembly meets, and then see if you be not fully as giddy as I am. "

"I do not believe that I can go to Hartford, Sally; you know Pamela ismore Dolly's friend than mine, and I think she needs some diversion, forever since Josiah had his commission and joined the Continental army, she has nearly moped herself to death. And Pamela is like my mother, notvery strong; I can see that Aunt Euphemia is somewhat troubled about hereven now, so perhaps our fine schemes for a trip to Hartford may have tobe given up, at least so far as my going is concerned. "

Sally's face fell; the visit to Hartford had been so long talked of, andBetty's presence so much desired, that this was a dash of the coldestpossible water. 

"Oh, Betty, how truly sorry I shall be. But let us hope for the best. Itwill be a sad breaking up of all my plans for the winter if you cannotcome. I was also to stop at Fairfield with Mrs. Sherman, but since theraid of last summer her health has been so shattered that all thoughtsof visitors have to be abandoned, and therefore I was counting upon ourmerry visit to Dolly as compensation. "

Sally looked so melancholy at this point that Betty took her hand andwas about to take a rather more hopeful view of things, but the wordsdied on her lips as the clatter of a horse's feet was heard outside, andboth girls ran to the window in time to see the rider draw rein at thesouth door of the mansion and dismount in apparent haste. 

"It is some dispatch, " said Betty breathlessly. "Did you not see the baghe carried at the saddle? And there is my father--oh, Sally, I wonder ifthere be news from General Washington and the army?" and struck by thesudden fear of ill-tidings the girls ran hastily from the room. 

In the wide hall stood Miss Bidwell, and beside her the stranger, saddle-bag in hand, as Miss Euphemia emerged from the dining-room, whence General Wolcott had preceded her. 

"From the commander-in-chief, general, " said the courier, touching hisbattered hat in salute, "and special dispatches from General Steuben. Also this private packet, which was lying waiting at King's Bridge Inn;I have been four days on the road, owing to my horse having lamedhimself when near Chatham, and I could not make time on the nag whichstands at your door. "

"King's Bridge, " murmured Miss Euphemia; "then there is news ofClarissa. Brother, have I your permission?"--as General Wolcott gave thesmall packet into her hand. 

"Break the seals, " said the general briefly, "and bring me the letterspresently to my study. See that the horse and man be well taken care of;I may have to dispatch instant answer to these, " and he went quicklydown the hall, closing the door behind him. 

With fingers that trembled somewhat, Miss Euphemia opened the cover, anddisclosed three letters to the eager eyes of the girls, who stoodbreathless beside her. 

"One for your father (it is Gulian Verplanck's hand), this for me, fromClarissa, and the smaller one for you, Betty; let us go into thesitting-room and read ours together. "

"None for me?" said Pamela's despairing voice, with a sob treading onthe words; "oh, I fear me some evil has befallen Josiah. "

"No, no, " whispered Betty, stealing her hand lovingly into her sister's, as she pulled her gently into the room; "father has the dispatches;these are but the long-looked-for letters from New York, Pamela, andI'll wager there is something from Josiah among father's packets. Let ussee what my letter says, " and Betty, having seated Pamela and Sally onthe settle, placed herself on a convenient cricket, and broke the sealof her letter. But before her eyes had time to see more than "DearestBetty, " she was interrupted by a sudden exclamation from her aunt. 

"Clarissa has been at death's door, " cried Miss Euphemia, startled outof her usual composure. "I knew this long silence boded no good. Listen, I will read it, " and the three girls gathered round her chair at once. 

"Dear and Honored Aunt" (ran the letter), "I take up my pen, after manydays of pain and dire distress, to send loving greetings to you, myBeloved father, and my dear sisters. For the hand of death was nearlyupon me; thank God that I am still preserved to my dear Husband and toyou. 

"It was a very malignant and severe attack of Fever, and Gulian procuredthe services of no less than three Physicians, as for days I laidunconscious. My little baby died at two hours old, and I never saw him. Alas, how I have suffered! I am now very weak, altho' able to be dressedand sit up each day. This is my first letter; and I pine so sorely foryou, my dear ones, that my dear Husband permits me to write, and begswith me that you will permit one of my sisters to come to me and cheermy heart"--

"Come to her! Good lack!" cried impetuous Betty, interrupting thereader, "how is one to go when the British are in occupation?"--

"How, indeed, " sighed Miss Euphemia; "but perhaps the letter will tell, "and she resumed her reading, after wiping her eyes softly. "Where wasI?--oh"--

"Father will no doubt be able to procure a pass from General Washington, which will admit the bearer into the City, and Gulian will himself beready when you advise us, and will await you at King's Bridge Inn. DearAunt, send me some one soon, and let me see a dear home face, else Ishall die of grief and homesickness, far from my own people. 

"Your loving and obedient niece, "CLARISSA VERPLANCK. "

By this time Pamela was sobbing aloud, and tears flowed down MissEuphemia's cheeks, but Betty sprang to her feet with a little impatientstamp, crying, --

"Aunt, aunt, which of us shall go? Pamela, you are a gentle and charmingnurse; shall it be you?"

"I!" sighed Pamela; "oh, I would go to the world's end for Clarissa. "

"But this is to go to New York, " cried Betty, with unconscious irony;"and as we can neither of us go alone, why could not my father arrangefor one of us to accompany Mrs. Seymour, who leaves shortly to be nearher brother for the winter? Did you not tell me, Sally, that she wasgoing to New York?"

"Yes, " answered Sally Tracy, "she has been making all manner ofpreparations, for, as you know, her brother is imprisoned in the city;and since her acceptance of the pleasure coach from the Mayor of NewYork (which he presented her with when he was released from Litchfieldgaol), she has been pining to go to him. And, beside, she travels in hercoach as far as possible; and my mother said last night that GeneralWashington was to send her safe-conduct through our lines to the city. "

"We must first consult your father, " said Miss Euphemia gravely, muchupset by the suggestion of making up her mind to do anything in haste, for she was a very deliberate person, and despised hurried decisions. "Iwill find him as soon as he has finished the dispatches, and, moreover, this letter to him from Gulian may have directions. I incline to thinkthat you, Betty, will be the one to go. Pamela can scarce bear thejourney in this weather, " and gathering her papers carefully in herhand, Miss Euphemia left the room, and the girls gazed blankly at eachother with startled eyes and throbbing hearts. 

CHAPTER VII

WHAT FOLLOWED A LETTER

"It was all decided last night, " said Betty, tucking her little feetcarefully under her gown and clasping her knees with her hands to keepthem warm, as she sat in Moppet's chair, which stood close by the fire, where a log burned and crackled in the big chimney--a most unusualluxury for those days, and granted only to Moppet's youth and slightdelicacy of constitution. "Father found the pass from General Washingtonamong his dispatches brought by the courier; and as it includes Mrs. Seymour's maid, he arranged with her that I go instead, as Mrs. Seymourkindly says she can procure another attendant in New York. I can scarcebelieve it possible, Sally. Oh, fancy my having to live in a cityoccupied by the British!"

"Ah, " sighed Miss Moppet, pressing her head against Betty's knee, and aspark of interest lighting up her doleful little face, "if only some ofthem be like my good"--

"Oh, some of the Tories may be passably amusing, " said Betty hastily, giving Moppet a warning glance, as she checked the words on the child'slips by a soft touch of her hand. "I doubt not that Gulian, mybrother-in-law, has fine qualities, else Clarissa had not been so fondof him as to leave us all and go so far from us. But I trust that evenGulian may not see fit to talk loyalist to me; my naughty tongue wouldget me into trouble straightway. "

"You must learn to control your tongue, Betty, " said Moppet primly, witha roguish twinkle of her eyes upward. "Miss Bidwell says mine is anunruly member, and told me a most dire tale of a little girl whosemother for punishment pricked her tongue with a hot bodkin. "

"Ugh!" cried Sally, with a shudder, "that was in Puritan days, truly. "

"I do not crave the hot bodkin, " said Betty, laughing. "Miss Bidwell'stales are a trifle gruesome, Moppet. "

"But I always do love a flimming tale, Betty" (this was Moppet'sinvariable rendering of the word "thrilling, " which her lips had neveryet conquered), "and some of them are most bloody ones, I assure you. Oh, Betty, Betty, what _shall_ I do when you are gone!" and with asudden realization of her loss, Moppet gave a quick sob which went toBetty's heart. 

"Nay, sweetheart, be a brave little maid, " she answered, fighting asmall lump in her own throat. "I would I could take you with me; but asI cannot, you must hasten to learn how to make better pot-hooks andwrite me letters, which Aunt Euphemia will forward with hers. And, Moppet, I think I shall give you in special charge to Sally; how willthat please you?"

"I love Sally, " said the child simply, as the tender-hearted Sally kneltdown beside her. "Will you help console me with my primer and thataltogether dreadful sampler when my Betty is away?"

"Indeed will I, " replied Sally, much amused with Moppet's view of thesampler; "and you shall come and see me every fine day, and the wet onesI am sure to be here with Pamela, who has proclaimed her intention ofadopting me when Betty goes. And now I must be going, for it is nearlythe dinner hour, and my mother says as I have dined here three days shebespeaks my presence for one out of four. So farewell until to-morrow, Betty, when I shall be here to see you start upon your travels. "

Betty was busy enough all that day; indeed, nothing more than a confusedrecollection remained with her afterward of trunk and two small boxes tobe packed; of Pamela's urging her acceptance of a new lute-string slip, rose-colored, which had recently come to her from Boston; of MissBidwell's innumerable stockings all tucked carefully away in one cornerof the hair-covered brass-nailed box, and even Miss Moppet's tenderlycherished blue bag embroidered in steel beads, which had belonged totheir mother, but which Moppet insisted could be used by Betty withgreat effect for her handkerchief at a ball. 

"Ball, indeed, " sighed Betty, whose brave heart was beginning to quailat thought of an untold length of separation from her beloved family. "Ishould think the hearts of the patriots imprisoned in New York wouldscarce be occupied with balls in such times as these. "

"You mistake, " said Pamela, who, truth to tell, half longed for Betty'sopportunities, for was not her sister going somewhere near Josiah'spost? "I am sure Clarissa's letter which you read me bade you bring allyour best gowns and finery, and we have all heard how gay the army ofoccupation make the city. "

"Aye, to those who are Tories, " said Betty, with curling red lips, "butfor me--oh, Miss Bidwell, if you put in another pair of stockings Ishall require as many feet as a centipede, who I read has hundreds ofthem. "

"Hundreds of feet?" echoed Miss Moppet. "Oh, Betty, do I live to hearyou tell a fairy tale as if it were real?"

"Read your primer, and you will learn many wonderful things, " quothBetty, snatching up the child in her arms. "I shall take you straightwayto bed, for we must be up betimes in the morning, you know. "

Very carefully and tenderly did Betty bathe Moppet's sweet little face, comb and smooth the pretty curling hair, so like her own save in color, and then run the brass warming-pan, heated by live coals, through thesheets lest her tender body suffer even a slight chill. And when Moppetwas safely lodged in bed Betty sat down beside her to hold her handuntil she dropped asleep. But between excitement and grief the child'seyes would not close, and she asked question after question, until Bettyfinally announced she should answer no more. 

Moppet lay still for some moments, and just as Betty was beginning tofancy that the long, dark eyelashes worn curling downward in sleepycomfort the dark blue eyes opened, and a dancing imp of mischief gleamedfrom their depths in Betty's face. 

"When you meet Captain Yorke, Betty, " whispered Moppet, "be sure youtell him how Oliver and Josiah hunted and hunted that morning, and how Inever, never told"--

"Moppet, " said Betty, turning a vivid pink in the firelight, "how canyou!"--

"Yes, " pursued Moppet relentlessly, "and you give him my love--heaps ofit--and I just hope he may never get taken a prisoner during the wholewar again. "

"Go to sleep, dear, " answered Betty, biting her lip; but her cheeks didnot grow cool until long after the soft, regular breathing told that herlittle sister had gone into the land of dreams. 

The Wolcott household was up early that cold winter morning, when Mrs. Seymour's coach, with its pair of sturdy, strong gray horses, drew up atthe front door. It took some twenty minutes to bestow Betty's trunk andboxes on the rumble behind, during which time Mrs. Seymour alighted andreceived all manner of charges and advice from Miss Euphemia, who, nowthat Betty was fairly on the wing, felt much sinking of heart over herdeparture. Mrs. Seymour, a pretty young matron, whose natural gayety ofspirit was only subdued by the anxiety she was suffering in regard toher only brother, now a prisoner in New York (and for whose exchange shewas bringing great influence to bear in all directions), listened withmuch outward deference and inward impatience to the stately dame, andturned with an air of relief to General Wolcott when he announced thatall was ready for their departure, and with much courtliness offered hishand to conduct her to her coach. 

"That you will take the best care of my daughter I am assured, madam, "said the gallant gentleman. "It is our great good fortune to have foundthis opportunity and your kind escort, for owing to the shortness oftime I have not been able to notify my son-in-law of Betty's coming. Butas you are going into the city yourself, I depend upon you to keep herwith you until you can place her safely in Gulian Verplanck's hands. Itrust that you have General Washington's pass close by you? It is quitepossible that you may need it even before you reach White Plains; thereare many marauding parties who infest the country beyond us. "

"It is here, general, " replied Mrs. Seymour, touching the breast of hergown. "I thought it well to carry it about my person, as I am told thateven the Hessians respect General Washington's safe-conduct to enter NewYork. "

Betty, with crimson cheeks, but brave smiling eyes, threw her armsfondly around Miss Euphemia, Pamela, Sally, and Miss Bidwell, all inturn, but Moppet's soft cry as she buried her face in her hands made herlip quiver, and as she bent her head for her father's farewell, areluctant tear forced itself down her cheek. 

"The God of our fathers be with you, my daughter, " he said, taking herin his arms; "my love and blessing to Clarissa and her husband. Remainwith them until I find safe opportunity to have you return to us; adviseus often of your health and, I trust, continued well-being; keep a braveheart as befits your name and lineage; fare you well, fare you well!"

Betty sank back trembling into her seat beside Mrs. Seymour, the doorwas closed, and as the coach rolled off she caught a parting glimpse ofMiss Moppet lifted high in General Wolcott's arms, kissing her handfondly as she waved good-by. 

CHAPTER VIII

INSIDE BRITISH LINES

"Drat that knocker!" said Peter Provoost. 

The house stood on Wall Street, and to the fact that it like a fewothers has been built of brick, it owed its escape from the fire whichravaged, the city in 1776, the fire which also destroyed old TrinityChurch, leaving the unsightly ruin standing for some years in what wasaristocratic New York of the period. It was a square, comfortable-looking mansion, with the Dutch _stoep_ in front, and thehalf-arch of small-paned glass above the front door, which was paintedwhite and bore a massive brass knocker. That same knocker was a sourceof much irritation to Peter Provoost; for although he was of fair sizefor his thirteen years, he could barely reach it when mounted on thevery tips of his toes, and even then never dared touch its shiningsurface unless his fingers were clean--a desirable state of neatnesswhich, alas! did not often adorn the luckless Peter. For though tidy andcareful enough when appearing before his guardians, Mr. And Mrs. Verplanck, it must be confessed that going to and from school Peter wasprone to lay down both books and hat, oftentimes in the mud, and squarehimself pugnaciously if he chanced to meet one of the boys of the "VlyMarket, " who were wont to scoff and tease the Broadway boysunmercifully; and fierce battles were the frequent outcome of thefeeling between the two sections, and in those Peter invariably tookpart. 

The family was a small one, and consisted of Gulian Verplanck and hiswife, his grandmother, Mrs. Effingham, a lovely old Quakeress, andPeter, who, having lost both parents at an early age, had remained inAlbany with his other guardian, Mr. Abram Lansing, until some six monthsbefore, when it was decided that he should go to New York and be underthe Verplanck eye; and although Peter had rebelled much against the planin the first place, he found himself much happier under Clarissa'sgentle rule, and positively adored her in consequence. The only lion inPeter's path at present was the strong Tory proclivity of the head ofthe house; and although he had been warned by his Albany friends to beprudent and respectful, the boy had inherited a sturdy patriotism whichburned all the more hotly for its repression. 

On this cold December afternoon Peter stood, books in hand, and surveyedthat aggravating knocker from his stand on the sidewalk. He waspainfully conscious that his feet were muddy, and his chubby fingerscertainly needed soap and water; it was Friday, and Pompey, one of theblack servants, had evidently been scrubbing the front steps. ThereforePeter debated whether it would be wiser to skirt around the mansion andgain entrance by the area steps, where no doubt he would encounterDinah, the cook (who objected to invasions of unclean shoes), or boldlyascend the front steps, struggle with that balefully glittering knocker, and trust to Pompey's somewhat dim eyes to escape remonstrance before hecould gain his own room and make himself presentable. The chances of ascolding seemed pretty equally balanced to Peter, and he heaved a deepsigh and put his foot on the first immaculate step before him as a handfell on his shoulder and a merry voice said behind him:--

"What in the world are you pondering, Peter? I have watched you since Iturned the corner of Broadway, and truly for once have seen you standabsolutely still. In some scrape with the Vly boys, I'll warrant; do youwish me to come in and plead for you?" and Kitty Cruger tripped lightlyup the steps as she beckoned Peter to follow. 

"Now you have done it--not I!" said Peter, with a mischievous chuckle, as he tore up after her. 

"Done what?" asked mystified Kitty. She and Peter were fast friends. 

"Muddied the clean steps, " quoth Peter with gleeful brevity. 

"Have I?" glancing down carelessly until she saw each dainty footprintplainly depicted on the white marble, side by side with Peter's heaviertracks. "Oh, what a shame, " reaching up successfully to the brassknocker; "but I am sure Pompey will forgive me, and you can"--stoppingshort as the door opened and Pompey himself stood bowing low in thehall. 

"Good-day, missy, " said he, for Kitty Cruger was a frequent and welcomevisitor at the Verplancks'. "Miss Clarissa is pretty well to-day, thankyou, and ole madam is in the drawing-room--Law!" catching sight ofPeter, who was skillfully slipping down the hall in Kitty's wake. "Datyou, Massa Peter? Reckon you better hurry, for it's mos' time fordinner, sah. "

But Peter, with great discretion, paused not for reply as he vanished upa back stair-case and reached his own chamber, panting but triumphant. 

"Good-day, dear grandma, " said Kitty, crossing the hall as Pompey heldopen the door of the drawing-room; "I was detained by reason of thesewing-bee at the Morrises', and have barely time to see you and ask forClarissa. "

"How does thee do?" said Grandma Effingham, drawing her little drabshawl more closely around her shapely shoulders as she laid down herknitting. "I am pleased to see thee. Clarissa is somewhat strongerto-day; thee knows she has been more like her old self since Guliandispatched the letters asking that one of her sisters be allowed to cometo her. The poor child pines for a home face; it is natural; thee seesshe has been long absent from her people. "

"Surely it is almost time to get some reply, " said Kitty, as she kissedthe dear old Quakeress, for Kitty was one of Mrs. Effingham'sgrandchildren, although her mother had been read out of meeting forhaving married one of the "world's people. " "I doubt that Clarissa willshortly begin to worry and grow ill again unless kind Providence sendssome tidings. "

"Nay, nay, " said grandma gently. "If thee had half Clarissa's patienceit would be thy gain, Kitty. "

Grandma was such a quaint, pretty picture, as she sat in herstraight-backed chair, with her Quaker cap and steel-gray silk gown, hersleeves elbow-cut, displaying still plump and rounded arms (although shewas nearly seventy), and her smooth white fingers flew rapidly in andout of the blue yarn as she resumed her knitting of Peter's stocking. Peter was rather a godsend to grandma in the matter of stockings; nowool that was ever carded could resist his vigorous onslaughts, and itkept grandma busy all her spare moments to supply his restless feet withwarm covering. 

"Patience, " echoed Kitty, with a comical sigh. "Nay, grandma, give me afew more years without it. "

"Fie, " said grandma, gazing at the bright face with her indulgent eye;"eighteen is full late to begin to learn to conform to thy elders. I wasmarried and the twins were born at thy age, Kitty. "

"Good lack, " quoth Kitty. "Where are the men nowadays, grandma? Save forthe redcoats, and I am not so daft over Sir Henry Clinton's gay officersas some--no doubt't is my Quaker blood--except for the officers, whereare our gallants? Some of mine are up the Hudson beyond the neutralground, others with the rebels at Morristown. "

"Hush, " said grandma, with an uneasy glance toward the door; "do nottalk of rebels in this house; hadn't thee better run up and seeClarissa?"

