An Unwilling Maid

ed not stop there even to think over this extraordinary adventure, for Moppet was doubtless waiting breathlessly for her return; and at the recoll

the main staircase in the hall, rather than wake Reuben by drawing his attention to the exit on the garret stairway. And fortunate it was for Betty that she h

a cheerful undertone, as she reached

ou been?" ask

"this is milk for Moppet. The

asked Oliver, who was always ki

one meddle with her milk pans, and I knew best which were last night's milk," and she went up the hall with a naughty little throb of mingl

ms, and drank the milk thirstily, as Betty told her that al

was now beginning to enjoy herself intensely at sharing a mystery with Betty