"If Miss Kitty pleases, " spoke the voice of Pompey at the door, "willshe walk upstairs? Young madam wants to see her. "

"Coming, " said Kitty, kissing grandma fondly, and then following Pompeyas he marched gravely up to open the door of Mrs. Verplanck'smorning-room. It was a tiny apartment; for when Gulian Verplanck broughthis young bride home he had added a room to the wing below, and as itgreatly enlarged their bedroom, the happy idea had struck him to throwup a partition, corner-ways, which formed an irregularly shaped roomopening on the passage, and gave Clarissa her own cherished den in thatgreat house of square rooms and high ceilings. In it she had placed allher home belongings; her spinnet, which had been her mother's (broughtby sloop to New York from New Haven), found the largest space there, andher grandmother's small spinning-wheel was in the corner near thechimney-piece which Gulian had contrived to have put in lest hisdelicate wife might suffer with cold. 

Near the small log which blazed brightly on the hearth, in a low chairmade somewhat easy with cushions, sat a fair, fragile-looking, girlishfigure, in whose mournful dark eyes was something so pathetic that itsuggested the old-time prophecy that such "die young. " ClarissaVerplanck in that resembled none of her family, and the one reason forher father's and aunt's anxiety about her was that she was thought theimage of a sister of her mother who fulfilled the prophecy. Be that asit may, Clarissa was anything but a mournful person in general; herspirits were somewhat prone to outrun her physical strength, andtherefore her sad little appeal for one of her sisters to cheer her hadcome in the light of a demand to the Litchfield home, and alarmed themmore than anything else could have done. 

"Kitty, Kitty, " said Clarissa, holding out a welcoming hand to hervisitor, who seated herself on a cricket beside her, "why have you notbeen in this four days? I am truly glad to see you, for ever sinceGulian and I dispatched our letters to my father I have been so crossand impatient that I fear my good husband is beginning to tire of hisbargain, and lament a peevish wife. "

"Heaven forgive you for the slander, " retorted Kitty, laughing; "if everthere was a husband who adored the ground you walk on, Gulian is"--

"Thank you, " said a quiet voice, as a tall dark man entered from thebedroom. 

"Let me finish my sentence--Gulian is that benighted swain, " burst inKitty. 

"Again, my thanks, " answered Gillian gravely. To none but Clarissa washe ever seen to relax his serious manner; perhaps hers were the onlyeyes who saw the tenderness behind the stern, reserved exterior. Hereally liked his cousin; but although Kitty was not, like most people, afraid of him, it must be confessed that he wearied her, and she muchpreferred to have her gossip with Clarissa, when Gulian was safely outof the house. 

"And now tell me about the letters, " pursued Kitty. "You sent for yoursister, grandma told me. Which one, Clarissa?"

"Indeed, I do not know; I left the choice to my father, but I think--Ihope it may be Betty. I only wish I might have Moppet as well, " and thequickly checked sigh told Gulian's keen ears what the unuttered thoughthad been. 

"Betty--let me see--is that the sister next yourself?"

"Oh, no; the sister next to me in age died in infancy. Then comesOliver, and then Pamela, who is seventeen now, and next my Betty. How Iwonder if the girls have changed; five years makes a long gap, you know, and even my imagination can scarce fill it. Do you fancy we will hearsoon, Gulian?"

"I cannot tell, " he said gently, thinking how often he had sought replyto the same question in the past week, and longing tenderly to give herthe expected pleasure. 

"It may be that General Wolcott may find some chance opportunity tosend his daughter at once, in which event you know there would scarce betime to hear before she would reach us. "

"Oh, Gulian, " cried Clarissa, clasping her hands, as a faint pink glowlit her pale face, "you did not say that before. If it were onlypossible"--

"Why not?" said Kitty encouragingly. 

"But, Gulian, you said in the letter that you would await my sister atKing's Bridge Inn. Surely you cannot go there and stop, waiting at theInn for days?"

"I can ride out to-morrow, and, in fact, I hastened through somebusiness at the wharf to-day which enabled me to have the day free. Ican easily go to King's Bridge and inquire at the Inn for dispatches;you will not mind my being absent all day? Perhaps Kitty will come andbear you company while I am gone?"

"Right gladly, " replied Kitty; "will you ride alone, Gulian?"

"I might, easily, " said Gulian; "but when I procured a pass from SirHenry Clinton yesterday (it is an eight days' pass, Clarissa) I foundthat Captain Yorke goes to-morrow to the neutral ground to inspecttroops, and I think I shall take advantage of his company. "

"I am glad of that, " said Clarissa, putting her slender hand in Gulian'sand looking with grateful eyes up at him, as he stood beside her chair. "Is he the aide-de-camp you told me of, Gulian, for whom you had taken aliking?"

"The same; a fine, manly fellow, the second son of Lord Herbert Yorke, one of my father's old friends in England. You were dancing with him atthe De Lanceys' 'small and early, ' were you not, Kitty, last week?"

"Yes, " said Kitty, with a quick nod and a half frown, "he has the usualairs and graces of a newly arrived officer from the mother-country. "

"Perhaps you find the colonists more to your mind, " responded Guliansomewhat severely; but Clarissa gave his sleeve a warning twitch, asKitty made answer with heightened color:--

"My own countrymen are ever first with me, as you know full well, Gulian, but one must dance sometimes to keep up one's heart in thosetimes, and Captain Yorke has a passably good step which suits withmine. "

What Gulian would have replied to this was never known, for at thatmoment an outcry arose in the hall, followed by the bump, bump of someheavy body rolling down the staircase, and Peter's boyish voice shoutingout, between gasps of laughter, --

"Pompey, Pompey, I say!--it's nobody but me; oh, what a proper old gooseit is; do, somebody come and thrash him. "

In a second Gulian and Kitty were outside the door, and beheld at thefoot of the winding stairs poor Pompey, picking himself up, with manygroans and much rubbing of his shins, while Peter, rolling himselfnearly double with laughter, stood midway of the flight, with a queerobject in his hand which Gulian seized hastily. 

"It's only a gourd, " gasped Peter between paroxysms. "I kept it in mycloset for a week, and half an hour ago I stole a bit of wick out ofDinah's pantry and dipped it well in melted tallow, and than stuck itinside, when, as you see, having carved out two eyes and a slit for thenose, it looks somewhat ghastly when the light comes forth. "

"It's a debbil, debbil, " cried Pompey. "Massa Peter sent me to find hisskates, and dat awful face"--Pompey's teeth chattered, and Peter wentoff in a fresh burst of laughter. 

"It soured him properly, Uncle Gulian; and though I ran after him andshook it (it only looks gruesome in the dark, you know) he neverstopped, and he stumbled on the first step, and then he rolled--My! howhe did bump"--and naughty Peter sat down on the stalls and held hissides for very merriment. 

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, " said Gulian sternly, to whompractical jokes were an utter abomination, "and you deserve to be wellpunished. Pompey, stop groaning, and inform me at once whether you havesustained any injury by your fall. "

"Law, Massa Gulian, you tink falling down dat stair gwine to hurt dischile?" began Pompey, who entertained a warm affection for themischievous Peter and dreaded nothing so much as a scolding from hismaster. "Dose stairs don't 'mount to nuffin; ef it had been de areasteps dey moughten be dangerous. Massa knows boys mus' have dey fun:please 'cuse me for makin' such a bobbery. "

"Well, I did it, " said Peter sturdily, instantly sobered by theexpression of his uncle's face, and his generous heart touched withPompey's defense of his prank, "and nobody helped me, so let's have thewhipping right off before dinner, please, Uncle Gulian, and then I caneat in peace--even if I am a trifle sore, " wound up the sinner ruefully. 

Gulian Verplanck's sense of humor was not keen, but the situation wastoo much for him, and a queer, grim smile lit up his eyes, as he saidslowly:--

"As Pompey seems more frightened than hurt, and has interceded for you, I shall not punish you this time, Peter; but recollect that the veryfirst occasion after this that you see fit to practice a joke on anymember of my household, your skates will be confiscated for theremainder of the winter, " and with a warning glance he followed Kittyback into his wife's room, leaving Pompey on the staircase, stillrubbing his bruised shins, while the irrepressible Peter indulged oncemore in a convulsion of silent laughter which bent him double andthreatened to burst every button off his tightly fitting jacket. 

CHAPTER IX

BETTY'S JOURNEY

Mrs. Seymour, having had the advantage of some weeks to form her plans, had carefully arranged everything for her own comfort, so far as waspossible, and Betty Wolcott, after the first pang of parting was over, began to enjoy the novelty of the journey most thoroughly. Except for afew days spent at Lebanon, Betty had never been from home in her life, and being, as we have seen, a bit of a philosopher in her own quaintfashion, after the first day spent in Mrs. Seymour's cheerful societyshe found herself much less homesick than she had expected. To beginwith, the coach was, for those times, very comfortable. It wasEnglish-built, and had been provided with capacious pockets inunexpected places; it amused Betty exceedingly to find that she wasseated over the turkey, ham, cake, and even a goodly pat of butter, carefully packed in a small stone jar, while another compartment heldseveral changes of linen, powder, a small mirror, a rouge pot, and somebrushes. Mrs. Seymour had been born and bred in New York, and many ofher people were Tories; therefore she hoped to assist the brother who, breaking apart from the others, had taken up arms for the colonists. 

Caesar, Mrs. Seymour's coachman, was a colored man of middle age, aslave of her father's, and, having been brought from New York toConnecticut, knew the route fairly well. They broke the journey first ata small roadside tavern, where the horses were baited, while Betty andMrs. Seymour gladly descended, and warmed themselves well by the kitchenfire, taking a drink of warm milk, for which the good woman who hadinvited them inside refused payment. She was deeply interested when Mrs. Seymour told her of their errand, and followed them out to the door ofthe coach, bringing with her own hands the soapstone which she hadcarefully warmed for their feet, and she waved a kindly good-by as theyrode off, delighted at seeing, for the first time in her life, a"pleasure coach. "

The first night was spent by the travelers in Danbury, where theyproceeded to the house of Mrs. Seymour's cousin, Mrs. Beebe, and weremost warmly welcomed. The Beebe household, which consisted of Mrs. Beebeand seven children (Captain Beebe being with the Connecticut Rangers), trooped out, one and all, to meet them, to inspect the coach, interviewCaesar, and admire the horses. Billy, the second boy, fraternized withBetty at once; and after learning all the mysteries of the coachpockets, helping Caesar to unharness, and superintending the fetching ofan extra large log for the fireplace, he roasted chestnuts in the ashesas they sat around the chimney-piece, and told Betty thrilling storiesof the attack on Danbury by the British. 

"We dragged the feather-beds up to the window, " said Billy, "and motherstuffed a pillow or two in the cracks. My, how the bullets did fly! Thechildren were all bid to stay in the attic; but as the roof shelves, youknow, it became pretty hot, especially when the fires began, and thenmother did get frightened, more especially when she saw the blaze of theWoolford house, down the street. Didn't I just wish I was a man, to goand help father that day! Luckily for us, the wind was in the otherdirection; father said that was all that saved us. "

"And Divine Providence, my son, " said Mrs. Beebe's soft voice, as shelaid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Billy's only experience of war was asharp one for a few hours. He has been longing ever since to join hisfather, but I can only find it in my mother's heart to rejoice that heis too young to do so. Now, Billy, light the candles; for if our friendsmust resume their journey to-morrow, it is full time to retire. "

Betty found the little room assigned to her, with Billy's assistance, but before he left her he pointed out two small holes near the windowframe, where bullets had entered and remained buried in the woodwork;and as Betty curled herself up in the centre of the great feather-bed, she thought, with a throb of her girlish heart, that perhaps she, too, might see some of the terrors of war before she returned to the shelterof her dear Litchfield home. 

The next morning dawned cold and chilly; a few flakes of snow floatedthrough the air, and Mrs. Beebe urged strongly the wisdom of lying overfor twenty-four hours, lest a storm should come and render the roadsimpassable. But Mrs. Seymour, after a consultation with Caesar, decidedthat it was best to push on; winter was approaching, and each day madethe journey less feasible. There was a fairly good road between them andWhite Plains, and now that she had started she was impatient to reachthe city. Betty, too, was eager to be off, so with many warm thanks, they again packed the coach and said farewell to the hospitable Beebes, who had insisted on adding fresh stores of provisions to their hamper;and Billy's last act of friendliness was to slip into Betty's hand apackage of taffy, of his own manufacture, which he assured her "was notover-sticky, provided you use care in biting it. "

This part of the journey was cold and cheerless enough. The road woundsomewhat, and the settlements were few, even the houses were far apartfrom each other; and although the hills were fewer, they heard Caesaradmonish his horses more frequently than usual, and about four o'clockin the day they came to a full stop. The snow of the morning had turnedinto a sort of drizzling rain; and Caesar, dismounting from his seat, announced to his mistress that one of the horses had cast a shoe. 

"What shall we do?" cried Mrs. Seymour in dismay, preparing to jumpdown into the mud and investigate matters. 

"Dey's no use at all of madam's gettin' out, " said Caesar, holding thedoor of the coach, --"no use at all. I'se done got de shoe, 'cause I sawit a-comin' off, an' here it is. De horse will do well enuf, 'caise I'lldrive wif care; but what I wants to say is that, 'cordin' to myjudgment, we had oughter take a turn to de right, just hyar, which am inde direction ob Ridgefield, whar I ken fin' a blacksmith's shop, shuh. Ef madam pleases, it's goin' somewhat out of de direct way to WhitePlains, but what wid de weather, which madam can see is obstreperous an'onsartain, I'm ob de opinion dat Ridgefield am de best stoppin' placefor dis night, anyhow;" and having delivered himself of thisexhortation, Caesar touched his hat respectfully, but with an air ofhaving settled the question. 

"Very well, " said Mrs. Seymour, for she knew Caesar and Caesar's ways, and moreover had much confidence in his ability to take care of her, aswell as of his horses. "Then take the turn to the right, as you propose. Are you quite sure you are familiar with the road here, Caesar? It willbe dark soon, and I confess I should not like to lose our way. "

"Not gwine to lose de road wid dis chile on de box, " said Caesar withfine disdain, as he climbed to his seat and rolled himself up warmlyagain, his teeth chattering as he did so. But he said to himself, as thehorses started slowly, "Pray de Lord I ain't mistooken; don't want tofall into none ob dem old redcoats' han's, Caesar don't, dat's sartain. "

Inside the coach, which lumbered on so slowly that it almost seemed tocrawl, Mrs. Seymour and Betty tried to keep up their spirits by anoccasional remark of cheerful character, and Betty suggested thatperhaps some bread and cheese from the Beebe larder would provesatisfactory to Caesar; but on asking the question Caesar only shook hishead, and responded that he was too busy looking after the horses toeat; and the long hours dragged on as it grew darker and darker. Bettyrested her head against the door and peered out at the dripping trees, whose bare limbs stood like skeletons against the leaden sky. Mrs. Seymour had sunk into a fitful doze by her side. Suddenly the off horsegave a plunge, the coach tilted far to one side, and then righteditself as Caesar's loud "Whoa, dar! Steady! steady!" was heard. ThenBetty saw half a dozen shadowy forms surround them, and a voice saidsharply, "Who goes there? Halt!" and a hand was laid roughly on the doorof the coach. 

"Pray who are you who detain ladies on a journey?" said Mrs. Seymour, addressing the man nearest her. "I am in my own coach with a maid on ourway to New York, and one of my horses has cast a shoe. "

"Stand aside there, " said another voice impatiently, as an officerdismounted from his horse, and flung the rein to one of the men. "If youare bound to a city occupied by the British, you must have safe-conduct, madam, else we are compelled to search and detain you. "

For answer, Mrs. Seymour drew out a folded paper, which the officer, straining his eyes in the fast-fading daylight, read aloud, asfollows:--

"After the expiration of eight days from the date hereof, Mrs. Seymourand maid have permission to go into the city of New York and to returnagain. "

"Given at Morristown this second day of December. 

"G. WASHINGTON. "

"From the commander-in-chief, " said the officer, raising his hat, as hemotioned his men to stand back. "Madam, permit me to present myself asLieutenant Hillhouse of the Connecticut Rangers, and pray command myservices. "

"Oh, " gasped Betty, from the other side, "our own troops, thank Heaven!"

"Truly you are a welcome arrival, " said Mrs. Seymour, with alight-hearted laugh. "Betty and I have passed a bad five minutes, fancying you were Hessians. I am on my way to the city to intercede formy brother, Captain Seymour's exchange, and, for the once, I do not mindtelling you that my companion is Mistress Betty Wolcott, consigned to mycare by her father, General Wolcott, as her sister, Mrs. Verplanck, liesill in New York, and she goes there to see her, but she travels as mymaid. "

"I met Lieutenant Hillhouse last summer at my father's house, " saidBetty, as the young officer came around to her side of the coach, "andright glad I am to see you now, sir, instead of the redcoats whomCaesar, our coachman, has been imagining would start from every bush aswe near White Plains. "

"You are not above a mile from a little settlement called Ridgefield, "answered the officer; "and while there is no tavern there, my men and Ifound fairly comfortable quarters to-day. If I may suggest, you shouldget there as soon as may be. "

"We would be glad to, " said Mrs. Seymour ruefully, "but one of my horseshas cast a shoe, hence our slow progress. I am more than glad my servanthas not mistaken the way. "

"Madam oughter to know Caesar better, " grumbled that worthy from thebox. 

"How long will it take you to drive the remaining mile?" said hismistress soothingly. "We may perhaps have your escort, lieutenant?"

"I am on my return there, madam; permit me to send my men in advance toarrange for your comfort, and I will with pleasure ride beside you untilwe arrive. Ridgefield lies beyond that turn, " raising his whip to directCaesar. "If it were not for the growing darkness, you would see thesmoke from the chimney of the house where I am quartered;" and closingthe door of the coach, the officer gave directions to his men, whomarched quickly down the road, as he mounted and pursued his way withthe ladies. 

Just beyond the farmhouse which Lieutenant Hillhouse had pointed out ashis temporary quarters stood a low, wooden structure, with a lean-to inthe rear, and there Caesar drew up his tired horses. A rathercross-looking spinster stood in the door of the house, and as Betty andMrs. Seymour alighted she said snappishly:--

"I don't own much room, as I told your men, Mister Lieutenant, but solong as you're not Hessians I'm willing to open my door for you. Itwon't be for long, will it?"

"Oh, no, " replied Mrs. Seymour, with her pretty, gracious smile, "we aresimply in need of a night's lodging. I think we have food enough in ourhampers, and if you can give us hot milk I have coffee ready formaking. "

"I don't begrudge you nothing, " said the woman in a softened tone, asBetty bade her a pleasant good-day, "but it's a poor place, anyhow, "gazing up at the bare rafters, "and as I live here all alone I have tobe precious careful of my few things. "

"But it so neat and clean, " said Betty, pulling a three-legged stooltoward the fire, and surveying the recently scrubbed floor; "we are coldand weary, and you are very good to take us in. "

Evidently the woman was amenable to politeness, for she bustled aroundand insisted upon making the coffee, which Caesar produced in due timefrom his hamper under the box-seat, and she laid a cloth on thepine-wood table, and at last, after disappearing for a few minutes intothe darkness of a small inner room, reappeared with three silver spoonsand two forks in her hand, which she laid carefully down beside thepewter plates on the table with an air of pride as she remarked, addressing no one in particular:--

"The forks was my grandmother's, and my father fetched the spoons from avoyage he made on the Spanish main, and he always said they was made ofreal Spanish dollars. "

Thereupon Mrs. Seymour and Betty fell to admiring the queer-lookingarticles (which from their workmanship were really worthy ofadmiration), and the spinster relaxed her severe air sufficiently toaccept a cup of the coffee they were drinking. And then Mrs. Seymourinduced her to give consent that Caesar should have a shake-down in acorner of the kitchen, and although the bed which Betty and the prettymatron had to share was hard, it was clean, and the pillows soft, andthey slept soundly and well amid their rough surroundings, and, toconfess the truth, enjoyed the novelty of the situation. 

Lieutenant Hillhouse aroused them early in the morning by a message; andas Mrs. Seymour was not ready to receive him, Betty ran out and met himat the door. 

"You look so fresh and bright that I am sure your night spent upon theroadside has not harmed you, " said the officer, bidding hergood-morning. "I am off at once, as I carry an order to General Wolcottfor quartermaster's stores in Litchfield. What shall I say to yourfather for you?"

"Oh, " cried Betty, rejoiced at this chance to send word of mouth to herbeloved ones, "how truly fortunate! Tell my father we are well and ingood spirits, and hope to reach the neutral ground to-night atfarthest. "

"You may easily do that; the storm has passed, as you see, and if myfriend Caesar can urge his horses somewhat, you are not likely to meetwith detentions. One of my men has assisted in shoeing the horse, and ifyou can, you should start at once. "

The coach and Mrs. Seymour appeared at this moment simultaneously, andthe lieutenant insisted upon seeing the ladies safely started. Bettyseized the opportunity to ask for news of Josiah Huntington, and wastold of his having rendered good service, and that he gained inpopularity daily. 

"And Oliver--my brother, " said Betty, leaning from the coach as theywere about to move off: "what tidings of him?"

"He has not been with me, " replied Hillhouse with some constraint;"indeed, I think he was to be sent on some special service. "

"Give him my best affection, " said Betty. "And oh, sir, to my littlesister at home pray deliver my fondest love, " and tears were brimming inBetty's eyes as Caesar flicked his whip at the horses' heads and thecoach started. 

The road being somewhat better than that already traveled, the mileswhich intervened between Ridgefield and White Plains were more brisklydone, and Caesar had the satisfaction of pulling up his horses in goodcondition before the well-known tavern at the latter place in time fordinner. The somewhat pretentious sign hanging out over the door had beenchanged to suit the times and the tempers of the guests, for what hadpreviously read "The King's Arms, Accommodations for Man and Beast, " wasnow "The Washington Inn, " and beneath it a picture in Continentaluniform of a man whose rubicund countenance required considerableimagination to transform into a likeness of the commander-in-chief. Astheir happened to be a lack of hostlers, it took some time to get thehorses baited, and it was later than Mrs. Seymour could have wished whenCaesar finally made his appearance and informed his mistress that allwas ready for their departure. The weather had been growing coldersteadily, and greatly to their surprise the travelers learned that inall probability Harlem River was frozen, and grave doubts were expressedby mine host of the inn whether the ladies could gain their journey'send without much discomfort and exposure. But Mrs. Seymour and Bettywere both of the opinion that it was inexpedient to linger longer on theroad, so for the fourth time they climbed into the coach, and, mufflingthemselves as closely as possible to keep out the cold, pursued theironward way. 

Five miles, eight miles, were covered with fair speed, and Betty'sspirits were rising rapidly at the thought that New York and Clarissawere not far away, when Caesar turned around on his box, and, bringinghis horses to a walk, said in an awestruck whisper, --

"'Fore de Lord, madam, I done suspect de redcoats is comin'; d'ye heah'em from de woods ober dar?" pointing with trembling hand in thedirection of a sound which rang out on the frosty air at firstindistinctly, and then resolved itself into a song. 

"Under the trees in sunny weather, Just try a cup of ale together. And if in tempest or in storm, A couple then, to make you warm, "[1]--

sang a rollicking voice, in fairly good time and tune, as a group of mencame in sight. As they neared the coach, the man in advance trolled outin an accent which betrayed his Teutonic origin, --

"But if the day be very cold, Then take a mug of twelve months old!"

[Footnote 1: A topical song then in vogue in New York. (See _Story ofthe City of New York_. )]

"Hello, halt there!" came the command, as the singer seized the horseby the bridle, and another soldier dragged Caesar roughly from his seat;"who are you, and whence bound?"

"Ask my mistress, " gasped Caesar, almost convinced that his last hourhad come, but still having firm faith in Mrs. Seymour. "Dun you know howto speak to a lady?"

"I have safe-conduct from General Washington to enter New York, " saidMrs. Seymour calmly, extending her hand with the precious paper towardthe first speaker. The man took it, and gazed stupidly at it. Evidentlybeing German, he could not read it; but having turned it upside down andgazed at it for some seconds, he gave a drunken leer as he peered insidethe coach. 

"What you got in your hamper? blenty cognac, eh? Give us a pottle;that's better than mugs of ale, eh, poys?" and he laughed uproariously. 

"I shall give you nothing, " said Mrs. Seymour firmly; "if you cannotread my safe-conduct yourself, is there not one of your men who can?"

The Hessian was about to make angry reply, when a young fellow, evidently an Englishman, shoved his way through the men to the coachdoor. 

"Stop that, Joris, " he said, prodding the corporal with his elbow; "giveme the paper; I can read it. " But Joris, who evidently had reached thestage of ugly intoxication, did not choose to give it up, and stood hisground. 

"Ve wants cognac, " he shouted, "an' you comes out, lady, an' ve'll findfor ourselves vhat you is, " and seizing Mrs. Seymour by the arm heattempted to drag her from her seat with some violence. 

"The pistol, Betty!" cried the plucky little woman as her feet touchedthe ground; but as Betty, with equally reckless courage, drew their onlyweapon from its hiding-place, the young Englishman rushed at Joris withan oath, exclaiming, --

"Look out, you fool--here comes the officer's patrol, " and there was aclatter of horses' feet, a swift rush, and a voice demanding in sternfashion, "Stand back, there! Whose coach is this? What do you mean, fellow, by handling a lady in that manner?" and Geoffrey Yorke struckJoris a blow with his sheathed sword which nearly sobered him on thespot. 

Back into the corner of the coach sank Betty, and as she pulled her hoodstill farther over her face, she felt as if every drop of blood shepossessed was tingling in her cheeks, as she saw Geoffrey, hat in hand, dismount and read General Washington's safe-conduct. 

"I deeply regret, madam, " he said, with stately courtesy to Mrs. Seymour, "that a corporal's guard should have caused you such annoyance, and I shall see that the fellow who treated you so roughly be properlypunished. Meantime, if you intend to enter New York you will be obligedto leave your coach a mile farther on, and cross the river on horseback. King's Bridge, as you may know, was fired some months ago by the rebels, and the flatboat used for ferrying has been abandoned on account of theice. It will afford me pleasure to do what I can for your comfort andthat of your companion. But it is my duty, unfortunately, to makepassing search of your coach; will you pardon me if I do so?"

As he spoke, Captain Yorke advanced to the door and extended his hand toassist the occupant of the vehicle to alight, but Betty, ignoringassistance, attempted to spring past him to the ground. As the willfulmaiden did so the topknot of her hood caught in a provoking nail of theopen door and was violently pulled from her head: and as her lovely, rosy face almost brushed his sleeve, Geoffrey started back with a lowcry, --

"_Betty!_"

CHAPTER X

A MAID'S CAPRICE

"Mistress Betty, sir, " came the swift whisper in retort, and with sohaughty a gesture that Geoffrey stepped back as if he had been struck, while Betty, with a slight inclination of her head, passed on to whereMrs. Seymour stood with Caesar on the other side of the coach. But ifshe expected him to follow she was swiftly made aware of her mistake, for Geoffrey merely pursued his intention of searching the pockets ofthe coach, and when he emerged from it he came, hat in hand, toward theladies with face more calm and unruffled than Betty's own. 

"If you will resume your seats, " he said, addressing Mrs. Seymour, without a glance at Betty, who (now that her anger born partly of terrorhad passed) stole a quick look at him, and as quickly looked away, "Iwill ride on before you and be waiting at the river; if it be safe, youwill cross on horseback; if not, on foot, and I shall take greatpleasure in seeing that you reach King's Bridge Inn in safety. "Whereupon he escorted Mrs. Seymour to the coach, and when he turned toassist Betty found that she was in the act of climbing inside by theother door, where Caesar stood in attendance. 

"What a provoking child it is!" said Geoffrey to himself as he flunginto his saddle, smiling at the recollection of Betty's rebuke and proudlittle toss of her head. "'Mistress Betty'! Very well, so be it; andthanks to the star of good fortune which guided my steps up the roadto-day. I wonder how she comes here, and why, " and Captain Yorke gavehis horse the spur as he galloped on. 

Some distance behind him the coach lumbered forward, and Mrs. Seymour'stongue rattled on gayly. So engrossed was she with being nearly at herjourney's end, and their good luck at having fallen in with Yorke, thatBetty's silence passed unnoticed. 

"To think that we should meet again, " ran Betty's thoughts. "'Betty, 'forsooth! How dare he use my name so freely! What would Mrs. Seymourhave thought had she heard him, and how could I possibly have explainedwith any air of truth unless I told her the whole story--which I wouldrather die at once than do. He has not changed at all; I should haveknown him anywhere, even in that hateful scarlet coat, which becomes himso mightily. I wonder if my rebuke was too severe"--and here she becameconscious of Mrs. Seymour again. 

"Yorke--did not that handsome young officer say his name was Yorke? Why, then he must have some kinship with the Earl of Hardwicke; very probablythis young man may be a grandson of the earl. I must ask my sister; shewill have some information about it. "

"Worse and worse, " thought Betty. "A British officer--kinsman of anearl--oh, me, in what a coil am I enveloped! But at least my fatherknows all, and he would not hold me disloyal. "

The coach bumped and jolted along, and finally came to a standstill, while Caesar's voice was heard addressing some one. Betty looked out ofthe window and behold a dismal prospect enough. The bank shelvedgradually down to the river, which at this point was narrow, and betweenthem and the other shore stretched a mixture of snow and ice; she coulddistinguish the flat-bottomed boat used for ferrying purposes stuck fastalmost in the middle of the stream. 

"How are we to cross?" said Mrs. Seymour dolefully, looking down at herfeet. "I wish I had an extra pair of woolen stockings to pull over myshoes; the snow and ice will be cold walking. What are they doing to thehorses?"

"Will it please you to alight, madam?" said Geoffrey, springing from hissaddle at the door of the coach. "My men are of the opinion that the icewill not bear so much weight as your coach with you ladies and Caesar init, but if you can mount your horses we can lead them and you can crossin safety. Meanwhile Caesar can remain here to guard your property, andwhen my men fetch the horses back they can assist him to transport thecoach to the other side. I hope the plan meets your approbation. Itseems the only feasible one, provided you ladies can ride without asaddle. "

"Bless me, " cried Mrs. Seymour, "I shall surely slip off on the ice!Betty here is a horsewoman, but, alas! I am not. "

"Then we must contrive a way, " replied Geoffrey. "If a blanket bestrapped over my saddle I think you can sit on it. --Caesar, put one ofthose blankets on my horse instead of yours. "

"Oh, that will do nicely; how kind you are, Captain Yorke. "

"Will the young lady be able to ride one of your horses?" askedGeoffrey, addressing Mrs. Seymour. 

"I can ride anything, " said Betty hastily, "for my mare is"--and thenshe bit her lip and colored brightly as Geoffrey turned toward her. 

"You will be quite safe, for I shall lead your horse myself. Let mefirst attend Mrs. Seymour. "

Between terror and small gasps of laughter Mrs. Seymour's mounting wasaccomplished, and then Geoffrey (artful fellow!) summoned a tall, good-looking trooper from the patrol, and, placing the reins in Mrs. Seymour's hand, gave directions to the man. 

"You will hold the horse by the bridle and guide every step with care, letting the lady put her hand on your shoulder to steady herself. Bewatchful of the air-holes; I think you know the path well. "

"Yes, captain, " said the trooper, saluting respectfully. "Am I todismount the lady at the Inn?"

"Aye; go down the path before me;" and Geoffrey turned toward Betty, butagain the mischievous maid had been too quick for him, and he beheld heralready mounted on one of the coach horses, where she sat demurely andat ease awaiting him. Geoffrey seized the bridle and walked slowly downthe bank, taking great care of his own steps lest he should by slippingcause the horse to stumble, and in a few seconds they were slowlypicking their way over the rough ice. The horse's hoofs crunched intothe snow, and Betty held her breath, and a little thrill went over heras she fancied she heard the ice crack under them. 

"Oh!"--a half-involuntary cry escaped her, and Geoffrey looked upreassuringly as he stroked the horse's neck and checked him for a briefsecond. Mrs. Seymour and the trooper were somewhat in advance and hadalmost reached the opposite shore. 

"I--you--that is"--faltered Betty, meekly dropping her eyelids--"Oh, sir, do you really think we shall gain the Inn safely?"

"There is no cause for fear, " said Geoffrey coldly. "I know the path;"and he plodded on in silence. Another few rods, a slip, a half halt; butthis time it was Yorke who stumbled and fell on one knee. 

"Confound my sword, " he cried, recovering his feet. "But we are nearlythere. See, Mrs. Seymour has gained the road and is riding on to theInn. "

No reply from Betty; in truth, if he had but known it, she dared nottrust her voice lest its first sound should be a sob. And Yorke, dividedbetween amusement and wrath at her perversity, vowed he would say nomore until she grew less capricious. 

The road was well trodden and the snow light as the pair pursued it insilence. The famous hostelry known as King's Bridge Inn was upon thehighway going up the Hudson, where Spuyten Duyvil Creek ran down toHarlem River, and many a rendezvous and intrigue had been carried onwithin its low, wide rooms since the Colonies had declared theirindependence of British rule. As Yorke approached the door, inside whichMrs. Seymour had already disappeared, a tall, dark man in riding-bootsand long coat came hastily forth, and as Betty dropped the reins of herhorse he was at her side. "Oh, Gulian, " cried she, stretching out bothhands, "don't you know me? 'Tis I, Betty Wolcott; have I outgrown yourrecollection?"

"Betty, indeed, " replied Gulian Verplanck, lifting her off the horse, "and right glad am I to welcome you. What good fortune brought you incontact with Captain Yorke's patrol? Had I known of your near approach, I should myself have ridden forth with him, but the air was chilly and Ideemed it more prudent to stop at the Inn until to-morrow. "

"Since I see you safe"--began Geoffrey, as Betty half turned toward him. 

"You do not know whom you have so kindly assisted, " broke in Verplanck;"this is Mistress Betty Wolcott, sister to my wife. Betty, I present toyou Captain Geoffrey Yorke, aide to Sir Henry Clinton, and my friend. "

Betty executed her most stately and deepest courtesy, and Yorke swepthis hat gracefully to the very ground; but as she raised her eyes shesaid, with a mischievous glance, "I am pleased to learn the name of thisgentleman. Sir, I thank you, " and giving him a little gracious nod, Betty vanished inside the open door of the Inn. 

"Verplanck, " called Geoffrey, as his friend was about to follow her, "Ishall go directly back to the city, for Sir Henry has to make readydispatches for England and will need me. Mrs. Seymour's coach will bebrought over at once; my men are assisting the negro servant in thetransit. Do you follow me shortly?"

"Unless the ladies are too weary we will go at once, for I can obtainfresh horses here and the Inn seems somewhat over-crowded to stop thenight. But if you are in haste, Yorke, do not wait. "

"Very well, then, I will depart at once. But you must have at least twoof my men as escort for the coach and yourself. You know there areplenty of footpads outlying the city. "

"I accept the escort gladly, " said Verplanck. "Farewell, then, and myhearty thanks. "

Betty and Mrs. Seymour had been ushered into a small bedchamber, wherethey were making some slight changes of dress when Gulian Verplanckknocked at the door and informed them that the coach would shortly beready for the continuation of their journey. Betty followed him backinto the waiting-room, where a good fire was burning, and Verplancksought to find a seat for her near the hearth. The room was occupied byperhaps a dozen persons, all men: some troopers, and a group of traderswhose bundles of furs, lying on the floor beside the table where theywere partaking of glasses of home-brewed beer, told their occupation. Onone settle, close by the chimney, sat an old man, somewhat ragged, whohad fallen asleep with his head resting against his bundle and stick, which shared the bench with him; on the other sat a slight youth dressedin homespun clothing, who instantly rose as Betty approached, andoffered her his seat. 

"I am warmed enough, " he said, as Verplanck gave brief thanks; "besidesthere is room here. Wake up, grandfather, " and he gave the sleeping mana gentle push as he squeezed himself down beside him. 

"Stay here till the coach is ready, Betty, " said Verplanck. "Mrs. Seymour will join you presently, " and he departed to hasten thehostlers, who could be heard outside, evidently engaged in harnessingthe horses they were to use. 

Betty looked around her curiously. The room, with its low ceilings, dark rafters, and sanded floor, was fairly tidy, and, in the light andshade of the shifting fire, picturesque and strange. A short, thick-setman, evidently the host, a comfortable-looking Dutchman, bustled in andout, giving directions in a perfectly audible aside to a maid, who worea queer straight cap and brought in trays of beer to the thirsty partyof traders. A little boy in one corner was playing with some nails and apewter plate; each time he dropped the nails, making a jingling noise, the landlord said, "Hush, there, Hans, " in a loud whisper, to which thechild paid no attention. Betty wondered if it was his son, and felt asif she would like to go over and play with him; and then thought, with ahalf-homesick longing, of Moppet and the dear New England home. Far, faraway ran Betty's thoughts, as minute after minute sped along and no onecame to disturb her reverie. So engrossed was she that not even a low, but distinctly spoken "_hist_, " which came from the settle near her, aroused her until it had been given the third time. Then she started;there was something familiar in the sound--was any one speaking to her?

"Hist! do not look this way, " whispered a voice which came from thepair opposite her on the other side of the chimney. "Contrive to passnear me as you go out--be cautious!"

"All ready, Betty?" said Mrs. Seymour's gay voice, as she came acrossthe room toward her. "Where is Mr. Verplanck?"

"Here, " answered Gulian, from the other door. "Hasten, Betty; the horsesare eager to be off. "

"I am coming, " replied Betty, as she rose hurriedly and dropped her silkreticule directly in front of the mysterious pair on the settle. The boydarted up, giving the bag a furtive kick which sent it under the bench. 

"I'll reach it for you, madam, " he said aloud, diving down for it asBetty paused a brief second. The old man stirred sleepily, raised hishead from his bundle, and keen bright eyes that Betty knew well flashedinto hers as he whispered rapidly:--

"Show no alarm, Betty, but no matter how or where you see me, make nosign of recognition. "

"Here's your bag, " said the boy, springing to his feet. But Betty, never stopping to thank him, ran rapidly across the room, out of thedoor, and darted into the waiting coach, afraid to even glance behindher, her heart sinking with dismay, for the voice and eyes of thatragged old man were those of her brother Oliver!

CHAPTER XI

ON THE COLLECT

"Peter, Peter, " said Grandma Effingham in a tone of gentle remonstrance, "if thee would only let the ball alone Tabitha would keep quiet. "

"Stop it, Peter, " said Betty, from the doorway, as the irrepressibleyoungster rolled over and over on the rug, himself, the gray cat, andthe ball of gray yarn hopelessly entangled. "Much you deserve all thestockings that grandma knits for you so perseveringly; just look at thecondition of that ball"--and by a skillful flank movement she rescuedthe yarn as Tabitha's pranks and Peter's tumble came to a hastyconclusion, and the chief culprit gained his feet and began to apologizefor his frolic, as the cat fled through the door. 

"I was just waiting for you, Betty; you girls take such a long time toput on your capes and furbelows. I'll warrant Kitty will detain us whenwe stop for her, and we must hasten, for the sun will not stay up muchlonger. Just let me find my muffler and my skates, " and off tore Peter, while Betty tucked up her gown preparatory to an afternoon on theCollect Pond, whose frozen surface was the resort of all fashionable NewYork, both those who joined the skaters, and others who watched themfrom the surrounding banks, making a gay, bright winter scene for thespectators as well as the participants. 

It was some three weeks since Betty's eventful journey, and as thestrangeness of her new home and surroundings wore off she was beginningto enjoy herself. First of all, the dear happiness of being once morewith Clarissa, who had brightened and strengthened each day since herarrival; then Grandma Effingham's storehouse of anecdotes and pleasantstories, to which Betty listened with delight and the respectfuldeference that youth of those days paid to age; and last (though Bettywould have denied it stoutly) the frequent visits to the Verplancks of acertain tall soldier, whose red coat made her eyes sparkle with disdain, even while her heart beat quicker at sound of his voice. Truly, Betty'ssoul was torn within her, and for every smile that Yorke succeeded inwinning he was sure to receive such dainty snubs, such mischievousflouting following swiftly after, that he almost despaired of evercarrying the outworks, much less the citadel of the willful maid'sheart. 

Kitty Cruger had received Betty most cordially, but the acquaintance hadnot yet progressed toward intimacy. On several occasions when Betty hadbeen especially teasing, Yorke had seen fit to retaliate by seekingKitty's side, and, although he was far from suspecting it, he had thuspiqued his little lady-love extremely. For Kitty was a reigning belle, and the toast of the British officers as she had been of theContinentals, and she liked Yorke and Yorke's attentions. If Betty hadonly known whose face came oftenest in Kitty's dreams, and that a bluesword-knot was her most cherished possession, perhaps the dawningjealousy which she felt toward her would never have existed. Who cansay?

The winter had set in with great rigor, and the troops had even crossedon the ice from Staten Island to the city; sad tales reached Betty'swatchful ears of privations endured in the army of General Washington, and it made her cheeks burn and tingle to hear the jests and laughter ofthe Tory guests who visited the house, at the expense of the so-called"rebels" against King George. Of Oliver, Betty had no sign; whether hehad been in the city and accomplished whatever mission he had in view, she knew not. She did not dare to confide in Clarissa, for even had hersister's health permitted, Betty deemed it scarcely safe to put her tothe test of loyalty as between husband and brother. 

All these thoughts and many more were crowding Betty's brain as she randown the steps of the Verplanck mansion and followed Peter toward QueenStreet, where Kitty lived. The sun shone brightly and the air was crispand clear; Betty looked charming in her dainty hood, tied with arose-colored ribbon which nestled softly under her chin and played atconfining the dancing curls. Contrary to Peter's expectations, Kitty waswatching for them, and they proceeded with some speed along the snowystreets until they reached the Minetta Water, as the small stream wascalled which wound its way across the Lispenard Meadows, and connectedthe "Collect" (or Fresh Water Pond) with the Hudson River. At the end ofGreat Queen Street was a wooden bridge, and crossing it, the littleparty continued up Magazine Street until they reached the Collect Pond, on two sides of which were low buildings of various kinds, beingrope-walks, furnaces, tanneries, and breweries, all run by water fromthe pond. Betty thought she should some day like to come out andinvestigate them with Peter; they were not very sightly, but they mightprove interesting. These buildings shut out the view, and until Bettystood on the very bank she had no idea how brilliant a scene the Collectpresented. The ground on the north side between them and Broadway roseto the height of a hundred feet, and this hillside was covered withspectators who were watching the skaters with which the ice was alive. Among the crowd were many women of fashion, muffled in their furs, carrying huge muffs to keep their fingers warm, and scarlet uniforms, dotted here and there, served to heighten the effect of brilliancy andanimation. As they turned the corner of a furnace whose big chimney hadsheltered them for a moment, a young man darted up the bank and greetedKitty. 

"How late you are, " he said reproachfully. "Philip Livingston and Ihave been watching for you this hour. The ice is in fine condition; mayI put on your skates?"

While young De Lancey was thus engaged Peter and Betty were making readyalso. Up in the Litchfield hills, where the winter set in early andlasted late, Betty had learned to use her skates well, and she and herbrother Oliver had been the best skaters in the township when she washardly more than a child. Even the timid Pamela had gained boldness anddexterity on the clear, frozen pond; and therefore when Betty, with theease of a practiced skater, glided off without assistance, Peter flewafter her in round-eyed amazement. 

"I say, Betty, " he exclaimed, breathless with his effort to catch her, "how you do fly! My eye! there isn't one of these New York dames ormaids who can equal you, " and he chuckled with triumph as Betty began toexecute some very difficult motions which she and Oliver had oftenpracticed together. 

"Give me your hand, Peter; there, now, glide this way, and take theoutside roll--oh! have a care; if you turn like that you will surelycatch your skate in mine. That's better; now cross hands, and gogently; see, I am cutting a face on the ice. "

Surely enough, as Peter glanced behind he saw a gigantic profile grow onthe smooth surface beneath Betty's little foot, and the skaters aroundthem paused to wonder and admire. 

"There, " said Betty, making a final flourish, "come back to the bank andlet us find Kitty. " But as they flew along Betty saw a familiar red coatappear beside Kitty's advancing figure, so dropping Peter's hand shedashed off in an opposite direction. She headed for the north bank, which was less crowded, but slacked her speed a little, fearing anair-hole, as she debated which way to turn. 

"Mistress Betty, " said a voice just behind her, and with a little startshe realized that the obnoxious scarlet coat had reached her side, "willyou skate a turn with me down the pond?"

"Surely, " and Betty's most roguish smile beamed into Yorke's eyes as shewheeled toward him. "Perhaps you will try a race with me, CaptainYorke?"

"With pleasure, and for what stakes?" returned Yorke, bending down tosecure a strap which he felt loosen. 

"I meant but a trial of speed to the bridge there, where we cross theMinetta Water. A stake? Well, name it. "

"A knot of rose-colored ribbon, " said Yorke softly. 

"Another!" cried Betty unguardedly, and could have promptly bitten hertongue for the betrayal of her thought. 

"Ah, then you do remember?" asked Yorke. "In what have I so deeplyoffended that I can scarce gain speech of you! Why do you flout one wholongs to show you his devotion?"

"You forget, sir, " said Betty coldly, "the coat you wear. Do you fancythat scarlet commends itself to a rebel maid like me, or that the causeyou represent can be aught but hateful to a loyal Wolcott?"

"Betty, Betty! I do beseech you"--

"Nay, we will put entreaty outside the question. A race, I think I said, Captain Yorke. I will make the stake that self-same bow ofrose-color--if you have kept it so long. "

An indignant flush dyed Yorke's face. "So be it, " he said briefly, andin a flash they were off; she, graceful, and almost like a winged bird, as she sped along; and he, tall, straight, and muscular, with a long, staying stroke, which impelled Betty's admiration. The distance to thebridge was a good half mile, and the spectators on the hill presentlyperceived the racing pair, and from the cries and shouts which arose shelearned, to her added chagrin, that they were seen, and their trial ofspeed would be eagerly followed. On flew Betty, so intent upon reachingher goal that she never noticed how Yorke crept closer and closer; theywere almost to the bridge, when his voice sounded at her shoulder:--

"You should have the race, sweetheart, but I cannot part with theribbon, " and with a sudden rush Yorke darted past her and gained thebridge barely three seconds in advance. 

"Forgive me, " he had time to whisper, as Betty stood still, withflashing eyes and half-quivering lip, while they waited for Peter, Kitty, and Philip Livingston, who had followed them down the course;"'twas too dear a stake for me to lose. " But as the words left his lips, to his astonishment and delight, with all a child's frankness, Bettygave him her hand. 

"Nay, you won the race fairly, and Betty Wolcott craves your pardon. "

"Oh, my eye!" shouted Peter, as he flung himself between them; "'t wasthe prettiest race of the season, was it not, Kitty? Do, do try a gamewith the rest of us, and I'll be your hurlie myself. "

A hurlie, be it known, was a small boy or man who, in the fashion of aball-game of the day, propelled the balls along the icy surface of thepond with a long, sharp-pointed stick, and the race was accorded towhoever first caught the ball, --often a trial of both speed andendurance when the course was a long one. 

"Are you deserting me, Peter?" put in Kitty playfully; "the otherhurlies are busy with the De Lancey party; we must have two or three atleast. "

Yorke moved a step forward; his first impulse was to offer his servicesto Kitty, as he had done before, but some fine instinct warned him notto jeopardize his half-reconciliation with Betty, and before he couldspeak, Philip Livingston whistled to a tall, slight lad who was standinglooking at them from the bank close at hand. In response the lad randown, leaped on the ice, and said pleasantly, --

"Your pleasure, sir. Did you call me?"

"Can you drive a ball for me?" asked Philip; "if so, I'll promise you ashilling for an hour of your time. "

"Indeed I will, " said the boy; "but let me first go tell Jim Bates, there, who maybe will be returning to Paulus Hook, and I'll just bid himwait for me over yonder in the tan-yard until you gentlefolks have hadyour game. "

Off darted the new recruit, and was seen to join a man wearing the widehat and somewhat greasy garb of a fisherman, who, after a few words, nodded assent, and with somewhat slouching gait proceeded leisurelyacross the bridge in the direction of the tan-yard referred to. Amidmuch laughter the game began; some other acquaintances came down thebank and joined them, and presently Betty found herself darting over theice hither and thither, following Peter's purposely erratic course, andpursuing the ball, determined this time to outdo Yorke, who followed herevery motion, and whom she again began to tease and laugh at. But toYorke anything was better than her scorn or displeasure, and when, by alucky stroke and a quick turn of her skates, Betty bent down andcaptured the elusive ball, he was the first to raise a shout oftriumph, in which the merry party joined with the heartiness ofgood-fellowship and breeding. 

It was growing dark and cold as Betty climbed up the bank and seatedherself on a pile of boards, while Peter unstrapped her skates. As shelooked up, she saw Yorke and Philip Livingston talking with the boy whohad been hurlie for Kitty, and it crossed her mind to wonder where Kittyhad vanished. So she rose to her feet and walked leisurely along withPeter toward the tan-yard and turned the corner of the furnace chimney. As she did so, she almost stumbled against a man, who drew backsuddenly; on the other side stood Kitty, and Betty distinctly saw apiece of white paper pass from Kitty's muff into the hand of thestranger, whom she instantly recognized as the greasy fisherman who hadcrossed the bridge half an hour before. 

CHAPTER XII

A FACE ON THE WALL

Betty sat in her favorite seat, a low, three-legged cricket, on the sidefarthest from the fire in Clarissa's little morning-room; it was the daybefore Christmas, and Betty's fingers were busy tying evergreens intosmall bunches and wreaths. Of these a large hamperful stood at herelbow, and Peter was cutting away the smaller branches, with a face ofimportance. 

"So you have never kept Christmas before, " said he, pausing in hischeerful whistle, which he kept up under his breath like a violinobligato to his whittling of boughs; "and you don't believe in KrisKringle and his prancing reindeers? My, what fun we boys had up in theold Beverwyck at Albany last year, " and Peter chuckled at therecollection of past pranks. "Down here in the city it is chiefly NewYear day which is observed, but thank fortune Gulian is sufficientlyDutch to believe in St. Nicholas. "

"Yes?" murmured Betty, her thoughts far away as she wondered whatMoppet was doing up in the Litchfield hills, and whether Oliver had gotback safely to the army again. Surely, he had cautioned her not torecognize him, but luckily her fortitude had not been put to proof. Andthen she wondered what secret mission Kitty had been engaged upon thatday at Collect Pond. Somehow Kitty and she had been more confidentialsince then; and one night, sitting by the fire in Betty's room, Kittyhad confessed that she too was a rebel--yes, a sturdy, unswerving rebel, true to the Colonies and General Washington, and Betty's warm heart hadgone forth toward her from that very moment. 

"Clarissa has a huge crock full of _olykeoks_ in the pantry, " pursuedPeter, to whom the Dutch dainty was sufficiently toothsome; "and Pompeyhas orders to brew a fine punch made of cider and lemons for theservants, and oh! Betty, do you know that Miranda has a new follower?His name is Sambo, and he comes from Breucklen Heights; he has beenpracticing a dance with her, and old Jan Steen, the Dutch fiddler, haspromised to come and play for them and their friends in the kitchen, and for my part I think there will be more fun there than at Clarissa'scard-party--don't you? Wake up, Betty; I don't believe you've heard oneword I've been saying. "

"Indeed I have, " replied Betty, returning to her present surroundingswith a start. "A dance, Peter? Why, it seems to me the servants havegreat liberty here. "

"Don't you give yours a holiday up in New England? I thought you hadnegro servants as well as we?"

"So we do; you know that Miranda is the daughter of our old cook, Chloe. She came here with Clarissa when she was a bride; oh, we have a fewnegro servants in dear New England, Peter, but not so many as here. Gulian told me that there are some three thousand slaves owned in thecity and its environs. But our negroes go to church and pray; they donot dance, and I know Chloe would be shocked with Miranda's flippantways. She was ever opposed to dancing. "

"Don't be prim, Betty. "

"I--prim?"--and Betty went off into a shout of girlish laughter, as sheflung a pine needle at Peter, who dodged it successfully; "that I liveto hear myself called what I have so often dubbed Pamela. Fie, Peter, let Miranda dance if she will; I should love to see her. It would be farmore amusing than cards. "

"Betty, " said Peter, edging nearer her and lowering his voice to awhisper, "I heard that the Sons of Liberty had another placard up nearthe Vly Market last night, and that Sir Henry Clinton is in great wrathbecause they are growing daring again. My! wouldn't I just like to seeone of them; but they say (so Pompey told me) that they are all aroundus in different disguises. That's why they're so difficult to catch; itwould go hard with them if the Hessians lay hands on the author of theplacards. "

"But they will not; I heard Gulian say only last night that thecleverness with which the placards are prepared and placed waswonderful. Who tells you these things, Peter? Do have a care, for we areunder Gulian's roof, and he would be very angry if he knew that your andmy sympathies are all on the side of the Whigs. "

"Oh, I hear things, " murmured Peter evasively. Then whispering inBetty's ear, "Did you ever hear Kitty speak of Billy the fiddler?"

"There's no one within hearing, " said Betty, as she finished her twelfthwreath and laid it carefully on the floor beside her cricket. "Get theother big branch outside the door, and sit down here close by me whileyou pull the twigs off; then you can tell me safely, for Clarissa issleeping, and she will call me when she wakes. Of course I never heardof the man you mention. "

Peter threw back his howl in a prolonged chuckle, as he followed Betty'sinstructions and edged his cricket close to her elbow. 

"Man!--well, he's more like a monkey than anything. He only comes to myshoulder, and yet he's old enough to be my father. "

"A dwarf, do you mean?"

"No, not precisely; the boys call him a manikin, for he's not deformed;only very, very small; not above four feet high. He is Dutch and hasbeen a drummer, it's whispered, in General Washington's army. They sayhe was in the battle of Harlem Lane, and beat the rally for our troopswhen Knowlton fell. The Vly boys are great friends with him. "

"But, I thought you were at daggers drawn with the boys of the VlyMarket, Peter? Surely, you told me blood-curdling tales of the fightsbetween them and you Broadway boys?"

"Oh, aye, but that's for right of way" and don't mean much except whenwe are actually punching each other's heads. Billy can tell great yarns;how his eyes flash when he speaks of the prison ships, though I onlyheard him once, when Jan Steen was talking foolish Tory stuff. "

"Do you think 'Billy the fiddler, ' as you call him, is one of the Sonsof Liberty?"

"H-u-s-h!" and Peter looked fearfully around. "I don't dare say, but I'msure he's true and steady. Betty, I wish I was a little taller; if Iwere I'd run away some fine morning and go for a drummer boy withGeneral Washington. "

Betty looked up with affectionate eyes at the sturdy urchin. "I know howyou feel, Peter; but wait a bit. It's sad and disheartening enough now, God knows, but perhaps better days may dawn for the patriots. My fathersays we must keep up our hearts as best we can, and trust in God and theContinental Congress. Did I tell you how we moulded the bullets lastsummer? We kept the tally, and over forty-two thousand cartridges weremade from the statue of King George, so the women of Litchfield havecontributed their aid to the cause in good practical fashion. "'

"Aye, that was fine! It must have been jolly fun, too. "

"It was very hot, " said Betty, laughing; "we tried it in our bigkitchen, but finally had to melt the lead in larger kettles hung over acrane in the shed down in orchard. Aunt Euphemia thought we would firethe house, and for many nights Miss Bidwell and she, protected by Reubenwith a lantern, paraded the place before closing up, hunting for straysparks which she fancied might fly in the wrong direction. "

"What a lot this hamper holds, " said Peter, diving down into it. "You'vemade enough wreaths to decorate the rooms, I'm sure, and your hands aregetting black. "

"Never mind my hands; soap and water will cleanse them. Clarissa wants a'real English Christmas, ' she said, and poor dear! she shall have it. Itdoes my heart good to see her brighten and glow like her old prettyself. "

"You can thank Captain Yorke for putting the 'real English Christmas'into her head; there's a fine Tory for you, Betty. Sometimes I forgethe's one of our foes--he's almost nice enough to be a patriot. "

"He thinks he is one, Peter; he owes his loyalty to his king, and wereless than a man not to give his services where ordered. "

"Ha, ha!" quoth Peter teasingly; "you'll be as bad as Kitty presently. "

"How so?" returned Betty, biting her lip as she turned her face awayfrom Peter's roguish eyes. 

"Why, Kitty had a walk-over course with the scarlet coats until youcame, and Captain Yorke was one of her gallants. But now I find him atyour elbow whenever you give him half a chance. But I've seen you snubhim well, too; you girls are such changeable creatures. I'd not have ascarlet coat dancing around after me if I were you, Betty;" and Peterendeavored to look sage and wise as he cocked his head on one side likea conceited sparrow. What reply Betty might have made to his pertnesswas uncertain, but at that moment both doors of the room opened andClarissa entered by one as Kitty flew in the other. 

"How industrious you are, " cried Kitty, as she bade them all good-day;"the rooms will be a bower of green, such as Captain Yorke tells about. I came, Clarissa, to beg a note of invitation for Peggy Van Dam. She hasbut just returned from Albany, and will be mightily pleased to be biddento your card-party. "

"I wondered if she would be in time, " said Clarissa, seating herself ather claw-legged, brass-mounted writing-table. "Has she changed much, Kitty--not that I mean"--and Clarissa's sentence ended in a laugh. 

"There was room for it, " finished Kitty. "No, she is just the same:aping youth, with the desire to conceal age. "

"Oh, Kitty, that's the severest speech I ever knew you guilty of!"

"Ill-natured, aye, " quoth Kitty, with a comical sigh; "the world's awrythis morning and I must vent my crossness on somebody, so let it bePeggy. But if I can carry her your note it will atone for my peevishspeech a dozen times, for is not Captain Sir John Faulkner coming, andyou know as well as all of us that Peggy's airs and graces are mostapparent in his company. "

Betty looked quickly up into Kitty's face as she rattled on gayly, anddetected an air of trouble and anxiety that was most unusual. And asthey presently followed Clarissa downstairs, she paused at the landingand slid her little fingers into Kitty's as she whispered:--

"What's amiss? You are worried, I perceive; can I help you?" Kittystarted, and turning her head over her shoulder said softly:--

"Not now, but I know that you are true-hearted and quick-witted; I darenot say one word more, " and with an affectionate pressure, she droppedBetty's hand and ran swiftly down the staircase. 

The drawing-room in the Verplanck mansion was high of ceiling, aspacious, stately room, and its quaint, straight-backed chairs, stuffedottomans, and carved mahogany sofas were the acme of elegance of thosedays. The highly polished floor had received extra attention from Pompeyand his assistants, while the mirrors shone brightly and reflected thecandles of the brass sconces on either side of their glitteringsurfaces. Betty, at Clarissa's request, superintended the placing of thecard-tables, and also that of a huge silver salver, on which the tinycups for chocolate and the tall glasses for mulled wine would be servedfrom a table in the dining-room early in the evening before supper; alsoa famous bowl of Indian china, where hot caudle would appear, caudlebeing an English compound with which Betty was not familiar. Peterexplained it to her with due regard to detail; and smacked his lips overthe bottle as it smoked away on Dinah's kitchen table, where he hadinvited Betty to come out and see it. 

"Dinah makes a sort of posset first, of oaten-meal, and then she puts incoriander seeds, and raisins, all carefully stoned (I ought to knowthat, for I helped her one mortal hour last night and got my fingerssticky with the plagued stones), and some cloves in a muslin bag, whichare let lie till the caudle boils, and then removed, and last of all, just as it's ready to serve, she pops in a good half bottle ofcognac--my! but it's prime!" and Peter cut a pigeon-wing and gave aregular Mohawk war-whoop, as he danced around the kitchen anddisappeared through the door just in time to avoid Dinah's wetdishcloth, which she sent spinning at his close-cropped pate. 

Betty stood in her small chamber at six o'clock that evening, contemplating her gown with critical eye. Parties in those days wereearly affairs, and in New York were known to assemble as early as halfpast seven. The lanterns which hung outside every seventh house for thepurpose of lighting the streets were lit by the watchmen at half pastsix, for the winter days were short, and the denizens of Wall Streetwere wont to pick their way most carefully since the great fire, thedébris of which in many instances was still left to disfigure the siteswhere had stood stately mansions. Betty deliberated for some minutes;here were two gowns: one must be worn to-night for her dear Clarissa;the other kept for the De Lancey ball, an event over which allfashionable New York was agog, and which would take place on New Year'snight, just one week ahead. 

On the high, four-posted bed lay the gowns; one, which had been hermother's, was a white satin petticoat, over which was worn a slip ofIndia muslin covered with fine embroidery, so daintily worked that itwas almost like lace itself. The dames of Connecticut, and, indeed, ofall New England, were much more sober in their dress than those of NewYork, where the Dutch love of color still lingered, and the Tories clungto the powdered heads and gay fashions of the English court circles. Theother gown (which in her secret soul Betty longed to wear) had beengiven her by Gulian, who was the most generous of men, and who admiredhis pretty sister-in-law far more than he would have told her. A shiphad recently arrived from England bringing him a box of gowns andgewgaws ordered long since for his wife, and of these Gulian had madeClarissa happy by bidding her bestow on Betty a gown such as heconsidered fitting for a grand festivity like the De Lanceys' New Yearball. 

"Alack!" sighed the pretty maid to herself, as she contemplated thewhite satin, "I will not even raise the paper which contains Clarissa'spresent, for both she and Gulian have set their hearts upon my wearingit on New Year's day, so 't is useless to fill my breast with discontentwhen I have so good a gown as this to wear to-night. The skirt is alittle frayed--oh! how vexing!" and Betty flew to her reticule forneedle and thread to set a timely stitch; "now that will not show whenthe muslin slip goes over. " Another anxious moment, and with a sigh ofrelief Betty slipped on the short waist with its puffed sleeves andessayed to pin the fichu daintily around her neck. Then she dived downto the very depths of a chest of drawers, whence she produced a smallbox, and out of this came a single string of pearls, --the pearls whichher mother had worn upon her wedding-day, and Pamela had pressed intoher hand at parting. Next, Betty with cautious steps, candle in hand, approached the mirror, which graced the farther end of her tiny chamber, and holding it at arm's length surveyed herself as far as she could see, which was not below her dainty waist, as suited the dimensions of themirror aforesaid. 

"I am too white, " thought Betty, with a little frown, all unconscious ofher lovely coloring and exquisite red-gold hair, which, guiltless ofpowder, was massed as usual on top of her head and clustered in waywardlittle curls on the nape of her snowy neck and over her white forehead;"but never mind, "--with childlike philosophy, --"my gown for the New Yearball has both breast and shoulder knots of rose-color; I wish I daresteal one for to-night! But perhaps Clarissa would not be pleased, so Iwill descend as I am. I hear Peter clattering on the staircase; he is nodoubt superintending the servants' dance, " and Betty extinguished hercandle and tripped lightly down past Clarissa's door. 

From the sounds and lights she became aware that she was late, and hadlingered too long over her toilet, so she hesitated for a brief momentas she reached the door of the drawing-room, where she could seeClarissa and Grandma Effingham standing with a number of guests, bothdames and gentlemen. As she paused on the threshold a graceful, girlishpicture, a tall form emerged from the dim shades of the hall, and a handmet hers. 

"Mistress Betty, I salute you, " said Geoffrey Yorke, bowing low, "andmay I also beg your acceptance of a bunch of clove pinks? They weregrown by my Dutch landlady in a box kept carefully in her kitchenwindow, and I know not whether she or I have watched them the morecarefully, as I wished to be so fortunate as to have them bloom for youto-night. "

"For me?" said Betty, in a delighted whisper, turning such glowing eyesupon him that the young man fell more madly in love with her than ever. "How kind!--and at this season? Oh, they are sweet, and recall thegarden walk at home. Indeed, sir, I thank you, " and scarcely thinkingwhat she did, in her pleasure at his pretty attention, she thrust thebunch of pinks in her fichu, where they lay close to her white throatand gave her toilet the one touch of color for which she had longed. Small wonder that Geoffrey's handsome face lit up with triumph, or thatClarissa said to herself as the pair approached her, Betty dimpling withsmiles, "What a charming couple they make! I wonder if my father wouldobject?"

This was Clarissa's first appearance in society for many months, and thewarmth with which she was greeted showed how large a place the NewEngland girl had made in the regard of her husband's friends. The partywas given chiefly for Betty, that she might have plenty of partners atthe New Year ball; and although these were mostly young people, therewas also a goodly sprinkling of dames and dowagers, who smiledapprovingly when Betty was presented to them, before seating themselvesat the all-absorbing card-tables. Cards were much the mode of the day, and an hour or more was given to them; then as the metheglin (adelicious beverage made of honey) and the mulled wine was passed, theyounger portion of the company began moving through the suite of threerooms, breaking up into small groups as they did so. 

Peter, who had constituted himself master of ceremonies for the fun inlow life which was going on in the kitchen, darted up to Betty as shestood talking with Philip Livingston. 

"They're just going to begin to dance, " he said. "Miranda is perked outin a wonderful pink gown, and Aunt Dinah has her best turban on herhead. Do, Betty, persuade some of the company to come out and see thenegroes dance. Don't you hear the music beginning?"

Surely enough the distant scraping of the violin could be heard, andBetty, seizing Kitty by the hand, tripped up to Clarissa and repeatedPeter's request. Clarissa hesitated an instant. 

"Oh, Gulian, " cried Betty, catching hold of her brother-in-law as hecame forward, "may we not visit the kitchen and see the servants dance?Captain Yorke tells me that is what is done in England on Christmas Eve, and I am sure it would afford us all a new amusement. "

Artful Betty! She knew full well that any suggestion of England andEnglish ways would appeal to Gulian, and Yorke, who followed closely ather side, threw the potent weight of his opinion in the scale by sayingquietly:--

"I am told your slaves have the very poetry of motion, Verplanck; permitme to escort Mistress Betty to the servants' hall. "

"Servants' hall!" whispered Betty mischievously to Yorke as Gulian ledthe way with Clarissa; "we have nothing so fine in our humble colonies, sir; our kitchens must serve for our dusky retainers. "

"You know I did not mean"--he began reproachfully. But seeing Betty'slaughing eyes, he added, with a smile:--

"Nay, you shall not tease me into vexing you to-night if I can avoid it;I will strive to train my tongue to please you. "

The kitchen presented a quaint and most picturesque appearance. It wasa low, wide room, and around the wall ran shelves and dressers, on whichthe pewter plates and copper covers shone with such fine polish that onecould almost see in their surfaces as in a mirror. Between those hungbunches of herbs and strings of bright-hued peppers, and in and out onthe walls, and above, from the rafters, were Christmas greens, allarranged by the servants themselves, with that unerring eye for graceand color which is an attribute of the colored race. Aunt Dinah, thepresiding genius of the kitchen, stood at one end of the room. Her largeand portly person was clothed in a gay cotton print of many colors; andupon her head was twisted a bright silk handkerchief, with a mostrakish-looking bow which reposed over her left ear. The Verplanckslaves, some twelve of them, were augmented in numbers by those of theLudlow, De Lancey, and De Peyster families, and half filled the spaciouskitchen us they stood back in rows, courtesying and bowing, showingtheir white teeth in smiles and low laughter, as they recognized some"young massa, " or "ole madam" among the gentlemen and dames who smiledback upon their faithful, kindly faces. 

The dance began with a special contra-dance, in which the performerscopied with great exactness the profound bows and deep courtesies of theperiod, mimicking their masters and mistresses with curious grotesquegrace. At the extreme end of the room, near Aunt Dinah, sat the fiddler, wielding his bow with an extra flourish befitting the occasion. JanSteen was a well-known character, and his coming was looked upon as aspecial favor, only accorded to the servants because they belonged tothe Verplancks, a family greatly honored and beloved among the Dutchsettlers of Manhattan Island. 

After the contra-dance was concluded, amid the applause and laughter ofthe spectators, four young slaves were singled out from the others, andtook their places on the floor. Two of these were girls, prettymulattoes, and two young, bright-colored negro men as their partners. Torather slow music they went through with a rhythmic dance, in whichtheir figures swayed to and fro, chiefly from the waist, a glidingserpentine dance, evidently copied from the slaves of Martinique, andbrought to New York by the French families. And then, to Peter's greatdelight, came the event of the evening, in his eyes, --the dance ofMiranda with her new admirer from Broucklen Heights. 

"Miranda is my maid, " explained Clarissa to Madam De Lancey and Mrs. Morris, as they waited for the performers to take their places. "Ifetched her from Connecticut when I was married, and she is, as you see, very pretty and most graceful. The dance is a species of Spanish dance, I fancy, for it is done with two scarfs of red and yellow; I purchasedthe stuff a year ago from a Dutch peddler, and Miranda begged it of melast week. "

"Cousin Clarissa, " said Peter, rushing up, "we will want more light toenable you to see this; the candles are getting low. With yourpermission, may Pompey light the big lantern on the wall?"

About the middle of the kitchen hung a lantern which had once been usedfor illuminating purposes outside the mansion. It contained a piece oftin which acted as a reflector; and Peter, who had never yet had thepleasure of seeing it lit, had amused himself that very morning byputting in the candles for which it was prepared, and informed AuntDinah that he meant to light it by way of a climax to the festivities ofChristmas Eve. 

"The big lantern?" replied Clarissa; "it has not been lit this threeyears. "

"I made it ready this morning; oh, do say yes. "

"Certainly, " said Clarissa, smiling; "but tell Pompey to be careful, Peter. "

Off flew Peter, and up on a bench mounted Pompey, nothing loth to adddignity to the scene by illuminating it. Jan Steen drew his bow acrosshis violin with a long, sweet note, and out on the floor glided Miranda, holding the hand of a tall, athletic-looking young negro, whose motionswere grace itself. They began at the top of the room, holding the scarfsaloft, and slowly made their way down until they were in the centre, when the full light gleamed strongly upon their raised arms, their headswell up. Soft murmurs of applause began to steal around the room. Bettystood with Captain Yorke and Kitty directly under the lantern, beatingtime with her fan. 

"How graceful they are, " said Yorke softly. "See, even their shadows onthe wall opposite are picturesque and wild. How distinct the facesare!"

"Silhouettes!" burst in Kitty; "have you seen the pictures made by thenew artist who came from Albany? Some folks like to be done thus, butfor me I do not care for a black profile of my own face. They are cutskillfully enough in paper, however. "

Betty, wondering what had possessed Kitty to set off on an animateddescription of silhouettes, looked up at the wall, and then her heartalmost stood still. That fine, high forehead, the curving lips, thenose, with its clear-cut nostrils, --not even the disfiguring woolly wig, stiff collar, and blackened face and hands could disguise them to her. She gazed with sickening apprehension at the dancers; how often she hadseen Oliver dancing with Miranda when they were children together athome, the performance usually taking place in the garret, for fear ofscoldings upon the sinfulness of dancing from Chloe, Miranda's mother;oh, how did he dare do this here, where any moment might bring discoveryand death? Why, why, had she failed to see and recognize him! hisdisguise was very perfect, and yet--

The applause rang out heartily as the dancers tripped faster andfaster; Betty wondered if her torture would ever end. Perhaps it hadonly begun, for Oliver had said--

"Mistress Betty, " spoke Yorke, and his voice was low and very tender, "may I offer you my arm? A glass of mulled wine would, I think, be ofservice to you. " Stumbling a little in her agitation, Betty slippedthrough the door with him, on into the dining-room, where he placed herin a corner of the wide sofa and fetched the wine. 

"Drink it, every drop, " he said, smiling down at her with a masterfullook in his dark eyes that Betty had never seen before. "Sweetheart, trust me, and sit here till I return. "

Betty sipped her wine and the truant color came back to her cheeks, asshe saw him vanish through the door. 

"Have I grown a coward?" she thought indignantly. "I was brave up in theLitchfield hills--how dare I fail now! Captain Yorke must have seen--andyet, how could he know Oliver's face sufficiently well? Ah, "--and Bettyalmost cried out, --"it is I, miserable I, who have betrayed my brother. We are so strongly alike that"--

"Mistress Betty, "--Yorke was at her side again, --"I left you to bestowa few shillings on yonder fellow who danced so well, but I could notfind him, and Mistress Kitty Cruger tells me he left at once forBreucklen Heights, whence he came, as there is a party crossing beforedaybreak. I trust you are better; the air was close in your kitchen. "

Betty's two small hands clasped each other mutely; her large eloquenteyes were raised to his in the sweetest glance that ever maiden gave. 

"God bless you!" she cried impulsively, and, turning, fled through theopen door. 

CHAPTER XIII

AT THE VLY MARKET

It was a bright sunny morning, but very cold, and snow lay packed hardand firm in the streets of New York, which, narrow as they were, afforded little opportunity for the sun's rays to penetrate withsufficient strength to warm the shivering pedestrians who were hurryingdown Maiden Lane in the direction of the Vly Market. At the farthest endof the street were the shops, and one of these, "The Sign of the CrossSwords, " stood within a stone's throw of the market itself. It was asmall affair, with little grimy window-panes, where were displayedknives, scissors, and razors, with locks and keys of many odd sorts. Atthe door stood a half-grown boy, stamping his feet to keep warm, as hedroned out in sing-song fashion: "Walk in, gentlefolk, and have yourrazors ground; we have all manner of kitchen furniture in cutlerywithin, also catgut and fiddle strings at most reasonable rates. "

But these attractions did not appear to bring many customers inside thelittle shop, as the passersby seemed chiefly eager to gain the VlyMarket, where the stalls were crowded with purchasers who were gettingthe good things there displayed to indulge in keeping New Year's daywith the proper spirit of festivity; and the shop-boy was about to slipinside for the comfort of warming his fingers and toes, when a tall, slender fellow in fisherman's dress accosted him. 

"Hey, you there! Have you fish-hooks and nets within?"

"Aye, sir, in plenty. Will it please you to enter?" And the boy maderoom for the stranger to pass through the narrow doorway. The shop wasapparently empty, except for a middle-aged man who rose from his seat ona high stool near the window, where he was busily engaged in polishing apair of razors. As he came forward, the fisherman addressed him:--

"Good day, friend. A frosty morning. "

"But the wind will turn to east at sunset, " said the other, with a quickglance from under his heavy eyebrows. 

"A good wind, then, for the Sturdy Beggar, " was the reply, as thefisherman clasped his hands behind his neck with a peculiar gesture. 

"Then all's well, " returned the shopkeeper, laying down his razors, andmotioning his customer to come farther inside. "Whom do you seek here, sir?"

"Mynheer Wilhelm Hoffmeister, known commonly as 'Billy the fiddler. '"

"He is off on duty since last Tuesday, but must be here to-night to playat a grand ball given at one of the Tory houses; there must be news, foryou are the third one who has asked for him since yesterday. "

"News?" said the fisherman eagerly; "perhaps you have a billet for me?"

"And what may you be called?" asked the other cautiously. 

"Jim Bates, from Breucklen Heights. "

"Then you're all right, sir; why didn't you say so before?" and the man, casting a swift glance to make sure that the boy at the door was notlooking, pulled a scrap of dirty paper from his pocket, which wasinstantly seized and opened by the fisherman. As he read the few wordsit contained, the anxious lines on his face grew deeper. 

"It is the only way, " he muttered to himself, as he tore the scrap intotiniest fragments, "but I must know from Kitty the hour. " Then aloud, "Have you a bit of paper, friend, on which I can write a message?"

"Surely, " said the shopkeeper; "wait here a moment until I fetch it, "and he went hurriedly through a small door at the back of the shop, leaving the fisherman standing near the window, from which he could seethe crowd outside. Suddenly the man uttered an exclamation, and made adash for the door, nearly upsetting the boy on the threshold. 

"Tell your master I will return shortly, " he said hurriedly, anddisappeared in the direction of the Vly Market. 

It happened that Madam Cruger, thrifty housewife though she was, hadforgotten to order an extra number of the large, flat seedcakes, knownas New Year Cakes (and without which no gathering could be consideredcomplete for New Year day, when they were handed to all callers with theaccompanying glasses of mulled wine and metheglin), and had thereforedispatched her daughter, with a colored servant carrying a capaciousbasket on his arm, to purchase the dainty from the one stall in the VlyMarket where the aristocratic folk were wont to deal. Truth to tell, Madam Cruger had made matters somewhat uncomfortable for her portly cookwhen she learned that the cakes made by that functionary were too few tomeet her ideas of hospitality; and although Kitty knew that it wouldrequire speed on her part to go to the market and return in time todress and be ready to receive their visitors in the drawing-room bytwelve o'clock, she preferred to pour oil on the troubled waters andprocure domestic peace at the expense of a little personal fatigue. Beside, it was not unpleasant to trip along with the merry crowd, benton enjoying themselves, and Kitty knew that she would meet many anacquaintance, out, like herself, on some belated errand for New Yearday. 

But there was one occurrence for which Kitty had not bargained, and thatbefell her as she gained the market door. The fisherman, who hadfollowed her as swiftly as he dared without creating notice, passedclose at her elbow, then turned and met her face to face. Kitty grew alittle pale as he touched his cap respectfully, but she stopped inobedience to the glance which met hers. 

"A Happy New Year to you, my good man, " she said. "I fear that you andyour brother craftsmen suffer this terribly cold winter. Stand aside outof the chilly wind which meets us through the market door and I willspeak to you. Cato, " to her servant, "go on to Fran Hansel's stall, andlet her weigh out five pounds of seedcakes for my mother; I will joinyou there in a moment, " and she turned back to the fisherman, knowingthat in the crowd she was comparatively safe, provided her voice was notloud enough to attract attention. 

"What is it?" she murmured, almost breathless from excitement, yetstriving to maintain a quiet, even careless exterior. "I hoped you hadfulfilled your dangerous errand and gone hence two days ago. "

"I cannot leave until my mission is completed; we have almost certainnews of an incursion by the British across the Kill von Kull, which willdo much injury to the peaceful country folk of Elizabethtown and Newark. The man they call 'Billy the fiddler' will have a message for meto-night of the greatest importance, and he plays with others at the DeLancey ball; are you to be there, and at what hour?"

"I, Oliver?" said Kitty, and turned rosy red as the incautious wordescaped her; "all New York is going at eight o'clock, but what has thatto do with"--

"This, " whispered Oliver Wolcott, pulling his hat further down over hiseyes, and motioning Kitty to walk a few steps away from the door: "Imust be there. "

"You are mad!" and Kitty turned pale at the idea. 

"Oh, no, I am coming as one Diedrich Gansevoort, from Albany. Do notfear for me; my disguise will be very perfect, and I go introduced byAbram Lansing, from whom I bring a letter to Madam De Lancey. They areold friends, though he is as stanch a Whig as she a Tory. I tell you, Kitty, 't is of vital importance that I ascertain the facts of thisrumored raid upon the patriots, and I must risk all to gain it. WarnBetty, lest she give way to alarm; be brave and fear nothing. "

"A Happy New Year, Mistress Kitty, " said a gentleman who approached her, followed by his negro servant. "I shall do myself the honor to pay myrespects to your mother a little later;" and Mr. Van Brugh raised histhree-cornered hat in courtly salute, staring hard at Kitty and thefisherman as he passed them. 

"We are noticed, " said Oliver calmly; "go on and do your errand. "

"But I am so fearful for you, " gasped poor Kitty, whose usual composureseemed to be deserting her. "You try me too far, unless I may dosomething to aid your escape, for a horrible sinking of my heart seemsto bode no good to you. "

"Put no faith in omens, " answered Oliver, with a smile. "I shall be offat daybreak. Farewell, Kitty, and have no fear; I am well protected, "and mingling in the crowd, he passed out of the market door and wasgone. 

With what courage she could summon, Kitty sped on to Fran Hansel'sstand. The seedcakes had been weighed, decked with a handful ofChristmas greens, and placed in the basket, and Kitty, after a few kindwords to the old Dutch market-woman, made her way swiftly through thecrowd and gained the street. 

"I must warn Betty, " she thought an she proceeded up Maiden Lane, and asshe came to Queen Street she paused. "Go directly home, " she said to herservant; "tell my mother I have stopped to see Grandma Effingham andwish her a Happy New Year. I will be back in time to dress, " and off shesped in the direction of Wall Street. 

Betty, who like Kitty, had been spending her morning assisting inpreparations for the New Year callers who would present themselves laterin the day, was dusting the quaint Dresden Shepherdess who presided overa corner of the drawing-room mantel, when a sharp knock at the frontdoor announced a visitor; and she fled out of the drawing-room only toencounter Kitty in the hall. 

"A Happy New Year to you, " said Kitty, in a tone of gayety which she wasfar from feeling. "I ran over to give greeting to grandma, and as I camemy petticoat gave way; let me mount to your chamber and fasten it beforeI go to grandma's. "

"Certainly, " said Betty, and seizing hands both girls ran rapidly up thestaircase. Inside the small chamber, Kitty closed the door, and set herback against it. 

"The petticoat is fast enough, Betty, but I have something grave to say. Oliver is still in the city--he goes to the De Lanceys' to-night--I wasto warn you. "

"In what disguise?" asked Betty breathlessly. 

"Indeed, I know not, except that he will represent Mynheer DiedrichGansevoort, from Albany; oh, Betty, I am sore afraid. "

"Nay, wherefore?" and Betty's eyes sparkled as her color rose. "WeWolcotts are not wont to fail, and I am now too accustomed to Oliver'shairbreadth escapes for fright. "

"You were well alarmed at the servants' dance; oh, how rash he is!"

"We spare nothing in our country's cause, " said Betty, with a proudlittle toss of her head; "but, Kitty, forgive me if I appearintrusive--I am puzzled to know how and where you and Oliver"--

"You should have known long ago, " interrupted Kitty, blushing deeply, "but, somehow, I never could approach near enough to your heart toconfess that Oliver and I are trothplighted though my mother's consentis lacking. We met in Albany--again at West Point, and oh, Betty, how Ihave longed to tell you. I have seen you look at me with eyes so likehis; with such scornful glance when I laugh and jest with those hatefulredcoats, such kindly smile when I showed you that I am at heart apatriot. Forgive me, dear, and let us do all we can to help Oliverto-night, for he is determined to be at the De Lanceys' as by goingthere he can obtain certain important information for the cause offreedom. "

Betty threw her arms around Kitty; why did she feel as if the innocentwords stabbed her? Had the "hateful redcoats" ceased to be hateful toher?

"Trothplighted, " she whispered, with wide-open eyes of delight; "I hopedas much--how happy my father will be when Oliver"--

"Nay, nay, " cried blushing Kitty, "you go too fast; think of madam, mymother, and her antipathy to the 'rebels, ' as she calls them, quiteforgetting that my aunt (where I made my home in Albany for three years)is one, as well as her naughty daughter. Good lack! my fortunes weretold long ago had I but bowed to her wishes; and at the moment, Betty, --to let you into a profound secret, --the most desirable husbandfor me in her eyes is Captain Yorke. "

"Indeed!" said Betty coldly, but Kitty was too engrossed in her owndiscourse to notice. 

"Not that he has such an idea, mind you; he loves to dance and jestwith me, as a score of others do. But, Betty, your confidence in Oliveris well sustained so far, and it lightens my heart. Beside, there is noone here who would be apt to recognize him except you and me; though forthe matter of that why Clarissa did not see and know his shadow at theservants' dance I have not yet ceased to marvel. "

"You forget that she had no knowledge of his presence in New York, andOliver has changed greatly since she saw him full three years ago. "

"And now to grandma, " said Kitty, releasing the latch of the door, whichshe had held carefully in her hand since entering the room, as aprecaution against intruders; "and fare you well, Betty, till we meet atthe ball to-night. "

All through that New Year day Betty's heart throbbed with excitement, asa steady stream of visitors passed in and out of the mansion, whereGrandma Effingham and Clarissa bade welcome to old friends and youngones, to stately gentlemen in small clothes and powdered queues, with afine selection of British officers, beginning with Sir Henry Clinton, who arrived in great state and descended from his sleigh, with itscoal-black horses, accompanied by his aides, for the English commanderliked to conciliate the Tories of New York, and, as he was then makingsecret preparations to accompany an expedition to South Carolina, thought best to appear in public even more than usual. 

"Mistress Betty, " said Geoffrey Yorke, under cover of sipping a glass ofport wine which she had offered him, "I drink to your very good health;"then softly, "I have not seen you for a week; have you been quite wellsince the Christmas party?"

"Is it so long?"--willfully; "Clarissa said you called one day. "

"Surely--to ask for you, and you never came inside the room. "

"Because I was busy, sir, " replied Betty. Then relenting as a swiftremembrance crossed her mind, "I was skating at the Collect, where Iwent with Peter late in the day. "

"Will you dance with me to-night at the ball--promise me all the dancesyou can possibly spare?" and Geoffrey's voice took its most tender toneas he fixed his eyes on Betty's charming face. 

"All my dances? Nay, two, possibly three, are as many as Clarissa woulddeem consistent with good manners, " returned the maid, unable to foregothe pleasure of teasing him; "indeed, I am bewildered even nowremembering sundry engagements already made. "

"The first dance, Betty, " said Yorke pleadingly, as he saw the generaltaking leave, and prepared to accompany him. "Surely you will not denyme that grace?"

But Betty only gave him the tips of her fingers in reply as she swept agraceful courtesy. Was it the slight pressure of his hand whichaccompanied the farewell that made Geoffrey spring gayly into the sleighand drive off with a half-boyish, half-triumphant smile?

CHAPTER XIV

THE DE LANCEY BALL

The De Lancey mansion, then one of the most famous houses in New York, was on the Bloomingdale Road, and the drive out Bowery Lane ran throughmeadow-land and green trees in summer, but over hard-packed snow and icein winter, for it was part of the highroad to Albany. So both GrandmaEffingham and Clarissa ordered the fur muffs and hot-water bottles forthe feet placed carefully in the sleigh, which Pompey brought to thedoor just as the night watch went down the street, crying in his slow, bell-like tones, "Eight o'clock, and all's w-e-ll!" Betty, standingmuffled in long cloak and fur hood, on the steps of the house, said toherself, with a thrill of excitement, "All's well; please God I may sayas much when midnight sounds to-night. "

The sleigh was a large, roomy one, with back and front seats, and itsbig hood was drawn up and extended like a roof over the top, coveringthe heads of its occupants, but open at the sides. Clarissa was seatedfirst, and well wrapped in the bearskin robes which adorned the sleigh, and then Betty tripped lightly down to have her little feet bestowed ina capacious foot-muff, as she carefully tucked her new gown around herand sat beside Clarissa. Gulian, in full evening dress, with smallclothes, plum-colored satin coat and cocked hat, took possession of thefront seat. Pompey cracked his whip, and the spirited horses were offwith a plunge and bound, as Peter, the irrepressible, shouted from thedoorway, where with grandma he had been an interested spectator ofproceedings, "A Happy New Year to us all, and mind, Betty, you only takethe handsomest gallants for partners. " De Lancey Place had been thescene of many festivities, and was famed far and wide for itshospitality, but (it was whispered) this New Year ball was to excel allothers. The mansion stood in the centre of beautiful meadow-land, with abackground of dark pines, and these showed forth finely against the snowwhich covered the lawns and feathered the branches of the talloak-trees in front of the door. Lanterns gleamed here and there, up thedrive and across the wide piazza; at the door were the colored servants, in livery imported direct from England, and from within came sounds ofmusic. As Pompey swept his horses up to the step with an extra flourishof his whip, a group of British officers, who had just alighted fromanother sleigh, hastened to meet Clarissa and assist her descent. 

"On my word, Clarissa, " said Gulian, a few minutes later, as he offeredher his hand to conduct her to the ballroom, "I never saw Betty look solovely. Your pink brocade becomes her mightily, and her slender shapeshows forth charmingly. Where did you procure those knots ofrose-colored ribbon which adorn the waist? I do not remember them. "

"That is my secret--and Betty's; she vowed the gown would not becomplete without them, so I indulged the child, and I find her taste indress perfect. Captain Sir John Faulkner seems greatly taken with her, does be not?"

"Aye, but let us hasten to find our hostess. They will be forming forthe minuet directly, and you must dance it with me, sweet wife, --unlessyou prefer another partner. "

Clarissa's response to this lover-like speech was evidentlysatisfactory, for presently Betty beheld her sister and Gulian takeplaces at the head of the room, next Madam De Lancey, who opened herball with Sir Henry Clinton. Betty, since her arrival in New York, hadbeen trained and tutored for the minuet by both Clarissa and Kitty, andhere was Captain Sir John Faulkner, an elderly but gallant beau, supplicating for the honor of her hand in the opening dance. 

"I am loth to decline, " began Betty, a little overpowered by thecompliment, "but I have already promised this dance. "

"To me, " said Geoffrey Yorke, at her side, and looking up, Betty, forthe first time, saw her lover in all the bravery of full uniform, powdered hair, and costly laces. If he had been strikingly handsome inthe old homespun clothes in which he first appeared before her on theshores of Great Pond, he was ten times more so now. Betty forgot thathis coat was scarlet, that he represented an odious king and all shehad been taught to despise; she only saw the gallant manly form andloving eyes which met hers so frankly, and the hand she gave himtrembled as he led her out upon the floor. For Betty did notknow--though the realization came to her later, with bitter tears--that all unconsciously she had entered that fabled kingdom, theknowledge of which makes life a mystery, death a glory!

The music swelled on in slow and stately measure; jewels flashed in theblaze of wax candles, silken brocades rustled a soft accompaniment tothe steps and courtesies of their fair wearers, as Betty dreamed herdream of happiness, only half aware that she was dreaming. And when, atthe close of the minuet, Geoffrey led her to Clarissa, there was no lackof gallants nor partners, and Peter would have chuckled with delightcould he have seen that no one was so eagerly sought for as the lovely, roguish maid, who wore the knots of rose-colored ribbon. 

It was time for supper, and instruments were being tuned into order fora grand march, to be led by Madam De Lancey, when Betty, standing near alarge Indian screen, talking with Mr. Van Brugh, who was a dear friendof her father's, became aware of subdued voices at her elbow, on theother side of the screen. 

[Illustration: THE MINUET]

"I tell you I am right, " said one of these testily; "I would stake mysword that he is not what he seems. I saw him exchange a bit of paperwith yonder manikin fiddler, who has been under suspicion for someweeks, and cleverly they did it, too. It's not the first time, I'llwarrant, that Mynheer von Gam--"

"No, no, not Von at all; you are safe to be mistaken, Colonel Tarleton;the gentleman is one Diedrich Gansevoort from the Albany beverwyck. Madam De Lancey herself made us acquainted; he is no spy. "

Betty's heart sank. She murmured something in reply as Mr. Van Brughpaused. This was the famous and cruel Colonel Tarleton. If he had tracedOliver, then all was lost. She strained her ears for furtherinformation, smiling up at Mr. Van Brugh as she waved her fan gently toand fro. 

"If you are so sure of it, why did he, an apparent stranger, have aughtto communicate to that fiddler yonder? Go quietly through the crowd andwatch the gentleman as he appears at supper; I'll have a word with Yorkeon the subject, " and they moved off in the direction of the ballroom. 

"Will he, indeed?" thought Betty, as she saw Geoffrey coming toward herfrom the hall; "not while I can hold him at my side, " and with somewhatpaler face, but with calm demeanor she moved away, obedient toGeoffrey's request that she should go to supper. 

Kitty Cruger's evening, unlike Betty's, had been full of dangerousexcitement. Arriving at the ball with her mother, she had been dancingwith her usual spirit, keeping, however, anxious watch for Oliver. Butshe perceived no one whom she could possibly imagine was he, even indisguise, and therefore it was with almost a shock of dismay that shefound herself stopped, as she was passing the supper-room door, by herhostess, who "craved the favor of presenting a gentleman just arrivedfrom Albany, who knew her family there. " Kitty dropped her most formalcourtesy and raised her eyes to the face of the stranger. Verily, Oliverpossessed positive genius for disguises, and troubled as she was Kittycould not restrain a smile as she recognized in the rubicundcountenance and somewhat portly form of the gentleman bowing before heran admirable caricature of no less a person than her respected uncle, Cornelius Lansing, an antiquated Albany beau. 

Yorke, with Betty, was just inside the door as the pair entered, and asKitty perceived them she paused for a moment to say good-evening. 

"Where have you been? I was looking for you. Permit me to presentMynheer Gansevoort, of Albany. Mistress Betty Wolcott and Captain Yorke. As for you, sir, "--to Yorke, with a playful tap of her fan to engage hisattention, --"you have not yet claimed my hand for a dance. Pray, whatexcuse can you devise for such neglect?"

Betty seized her opportunity. She must warn Oliver at all hazards. "Haveyou lately arrived?" she said, fixing her eyes on him; then, in so low awhisper that it barely reached him by motion of her lips, "You arewatched; be careful!"

"I am somewhat deaf, " returned Oliver, with great readiness, bending hisear toward her. "By whom?"--with equal caution. 

"Colonel Tarleton. Escape as speedily as you can. "

"Did you speak?" said Geoffrey, turning suddenly, to Betty's dismay, andcasting a penetrating glance at Oliver, which he returned with theutmost calmness. 

"This gentleman is somewhat deaf, I find, " answered Betty. "It is a sadaffliction, sir; has it troubled you long?"

"Some years. May I offer Captain Yorke a pinch of snuff?" and thepretended Mynheer Gansevoort produced a gold snuff-box from hiswaistcoat pocket, which he courteously extended to the English officer. 

"You must excuse me; I have not yet acquired the habit, " repliedGeoffrey. "A glass of wine with you, sir, instead, if you will do me thehonor. "

"With great pleasure. " And as they moved a step onward, Kitty passedfirst with Yorke, thereby giving Betty time to whisper to Oliver whatshe had overheard behind the screen. 

"Your very good health, sir, " said Geoffrey, as he took the glasses ofport wine from a servant standing near the lavishly filled table; "andif you will not consider me intrusive, do you purpose stopping in NewYork?"

"That is as may be, " replied the other. "I am not, however, returningto Albany immediately. Will you name a toast?"

"Aye, " said Yorke quickly, raising his glass, with a searching look intoOliver's eyes, --"To your _safe_ return to the Albany beverwyck; theclimate of New York is somewhat unhealthy at present. "

"Yorke, " said a young officer, coming hastily up behind the group, "Colonel Tarleton desires speech with you for a moment; you will findhim and Sir Henry by the screen in the ballroom. "

"You heard?" whispered Betty, as Geoffrey left them; "Captain Yorke hasrecognized you--fly, fly, at once!"

"Is there another exit from this room, Kitty?" asked Oliver, finishinghis glass of wine as he spoke, and handing the empty glass to thewaiting servant. 

"Only the window behind us, " gasped Kitty; "quick! they are all too busyeating and drinking to notice if you slip through the curtains, and thebalcony is but a few feet from the ground. "

"Then I must run for it. Farewell, " murmured Oliver, as the heavy damaskcurtains dropped back over his vanishing figure. The two girls gazedinto each other's faces with dilated eyes and quivering lips. Would thealarm be speedily given, and would they see him captured and carried tocertain death? For one breathless moment they listened, and then Kittyturned sick and faint; her eyes closed as Betty flung an arm around herwaist. 

"Some wine at once, " she said aloud, and two gentlemen sprang forward toassist her to place Kitty in a chair. "She is affected by the heat ofthe room; it will pass in a moment, " and she gave the reviving girl agood hard pinch, which made her start in her chair. "Oh, Gulian, I amglad you are here. Had you not better seek Madam Cruger?"

"No, no, " cried Kitty, struggling to rise, and most heartily ashamed ofherself for her lack of self-control. "My mother is not strong and mustnot be alarmed. I am better; will you come into the hall with me, Betty?It is cooler there. "

"Of course, and you can rest awhile; Gulian will bring us supper. "

But supper and everything connected with it was far from Betty'sthoughts; all she wished was a few words with Kitty alone, which sheknew Gulian's absence would give her. 

"Betty, " said Kitty the instant he left them, "you do not know half thedanger. If he has not the means of escape close at hand--if the Britishofficers arrest the fiddler--Oliver is totally lost. Can you see throughyonder door if the man be there still with the others?" Betty rose fromher chair and stepped inside the ballroom, now nearly deserted, for theguests were all at supper. She glanced eagerly toward the upper end ofthe room; no, the manikin fiddler had disappeared. Then an idea dartedinto her quick brain; inaction under the circumstances was maddening;back she darted to Kitty's side. 

"Kitty, come with me instantly. We will muffle ourselves in our cloaksand hoods and steal forth for a moment. I'll find Pompey and our sleigh, and if worst comes, let Oliver fly in that fashion; Gulian's horses arefleet enough to distance pursuers. "

Without another word both girls flew into the room near the front doorwhere they had left their wraps. Not a soul was there; the servants hadgone elsewhere, knowing that their services would not be required untilthe early morning hours, when the ball broke up. It took but a momentpounce on their cloaks, and Betty also seized a long dark wrap, whichlay conveniently at her hand, thinking it might be useful. Out into thehall they dashed swiftly and silently, past the lanterns on the broadpiazza; and as luck had it, Pompey himself, who had come up to witnessthe festivities from the outside, popped up at the steps. 

"What you 'so doin' hyar, little missy?" he began wonderingly, but Bettycut him short. 

"Fetch the sleigh at once, Pompey. Mistress Kitty is ill, and I want totake her home. "

Pompey, somewhat alarmed at the tone and catching sight of Betty's whiteface and burning eyes, vanished on the instant. The girls drew into theshadow as far as they were able, and holding their breath peered intothe darkness. 

"What is that?" whispered Kitty, as a swift footstep crossed the piazza. "Oh, 'tis Yorke! Have a care, Betty, or we are discovered, " and sheendeavored to drag her farther back against the wall. As she did so, the crouching figure of a man rose up against the trunk of one of theoak-trees on the lawn; it was Oliver. His padded coat cast off, theycould dimly distinguish his tall slender form. Some singular instinctfor which he could never account made Yorke pause as he set his foot onthe threshold of the front door; he wheeled just in time to see Betty'sface, as one pale ray from a distant lantern fell across it. 

"Betty, what are you doing here?" he cried, darting to her side. At thatinstant a sound of voices broke on the stillness of the night; it camefrom behind the mansion in the direction of the pine woods. 

"Kitty is ill, " faltered Betty. "I am taking her home--do not, I prayyou, detain me--oh, there is Pompey"--as the welcome sound ofsleigh-bells rang out on the frosty air. "Geoffrey, Geoffrey, let mego!"

Her tone of agonized supplication went to Geoffrey's heart. Kitty flewdown the steps into the sleigh, unassisted, and Betty followed, her handin Yorke's. There arose a hoarse shout "The spy, the spy--he has escapedby the road!" and as Betty set her foot on the runner, a dark figurevaulted over Kitty and buried itself in the robes at the bottom of thesleigh. 

"At last, sweetheart, I pay my debt, " whispered Yorke in her ear, as hethrust Betty safely into the seat. "Pompey, drive for your life!" Thestartled negro needed no second bidding, down came the whip-lash on thehorses' backs, and with a furious plunge, a mad rear, they were off, aquarter of a mile ahead before their pursuers turned the corner of themansion. 

Oh, that wild race through the snow! Even in after years, when long daysof happiness had crowded out much of those stirring times from Betty'smind, a shudder would creep over her, and closing her eyes she could seeagain the tall gaunt trees, the frozen road, the snow that glittered sostill and cold in the cruel starlight, and hear the distant shouts thatshe feared told of pursuit. On they flew, Oliver giving occasionaldirections to the trembling and excited Pompey. Now that he knew thedanger, the faithful negro would have died sooner than fail to carry thefugitive into comparative safety. On, through the Lispenard meadows, on, --until they struck Broadway; no pursuers within sight, and at CrownStreet Oliver bade him turn in the direction of the river, and drivedown until he reached the slip which lay at the foot of the street. Allwas still. Save an occasional belated pedestrian, nothing seemedstirring, and as they neared the dingy old tavern at the Sign of theSturdy Beggar, Pompey pulled up his smoking, panting horses. 

"Don't want to got too near dose lights, " he said, pointing to theswinging lantern which adorned the hostelry; "darsen't let nobody see myyoung mistress; Massa Gulian would flog Pompey for shuah if dis talegets tole. "

"You're right, Pompey, " answered Oliver, springing up and flinging thelong dark cloak with which Betty had provided herself around hisshoulders; "take the ladies home slowly. Kitty, my beloved, farewell--farewell, Betty, brave little soul that you are; I'll tell myfather how your quick wits came to my relief. Here I cross the river onthe ice, and, God willing, reach the commander-in-chief with the tidingshe desires by eight o'clock in the morning. "

A sob from Kitty, a low "God guard you!" from Betty, and Oliver vanishedas Pompey turned his horses and proceeded leisurely back to Broadway. The girls were literally too spent with emotion to do more than sinkdown breathless among the fur robes, and not one word did they exchangeas they drove through Wall Street and finally drew up at the Verplancks'door. On the steps stood Gulian, a tall and silent figure, awaiting thetruants. 

"What does this mean?" he began sternly, as he lifted Kitty out. "Didthe hue and cry for that wretched, miserable Whig spy frighten thehorses? Clarissa is nearly distracted"--

"I will explain all to your satisfaction, " interrupted Betty. "Meantime, listen, and be thankful;" and as she held up a warning hand, they heardthrough the stillness of the night the watchman's distant cry float downthe frosty air:--

"Half past three o'clock--and all's--well!"

CHAPTER XV

LOVE OR LOYALTY

"Do you mean to tell me that you, Clarissa's sister, had anything to dowith the escape of a Whig spy?"

"Even so, " said Betty calmly, though her face was pale and her brillianteyes burning with excitement. 

"Damnation!" retorted Gulian angrily. "Even your mistaken ideas ofpatriotism could hardly carry a well-behaved maiden so far. "

"Gulian! how _dare_ you!"

"What am I to conclude?" with a scornful wave of his hand; "your storyis somewhat disjointed. Kitty is taken ill; you suddenly decide to carryher off in my sleigh without farewell of any kind to your hostess, without paying your sister or me the respect to ask permission. Then youstate that a man--confound the beggar's impudence!--sprang into thesleigh, and you were foolish enough to fetch him out of the danger ofpursuit, all because of loyalty to the cause of so-called freedom. Icannot understand--Stay! Captain Yorke was on the steps as I came out, hearing the shouts; did he witness this extraordinary occurrence?"

"I told you the fugitive had concealed himself in the bottom of thesleigh before I entered it, " said Betty, terror seizing her lest achance word should implicate Geoffrey in the matter. "Would you have meturn a helpless man loose among your Hessians? I have too vividrecollection of Nathan Hale's fate to contribute another victim toEnglish mercy. "

The taunt stung Verplanck, for, like many of the more liberal Tories, hehad deeply deplored the tragic ending of the gallant Hale, althoughforced to regard it as one of the stern necessities of war. He bit hislip as he answered:--

"Thank you, Betty; I am glad Clarissa does not regard me as quite sobloodthirsty as you evidently deem me. " Then, eying her keenly, as ifstruck by a sudden thought, "Did you know the man, or was it all purepatriotism?"

"Yes, " returned Betty, filled with indignation at the sneer, and facinghim with all her native courage; "yes, I know him well. "

"Know him?" echoed the bewildered Gulian, "are you mad or am Idreaming?"

"Neither, I trust. The Whig spy, as you are pleased to call him, was mybrother, Oliver Wolcott. Thank God that he has made good his escape, andcongratulate yourself, Gulian, that you aided, even remotely, in it. "

"Betty, Betty, if this be true, I trust Clarissa does not know. "

"Never fear, " with a choking sob; "I shall not tell her. She suffersenough, poor soul, with her husband upon one side and her people uponthe other of this most cruel war. "

"Betty, go to your chamber, " said Gulian sternly. "I will myself escortKitty to her own door, and impress upon her the necessity of keeping thematter a close secret. My mortification would be great were it known. Why, it might even endanger my friendship with Sir Henry Clinton. "

Betty left the room, but her lip curled as she said to herself, "A Toryto the tips of his fingers; God forbid that I should ever feel whatClarissa must. "

Very little sleep visited Betty that night (or what remained of it) asshe lay with open eyes that strained into the growing dawn, picturing toherself Oliver's flight across the North River, and hoping ferventlythat she had thrown the pursuit skillfully off his track. When at lastshe fell into a doze it was nearly seven o'clock in the morning, andMiranda, who softly entered the room, bringing fresh water, halted atthe pillow, loth to waken her. 

"Mistress Betty, " she whispered. No reply, but the sleeper turneduneasily, and then opened her eyes. "I certainly do hate to call you, but jes' look here; what you say for dat, little missy?" and Mirandaheld up a letter. "Dat was left wif me at daybreak by de young boy whocame wif Sambo--missy knows who I mean, "--rolling her eyes fearfullyaround the room, --"and he said tell you that Jim Bates, of BreucklenHeights, had tole him to fetch it to you. "

Betty seized the package; it consisted of a half-sheet of paper whichinclosed a letter, doubled over and sealed with wax in the fashion ofthe day. 

"I am safely across the river, " wrote Oliver on the outer sheet, "andsend this to ease your mind and Kitty's. Moppet's letter came to meinside one from my father by private hand a few days since, on chance ofmy being able to give it you. My service in the city is over, my objectattained; hereafter I shall be on duty with our troops. God be with youtill we meet again. "

Betty broke the seal of her letter and between sobs and laughterdeciphered the queer pot-hooks and printed letters with which MissMoppet had covered the pages. Dear little Moppet; Betty could almost seethe frowns and puckered brow with which the child had penned the words. 

"My Betty dear, " the letter ran, "we miss you sorely, especially theMare and me. She whinnies when I seek the Stable, and I was going to sayI cry too, but never mind. " (This was partly erased, but Betty made itout. ) "It is so cold the Chickens are kept in the kitchen at night lestthey freeze. We hope it may thaw soon, as we Desire to get the maplesyrup from the trees. Aunt Euphemia is well. Miss Bidwell is stillknitting Socks for our poor soldiers, and I made Half of one, but theDevil tempted me with Bad temper and I threw it on the Fire, for whichI was well Punished. Pamela cries much; I do not see why she is soSilly. Sally Tracy is the only merry one, now you are away; she spendstoo much, time, to my thinking, reading and walking with a youngGentleman who comes from Branford. I have not yet learned how to spellhis Name, but you may Guess who I mean. When are you coming home, Betty?I want so to see your dear face. My Respects to Gulian and Clarissa, andObedience to Grandma--I do not Recollect her whole Name. My Sampler ismore perfectly Evil than ever, but I have completed the Alphabet and Idanced on it, which Miss Bidwell said was Outrageous naughty, but mytemper Felt calmed afterward. It has taken four Days to write this, farewell, from your lonesome little sister, "FAITH WOLCOTT. 

"Nota Bene. I send my Love to You know Who. "

There were others of the Verplanck household who slept late thatmorning. Gulian's usually calm and somewhat phlegmatic temper had beenmoved to its depths by the startling and most unexpected revelation ofOliver Wolcott's identity with the spy, whose escape Betty had aidedand in which he was also indirectly implicated by the use of his horsesand servant. Gulian's strict sense of justice told him that Betty wasright in seizing the means at hand to rescue her brother, but that didnot lessen his irritation at being used for anything which appertainedto the Whig cause, for Gulian Verplanck was a Tory to the backbone. Educated in England, brought up to consider that the divine right ofkings was a sacred principle, he carried his devotion to the Tories tosuch an extent that had he foreseen the conflict between King andColonies it is safe to say he would never have wedded Clarissa Wolcott. His love for his wife was too great to permit him to regret hismarriage, and he was too thorough a gentleman to annoy her by alludingto their political difference of opinion, except occasionally, when histemper got the better of him, which, to do him justice, was seldom. ButClarissa's very love for him rendered her too clear-sighted not toperceive the state of his mind, and the unspoken agitation which shesuffered on this score had been partly the cause of her homesickness andlonging for her sister's companionship. He had been both kind andconsiderate in sending for Betty; his conscience approved the action;and now to have this escapade as the outcome was, to a man of hissomewhat stilted and over-ceremonious ideas, a blow of the most annoyingdescription. 

When he sallied forth from his house some two hours later than his wont, on his way to the wharf, where his business was located, hecongratulated himself that he had so far escaped questioning from hiswife on the occurrences of the night before. When Betty left him, he hadtaken Kitty home in the sleigh, and refrained from lecturing her exceptso far as insisting upon her not mentioning the matter of Oliver'sescape to her mother. Exhausted as she was, mirth-loving Kitty was movedto a smile as she listened to Gulian's labored sentences, in which heendeavored to convince his listener and himself that what he consideredalmost a crime against the King's majesty--permitting the escape of arebel spy--was, so far as Betty was concerned, a meritorious act. SoKitty promised, with the utmost sincerity, that not one syllable wouldshe breathe of the matter to her mother, or, in fact, to any humanbeing, and hugged herself mentally as she thought of Gulian's horror ifhe only knew what a personal interest she had in that night's mad racefor freedom. Clarissa, sweet soul, had lain down quietly, when told thattheir horses had nearly run away, being badly frightened by the hue andcry of an escaping rebel; and uttering heartfelt thanksgivings thatPompey had brought the girls home in safety, she went fast asleep andremained so long after Gulian had risen, breakfasted, and gone downMaiden Lane. 

Business was somewhat dull that morning, and Gulian was conscious thateach time his office door opened he feared some one would enter who hadlearned, he hardly knew how, of his having been connected with thehateful affair occupying his thoughts. It was therefore with a genuinefeeling of relief that just as he was preparing to lock up his books heheard the outer door open, and a familiar voice inquire if he waswithin. 

"Pray come in at once, Yorke, " he said, throwing open the door of hisprivate room with alacrity, as he held out a hand of welcome to hisvisitor. "Did you rise early this morning? I am ashamed to own how lateI was, but the balls at De Lancey Place are promoters of sleep next day, I find. "

"I can usually plead guilty to sleep, " replied Yorke, throwing off hismilitary cloak, and taking the chair which Gulian offered him, "but Ihad to be stirring early to-day, for Sir Henry had pressing affairs, andI was at headquarters before seven o'clock. "

"Did you take horse in pursuit of the spy last night?" asked Gulian, with somewhat heightened color. 

"Not I, " answered Yorke carelessly; "the poor devil had luck on hiswide, or doubled marvelously well on his pursuers, for I am told thatnot a trace of him nor of his confederate, the little fiddler, did ourmen find. It's well for them, as Sir Henry was much enraged and theirshrift would have been short, I fear, had they been captured. "

"These rebels grow bolder than ever, " said Gulian, uttering a secretthanksgiving which spoke better for his kindness of heart than hisloyalty to King and Crown; "I marvel at their adroitness. "

"So do we all;--but, Verplanck, I came on a different errand to-day thanpolitics. I came"--and Geoffrey hesitated, as a questioning look cameon Gulian's face--"I came--I--In short, am I right in esteeming you forthe present as brother and guardian to Mistress Betty Wolcott?"

"Aye; in her father's absence, of course, I stand in that relationtoward her. Well, what of Betty?"

"Only this, " and rising, Yorke bowed in courtly fashion: "I have thehonor to ask your permission to pay my addresses to your sister, Mistress Betty. "

"To Betty?" was Gulian's astonished and delighted response. "Yousurprise me. Your acquaintance is but recent, and, I think, somewhatformal?"

"Love is hardly a matter of time or formality, " returned Yorke, with asmile, as a remembrance of his first meeting with Betty occurred to him, "and that I do truly and honestly love her you have my honorableassurance. Do you give me your permission to proceed in the matter?"

"With all my heart, " said Gulian, this new aspect of things driving allunpleasantness connected with Betty from his head; "but her father'sconsent is, I fear me, quite a different matter. "

"That is not for to-day, " cried the lover, as he shook Gulian's handwith almost boyish delight, "and to-morrow may take care of itself if Ican but gain Betty's ear. "

"But my consent and Clarissa's can be but conditional, " proceededGulian, his habitual caution returning to him. "I am not sure that Ishould be altogether justified--Nay, " seeing Yorke's face cloud withkeen disappointment, "I will myself lay the matter before Betty, andendeavor to ascertain if she may be well disposed toward you. "

"Heaven forbid!" thought the impetuous lover. But he only said aloud, "Thank you, Verplanck, I am delighted to receive your sanction. How areyou spending the afternoon?"

"I have business at Breucklen Heights, but I shall be at home thisevening, when I will approach Betty in the matter, and tell my wife ofthe honor you do us. For I have not forgotten my many visits to yourfather, Lord Herbert, at Yorke Towers, and the kindness extended mewhile in England. Indeed, Yorke, for my personal share in the matter, Iknow of no alliance which could gratify me more. "

This was unwonted warmth on Gulian's part, and Yorke, feeling it to besuch, grasped his hand warmly at parting, as he flung himself in hissaddle, and rode gayly up Maiden Lane. 

But the "best laid plans o' mice and men" often meet with unsuspectedhindrances, as both Gulian and Yorke were destined to discover. Whatspecial imp prompted Betty to sally forth for a walk after dinner, thereby missing a call from Yorke (who came thus early to preventGulian's intended interview), it would be vain to speculate; but whenthe maid returned, feeling more like her old happy self than she haddone in weeks, the irony of fate prompted an encounter with herbrother-in-law at the library door. 

"I have somewhat to say to you, Betty, " began Gulian, with an air ofimportance, which set Betty's nerves on edge at once. If there was onething more than another that annoyed her it was Gulian's pompous manner. "Will you come inside before going upstairs? I will not detain youlong. "

Wondering what could have occurred to wipe out the displeasure withwhich he had dismissed her to bed the last time they met, Bettyfollowed him, and throwing off her hood and cloak seated herself calmlyas Gillian entered and closed the door with the solemnity he consideredbefitting the occasion. 

"I had the unhappiness--the very great unhappiness, " he began, "to feelmuch displeased with you last night; but upon thinking the whole matterover carefully, I am convinced that in assisting your unfortunatebrother to escape you did your best under the circumstances, and werejustified in yielding to a very natural and proper sisterly impulse. "

"Thank you, " said Betty demurely, but with a sparkle of fun in herliquid eyes as she turned them upon Gulian, secretly amused at thiscuriously characteristic apology. 

"We will dismiss that event and endeavor to forget it; I only wish, torepeat my injunction that I desire Clarissa should know nothing of thematter. " He paused, and Betty made a movement of assent. 

"How old are you, Betty?" came the next remark. 

"I am turned sixteen, " replied Betty, somewhat surprised at thequestion. 

"So I thought. " Gulian paused again to give weight and dignity to thedisclosure. "You are now of a marriageable age. I have this morningreceived a proposal for your hand. "

"Indeed, " said Betty calmly, "And who, pray, has done me that honor, inthis city, where I am but a recent comer?"

"Precisely what I remarked; the acquaintance has been, perhaps, undulyshort. But nevertheless a most honorable and distinguished gentlemanintends to offer you, through me, his hand"--

"He had been wiser to present _me_ with his heart, " interrupted Betty, with a mischievous laugh. But mirth died on her lips as Gulian, frowningslightly, proceeded with his story in his own way. 

"His hand, and I presume his heart; do not be flippant, Betty; it illbecomes you. This young gentleman will be called upon to fill a highposition; he is the son of a man of title and"--

"Stay, " said Betty coldly. "It is not necessary to rehearse hisadvantages. May I ask the name of this somewhat audacious gentleman?"

"Audacious?" ejaculated Gulian, falling back a step to gaze full at thehaughty face uplifted toward him. "Surely you misunderstand me. Pendingyour father, General Wolcott's consent, I trust you are able to perceivethe advantages of this match, for Captain Geoffrey Yorke is a son ofLord Herbert Yorke, and grandson of the Earl of Hardwicke. It is anexceptionally good offer, in my opinion, for any colonist, as in thiscountry, alas, we have no rank. Moreover, Betty, when the war ends itwill be wise to have some affiliation with the mother country, and by sodoing be in a position to ask protection for your unhappy and misguidedrelatives who now bear arms against the King. "

Up rose Mistress Betty, her slender form trembling with indignation, hereyes flashing, and her cheeks scarlet. --

"I would to God, " she cried passionately, "that my father could hear youinsult his child, his country, and his cause. There is no need for youto ask his consent to my marriage with Captain Yorke, for here, thismoment, I promptly decline any alliance which possesses the advantagesyou so feelingly describe. "

"Betty, Betty "--Gulian saw his mistake, but it was too late; on rushedthe torrent of her indignation. 

"I wish you--and him--to understand that Betty Wolcott is heart and soulwith her 'misguided relatives' in rebellion against British rule; thatnothing--no, nothing, would induce her to wed an enemy to her country. "

"Nothing, Betty?" said a manly voice behind her, as Yorke himselfcrossed the threshold, where for the last few seconds he had been anangry listener to Gulian's blunders. "Surely you will grant me a momentto plead on my own behalf?"

"And wherefore?" cried Betty. "You sent your message by him, " with ascornful wave of her hand toward Gulian's retreating figure; "throughhim, then, receive my reply. "

"I will not, " said Geoffrey firmly, as the door closed behind Verplanck. "Sweetheart, will you listen to me?"

"It is useless, " murmured Betty, with a choking sob. "I was mad to evendream it might be possible. Gulian has made it all too plain to me. "

"Nay, you must and shall hear me. I will not leave you until I tell youthat I love you devotedly; ah, why should politics and war come betweenour hearts? Consider, Betty, I will do all a gentleman and a man ofhonor can to please you"--

"But you cannot desert your own people, " she said despairingly. "I couldnot love you if you did, for, Geoffrey, it is but due you to confess inthis hour of parting that you are very, very dear to me, " and the lastwords just reached his eager ears as Betty sank, trembling, into achair. 

"Dearest, " he cried, kissing the little hand which lay in his, "will younot bid me hope? Think, the tide may turn; we are both young, and whocan predict the fortunes of war? I will not bind you, but to you I mustmyself be bound by the passionate love I bear you. "

"Oh, Geoffrey, my beloved, it cannot be! I know what my dear and honoredfather would say. God guard you--farewell!"

He caught the dainty form in his arms, he held her next his heart andvowed that come what would he defied fate itself to separate her fromhim. "See, " he cried, snatching the knot of rose-colored ribbon from hisbreast, "I will wear this token always as I have done since the day itdropped from your gown on the grass. If it be twenty years, I will yetcome, with your father's consent, to win you, and then, _then_, sweetheart, may I claim my reward?"

"I cannot wed my country's foe, " she faltered. "Oh, Geoffrey, bemerciful--let me go. " At that moment there came a violent knock upon thestreet door, a sound of voices, and Pompey's slow step approaching thelibrary door. 

"An express for Massa Captain brought by Sir Henry's orderly, " said thefaithful old negro, handing a sealed envelope to Yorke, as he closed thedoor behind him. Yorke tore it open; it fell from his hand. For a momenthe stood, tall, gallant, and brave, before Betty; his eyes met hers inlong, lingering farewell. 

"Sir Henry leads the expedition to South Carolina to-night, Betty, and Igo with him. Nay, sweetheart, sweetheart, we shall meet again in happierdays. "

She gave a little cry and flung herself into his arms; she kissed himwith all her warm frank heart on her lips, and then she slipped from hisembrace and was gone as Yorke dashed from the house, mounted his horse, and galloped swiftly away. 

CHAPTER XVI

MOPPET MAKES A DISCOVERY

It was early autumn in Connecticut, and the maples had put on their mostgorgeous robes of red and yellow. The weather had been mild for thatregion up to the middle of October, when a sudden light frost had flungits triumphant banner over hill and dale with a glow and glory seen toits greatest perfection in New England. The morning air was somewhatfresh, and Miss Bidwell, hearing Moppet's feet flying along the hall, opened the door of the sitting-room and called the child. 

"You will need your tippet if you are going beyond the orchard, and Ithink perhaps your hood. "

"Hood!" echoed Miss Moppet disdainfully, shaking her yellow curls overher shoulders until they danced almost of themselves; "I do not need tobe muffled up as if I were a little girl, Miss Bidwell. You forget I wastwelve years old yesterday, " and she waltzed around the room, spreadingher short skirt in a courtesy, to Miss Bidwell's admiring gaze. 

"Indeed, I am likely to recollect when I myself arranged the twelvecandles in your birthday cake. "

"To be sure!" cried Moppet, with swift repentance, "and such anexcellent, rich cake as it was, too. Do you think"--insinuatingly--"thatI might have a slice, a very tiny slice, before I go forth with Betty togather nuts in the Tracys' woods?"

"No, " replied Miss Bidwell, laughing, "you will assuredly be ill if youtouch one morsel before dinner. Run along, Miss Moppet, I see yoursister waiting for you at the gate, " and Moppet, with a jump and a skip, flew off through the side door and down the path, at the end of whichstood Betty. 

It was a very lovely Betty over whom the October sunshine played thatmorning, but to a keenly observant eye a different Betty from her whohad danced at the De Lancey ball, now nearly three years past. ThisBetty had grown slightly taller, and there was an air of quiet dignityabout her which suggested Pamela. But the beautiful merry eyes haddeepened in expression, and it was, if anything, a still more attractiveface than of old, although the fair unconsciousness of childhood haddeparted; and if mischief still lurked in the dimpled cheeks, that wasbecause Betty's heart could never grow old; no matter what life mighthold for her of joy or sorrow, she would always be to a certain extent achild. And well for her that it was so; do we not all know a few rarenatures whose fascination dwells in this very quality?

The years had gone swiftly for Betty. Shortly after her parting withYorke an opportunity had occurred for her return to Litchfield, andalthough Clarissa lamented her departure Betty was eager to fly home. Gulian had done his best to smooth over his ill-judged and ill-temperedeffort to arrange her matrimonial affairs, and one of Betty's minorannoyances was her sister's evident disappointment at Yorke's rejection. Only once had she forgotten herself and flashed out upon Clarissa, peremptorily forbidding further discussion, and Clarissa had beenpositively aghast at the impetuous little creature who confronted herwith flashing eyes and quivering lips, and had speedily warned Guliannever to broach the subject to Betty again. Peter was Betty's closestfriend in those stormy days. The urchin had a shrewd perception of howmatters stood, and many a time had Betty hugged him for very gratitudewhen he made a diversion and carried her off to some boyish haunt in thecity or to the Collect, thereby giving her opportunity to regain theself-control and spirit necessary to appear as usual. For Betty wasformed of gallant stuff. No matter if her heart ached to bursting forsight of Geoffrey, if her ears longed, oh, so madly, for the sound ofhis voice; she could suffer, aye, deeply and long, but she could also bebrave and hide even the appearance of a wound. That Gulian, and evenClarissa, considered her a heartless coquette troubled her not at all, and so Betty danced and laughed on to the end of her sojourn in NewYork. 

It had always been a source of thankfulness to her that she had beenable to go home before Geoffrey's return from the expedition to SouthCarolina, for she sometimes doubted her own ability to withstand hispersonal appeal if again exerted. That he had returned and then, shortlyafter, gone upon another detail, she had heard incidentally from Oliverduring one of her brother's flying visits to Litchfield on his way toNew London with dispatches. Oliver had been greatly touched by Yorke'sconduct in the matter of his escape, but if he suspected that Betty'slovely face had anything to do with the British officer's kindlyblindness, he was too clever to hint as much, for which forbearanceBetty thanked him in the depths of her heart. The only way in which heshowed his suspicion was in the occasional bits of news concerning Yorkewith which he favored her. At the battle of Cowpens Yorke had beenwounded and taken prisoner, and it fell to Oliver Wolcott to arrange forhis exchange. Then, for the first time, were Oliver's surmises changedto certainties, for one night when he had been attending the prisoner, whose wound was nearly healed, Yorke broke silence and in the frankest, most manly fashion demanded news of his little sweetheart, and toldOliver of his hopes and fears. Nothing could have appealed so directlyto the brother as Yorke's avowal that Betty had refused him because ofthe coat he wore, and his eyes filled as he said, boyishly enough, "Egad, Yorke, she has all the Wolcott pluck and patriotism; though werethis vexed question of independence settled, I wish with all my heartthat you may yet conquer this unwilling maid whom I call sister. "

Yorke smiled, but he did not consider it necessary to add that Betty hadonce let compassion and gratitude get the better of her loyalty in thematter of a prisoner, to Oliver's own discomfiture. 

There had been some changes in the Wolcott home: Pamela had gone forthfrom the mansion a bride, after Cornwallis had surrendered at Yorktown, and Josiah Huntington had worn a major's uniform on his wedding-day. Betty had scarcely recovered from that break in the home circle whenSally Tracy, with many blushes and much laughter, confessed that she, too, was about to follow Pamela's example, and that a certain Mr. JamesGould, the gentleman from Branford, of whom Moppet had been sosuspicious, was the lucky individual upon whom she intended to bestowher hand. Verily, with all these wedding-bells sounding, Betty began tofeel that she was likely to be left alone, but who only laughed gaylywhen twitted with her fancy for maidenhood, and danced as merrily atSally's wedding as if her heart had lain light in her bosom instead ofaching bitterly for one whom she began to fear she should never seemore. 

Little did Betty guess that bright October morning, when she and Moppetwent forth bent on a nutting excursion, that a courier was even nowspeeding on his way whose coming would change the tide of her wholeexistence. And when, as noon struck, Oliver Wolcott dismounted at thedoor of his home and, walking straight to his father's study, delivereda packet from General Wolcott to Miss Euphemia, his next move was adescent upon Miss Bidwell's parlor and a hasty demand for Betty. So whenMoppet and Betty appeared, rosy with success and a fair-sized bag ofnuts as the result of their joint labors, they found the household in astate of suppressed excitement, and lo! the cause was Oliver'sapproaching marriage. 

"You see, " explained Oliver, when he finally got Betty to himself for awalk in the orchard after dinner, "now that the treaty has been signedin Paris, the British will soon evacuate New York, and when our armyenters, there will be grand doings to celebrate the event, and myfather must ride at the head of the Connecticut troops on that day. I, too, Betty, God willing, shall be with the Rangers, and thinking thedate will be about a month hence, Kitty and Madam Cruger have set ourwedding-day as the 25th of November. I gave you Kitty's letter"--

"Yes, and a dear, kind letter it is. She bids me for her bridesmaid, Oliver, and says that Moppet and Peter will hold her train, after thenew English fashion (which no doubt is her mother's suggestion, for Ithink Kitty does not much affect fancies which come across the water), and, oh, Oliver, I do indeed wish you joy, " and Betty's eyes brimmedfull of tears as she gave him her hand. 

"I know you love Kitty, " said Oliver, kissing her cheek, "and we canafford to forgive a wedding after the English mode, as, if I gain myKitty, I care but little how she comes. "

"Betty, Betty, " called Moppet's voice from the upper path, "do come inif you and Oliver have finished your chat, for Miss Bidwell desires youropinion on some weighty matter connected with our journey to New York. "

"I will come, " answered Betty; then turning bank with, as careless anair as she could summon, "Do you happen to have heard aught of yourquondam prisoner, Captain Yorke?"

"Yorke!" replied Oliver, avoiding her eye as be stooped to throw a stickfrom the path, --"Yorke! oh, aye, I did hear that he was invalided andwent home several months ago. I fancy it was not so much his health (forhe looked strong enough to my thinking the last time I met him) but morehis disgust with the turn things were taking; for you know, Betty, sincethe surrender at Yorktown the British have been more insolent andoverbearing than ever, and Yorke is too much a gentleman, no matter whathis political color, to be dragged into quarrels which I hear areincessant in the city, and the cause of many duels. "

"Duels!" cried Betty, as the color left her checks; "oh, I hope he--thatis--I hope nobody whom I know has been engaged in one. "

"Not I, " returned Oliver, with a mischievous glance. "So you might evenbe sorry for a foe, eh, Betty?" But Betty went flying up the path anddid not deign to reply. 

Miss Moppet, childlike, was perfectly overjoyed at the prospect of awedding in which she was to play a part, and flew from her aunt to MissBidwell and Betty, then back to her aunt again in a twitter ofexcitement at the combination of a journey and festivity as well. General Wolcott's letter to his sister was full of important news. Asthe seat of Congress was Annapolis, General Wolcott, who was a member ofthat body, had decided to close the manor house for the winter and takea house in New York for his family, and he sent minute and particulardirections for leaving all home affairs in the hands of Miss Bidwell andReuben until their return to Litchfield in the spring. Oliver's intendedmarriage had hastened this decision, and there would be barely time tosettle matters and reach New York in season for the wedding. They wereto stop with Clarissa, who had written most pleading letters, and afterthat visit would take possession of their new quarters. 

Most of the afternoon was spent in plans for their journey, with Oliveras escort, and many a sigh rose almost to Betty's lips as these recalledthat other journey when her heart had been as light as Moppet's was now. But she put all thought aside with a resolute heart, and finallyreceiving directions from Miss Euphemia in regard to a chest of winterclothing packed safely away in the garret, she concluded to giveMoppet's restless hands some occupation, and bade the child accompanyher upstairs. 

The old garret looked familiar enough. Even the wooden stools which hadserved as seats for her and Sally Tracy in the old childish days stoodin the same corner under the dormer window, through which the sun waseven now pouring its setting rays. The chest was unlocked, and presentlya goodly pile of clothing lay upon the floor ready to be carried below. 

"Let me have my worsted jacket, and my flannel wrapper (indeed, I dobelieve they are too small for me; can I find others in New York, Betty?), and this pretty hood of Pamela's. Betty, Betty, do you thinkMiss Bidwell could cut this one smaller for me? May I just run down andask? I will return at once. "

"Yes, " said Betty, intent upon counting a heap of stockings; "pleasefetch me a pair of scissors when you come up again. "

Off flew Moppet, marking her progress down the garret stairs by variousexclamations as she dropped the jacket and tripped on the wrapper, but, finally reached the bottom in safety, Betty went on overlooking thechest; there were many articles to select from, and a red skirt ofMoppet's which did not appear to be forthcoming. She ran her hand downto the very bottom of the chest, and feeling some garment made of smoothcloth with a gleam of red in it, dragged it forth and held it up to thelight. As she did so, her hand struck something hard and round. 

"What have I found?" thought Betty, but the next moment she saw thatwhat she held was an officer's dark blue riding-cape fastened with brassbuttons, on each of which was engraved a crown, and the cape was linedwith British scarlet. 

"What have you got there?" said Moppet's voice, as she appeared at herside. "Why, 'tis Captain Yorke's cape that he muffled me in the day Ifell into Great Pond--Oh, Betty, Betty, what is amiss?"

Down on her knees fell Betty. She buried her face in the cape's folds, and tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried to say, "It is nothing, nothing, I am tired--I am--Oh, Geoffrey, Geoffrey, I think my heart isbreaking. "

Miss Moppet opened her eyes to their widest; then slowly anddeliberately she grasped the situation in "high Roman fashion. "

"Betty Wolcott, do I live to see you weep over a scarlet coat!"

No answer; indeed, Betty scarcely heard the words. The flood-gates werelet loose and the agony of days and months must have its way. 

"Betty!" this time the voice of reproving patriotism quavered somewhat. "I do believe you are worse than Pamela. " But Betty sobbed on, --sobsthat fairly racked her slender body. 

"Well, I don't care what anybody says, "--and Moppet flung the Whig causeto the wind as she cast herself down beside Betty, --"he's dear andhandsome and brave; whether he be British or Yankee, I love him, and _sodo you_, naughty, naughty Betty!"

And with her head on Miss Moppet's sympathizing shoulder, and MissMoppet's loving arms clasped around her neck, Betty Wolcott whisperedher confession and was comforted. 

CHAPTER XVII

A KNOT OF ROSE-COLORED RIBBON

The sun rose bright and clear over the Bay of New York. It had been asomewhat gray dawn, but the fog and mist had gradually rolled away, andthe day bid fair to be one of those which Indian summer occasionallygives in our northern climate. All around Fort George and the Batterythe British troops were making ready for departure; the ships for theirtransportation to England lay out in the bay, for this was the 25th ofNovember in the year of our Lord 1783. 

The streets in the upper part of the city were filled with a differentkind of crowd, but one equally eager to be off and away. Many of theTories and sympathizers with the Crown had found New York a mostunpleasant dwelling-place since the signing of the treaty in which "TheUnited States of America" were proclaimed to the world an independentPower, and Sir Guy Carleton, the British commander, had more trouble inproviding transportation for this army of discontented refugees than forhis own soldiers. However, the day was fixed, the ships ready to weighanchor, and the Army of Occupation about to bid adieu to American shoresforever. 

"Peter, " said Miss Moppet, as she danced merrily out of thebreakfast-room, "you are sure, quite sure that the grand procession, with General Washington at its head, will come past this door? Becausewe are all cordially bidden to Mistress Kitty's and perhaps Betty mayprefer to go there. "

"But it will be a far better sight here, " returned Peter; "it is sure topass our door, for I heard Oliver tell Aunt Clarissa so last night justas he was going out. "

"Oliver has overmuch on his mind to-day, " remarked Moppet shrewdly; "toride with his troop in the morning and be married at evening is quiteenough to make him forget the route of a procession. Do you think wemight go out on the doorstep and see if there be any sign of itsapproach?"

"Why not? It will be royal fun to see the British soldiers come downfrom the Government House, and hear the hoots and howls the Broadwayand Vly boys are bound to give them. For once all the boys of the cityare of one mind--except the Tory boys, and they don't count for muchhereafter. "

"I wouldn't jeer at a fallen foe if I were you, Peter, " said Moppet, severely, as she took up a position on the stoop, and leaned her elbowson the iron railing; "my father says that is not manly, and besides I dosuppose there may be some decent Britishers. "

"I never knew but one, " retorted Peter stoutly. "What knowledge have youof them, I'd like to know?"

"Not much, " evasively. "Who was the one you mention?"

"My! but he was a prime skater; how he and Betty used to fly overCollect Pond that winter. Do you skate up in Litchfield, Moppet?"

"Yes, of course; that's where Betty learned with Oliver. "

"Oh, aye, I remember; when she cut a face on the ice the day she racedwith Captain Yorke she told me her brother had taught her. "

At this moment there was sound of a distant bugle; both children randown to the foot of the steps and gazed eagerly up the street. But itwas a false alarm, and after a few moments spent in fruitless watchingthey returned to their post of observation on the stoop. 

"Peter, " began Moppet presently, with true feminine persistency, "whatwere you saying about a British officer who knew Betty?"

"Captain Yorke? He was aide to Sir Henry Clinton. "

"Was he? Will he go off to-day with all the other redcoats?"

"He sailed away to England some months ago, --I recollect he came to bidgood-by to Clarissa, --but do you know, Moppet, " lowering his voice, witha glance over his shoulder to be certain that he was not overheard, "Ithink I saw him two days ago. "

"In New York?" said Moppet, with a start. "Why you said he'd gone toEngland. "

"But he could come back, surely. Moppet, _I_ think he was proper fond ofBetty. "

"Peter Provoost, do you fancy that my sister would smile on a scarletcoat? You ought to be ashamed of yourself, " and Moppet looked thepicture of virtuous indignation. 

"Well, I've seen her do it, " retorted Peter, not in the least abashed, "and what's more I heard him call her 'sweetheart' once. "

"Oh, Peter!" Moppet's curiosity very nearly got the better of herdiscretion; but she halted in time, and bit her tongue to keep itsilent. 

"And if you won't tell--promise?"--Moppet nodded--"not a word, mind, even to Betty--where do you think I saw Captain Yorke the other day?You'll never guess;--it was at Fraunces's Tavern on Broad Street, and hewas in earnest conversation with General Wolcott. "

"With my father?" This time Moppet's astonishment was real, and Peterchuckled at his success in news-telling. 

"Children, " called a voice from the hall, "where are you? Do you want tocome with me on an errand for Clarissa near Bowling Green, which must bedone before the streets are full of the troops?"

"Surely, " cried both voices, as Peter dashed in one direction after hiscocked hat, and Miss Moppet flew in another for the blue hood. Bettywaited until the pair returned, laughing and panting, and then taking ahand of each she proceeded up Wall Street to Broadway, and down thatthoroughfare toward Bowling Green. Before they had quite reached theirdestination the sound of bugle and trumpet made them turn about, andPeter suggested that they should mount a convenient pair of steps infront of a large white house, which had apparently been closed by itsowners, for a number of bystanders were already posted there. They werejust in time, for around the corner of William Street came a group ofofficers on horseback, their scarlet uniforms glittering in the sun. Itwas Sir Guy Carleton and his staff, on their way to the Battery, wherethey would take boats and be rowed over to a man-of-war which awaitedthem in the bay. A murmur, then louder sounds of disapprobation, startedup from the street. 

"There they go!" cried a voice, "and good riddance to Hessians andTories. "

Betty's cheeks flushed. Oh, those hateful scarlet coats, symbols of whathad caused her so much misery. And yet--with another and deeper waveof color--it was Geoffrey's uniform and these were his brother officers, going where they would see him; oh, why, why, was fate so unkind, andlife so hard! Another moment and they were out of sight, but keen-eyedMoppet caught a glimpse of Betty's downcast face and said to herself, "Oh, I dare not tell her; I wish I did. "

Out on Bowery Lane and away up in Harlem, over King's Bridge, withmeasured step and triumphant hearts the Continentals were entering thecity. What a procession was that, with General Washington and GovernorClinton at its head, and how all loyal New York spread its banners tothe wind and shouted loud and long to welcome it! There were the pickedmen of the army, the heroes of an hundred fights, the men ofMassachusetts who had been at Lexington and Bunker Hill; General Knox incommand, and General Wolcott with his Connecticut Rangers, while Oliverrode proudly at the head of his company. It was a slow march, down theBowery and through Chatham and Queen streets to Wall, thence up toBroadway, where the column halted. 

It would be vain to describe Betty's emotion as from the windows of theVerplanck mansion she watched the troops and the civil concourse, andrealized that at last, after long years of heroic endurance, of gallantfighting, of many privations, the freedom of the Colonies was anaccomplished fact. Miss Moppet and Peter flew from one window to anotherand cheered and shouted to their hearts' content. Even Grandma Effinghamand Clarissa waved their handkerchiefs, while Gulian, on the doorstep, raised his cocked hat in courtly salute to General Washington. Gulianwas beginning to learn that perhaps one might find something to be proudof in America, even if we were lacking in the rank and titles he soadmired. 

Oliver's wedding, which was set for six o'clock, to allow thecommander-in-chief to be present before the banquet at Fraunces'sTavern, was to be on as grand a scale as Madam Cruger's ideas could makeit; for having consented to her daughter's marriage, that stately dameproposed to yield in her most gracious fashion. It took some time todress Miss Moppet in the silken petticoat and puffed skirt, the tinymobcap and white ribbons, which Kitty had considered proper for theoccasion, and Betty found she must hasten her own toilet, or be lateherself. Moppet followed her up to the old room where Betty had spentso many hours of varied experience, and assisted to spread out onceagain the flowered brocade, which had not seen the light of day sincethe De Lancey ball. 

"Here are your slippers, Betty; how nicely they fit your foot. "

"Yes, " said Betty, her thoughts far across the sea, as she slipped onone of them. 

"I hope those are wedlock shoes, " quoth Moppet, with a queer, mischievous glance, as she tied the slipper strings around the slenderankle. But Betty did not heed her; she was busy undoing the knots ofrose-colored ribbon on the waist, which she had once placed there withsuch coquettish pride. 

"What are you about?" cried Moppet, seizing her sister's hand as she wasin the act of snipping off one with the scissors. "Oh, Betty, the gownwill not be half so pretty without them. "

"Nay, child, rose-colored ribbons are not for me to-day; I am grown tooold and sad, " said Betty softly, looking with tender eyes into Moppet'sface. 

"Did ever I hear such fal-lal nonsense, " and Moppet's foot came down ina genuine hot-tempered stamp which made Betty start, "Betty, Betty, Iwill not have it--pray put them back this moment;" then in the coaxingvoice which she knew always carried her point, "What would Oliver andKitty say if you were not as gay as possible to grace their wedding? Oh, fie, Betty dear!"

As usual Moppet had her way, and when the pair alighted at the Cruderdoor Betty's knots of rose-color were in their accustomed place. 

Within the mansion all was light and gay. Weddings in those times wereconducted with even more pomp and ceremony than in our day, and theentertainments, though not upon the present scale, were fully as lavish. Wax candles shone at every possible point, and lit up the broadreception-hall, the polished floors and high ceilings, while mirrors onmantels and walls reflected back many times the stately figures whichpassed and repassed before them. And then there came a pause, whenvoices were hushed, and down the oak staircase came Kitty, led by GulianVerplanck (her nearest male relative), wearing a white satin petticoat(though somewhat scanty to our ideas in width and length), and over ita, train of silver brocade, stiff and rustling, while a long scarf ofMechlin lace covered her pretty dark head and hung in soft folds downher back. The high-heeled slippers, the long lace mitts, with theirwhite bows at the elbow, completed her toilet. She stood before theassembled company a fair young bride of the olden days, and behind hercame Miss Moppet and Peter Provoost, holding her silver train with thetips of their fingers. Oliver, in full Continental uniform, his cockedhat under his arm, awaited her at the end of the great drawing-room, andwith somewhat shortened service, the rector of old St. Paul's said thewords which made the pair man and wife. 

[Illustration: "I HOPE THESE ARE WEDLOCK SHOES"]

Betty was standing near the mantel, laughing and chatting gayly withseveral of her former New York gallants, when she beheld her fatheradvancing toward her on the arm of a gentleman. Surely she knew thattall, elegant figure, that erect, graceful carriage? But the scarletuniform which was so familiar was absent; this was the satin coat, small-clothes, and powdered hair of a civilian. Betty's head swam, herbrilliant color came and went, as her father said quietly!--

"My daughter, an old acquaintance desires that I should recall him toyour recollection; I trust it is not necessary for me to present to yourfavor my friend, Mr. Geoffrey Yorke. "

Betty's knees shook as she executed her most elaborate courtesy, and asif in a dream she heard General Wolcott say to Yorke, with a somewhatquizzical smile, "Perhaps you will kindly take Betty to the library, where I will myself join you later after escorting General Washington tothe banquet. "

Betty never knew how she crossed that room; every effort of her mind wasconcentrated in the thought that she must not betray herself. What didall this mean? Such a blaze of sunshine had fallen upon her that she didnot dare look at it; she only realized that her hand was in Geoffrey'suntil they reached the quiet and deserted library, and then he was ather feet. 

"Sweetheart, sweetheart, " he said, "you will not refuse to hear me now?I have resigned the army, I have left England forever (unless youyourself will some day accompany me there to meet my people), I havethrown in my fortunes with the United States, and doubt not I will proveas faithful a servant to your Commonwealth as I ever was to KingGeorge, " and kissing her hand, he, laid in it the faded knot ofrose-colored ribbon. 

"But, Geoffrey" she faltered, "my father"--

"Did not General Wolcott himself bid me fetch you here? Ah. Betty, theconditions are all fulfilled, and you are still unwilling. "

She looked at him for a moment in silence, and then her most mischievoussmile dawned in Betty's eyes as she hid Geoffery's little knot of ribbonin her gown. 

"My heart but not my will, consents, " she said, "Dare you take such anaughty, perverse rebel in hand for life?"

"I dare all for love of Betty Wolcott, " cried the triumphant lover, while from the door a small person In mobcap surveyed the pair with veryround and most enraptured eyes. 

"It's just like a fairy tale, " quoth Miss Moppet, "and I'm in it!"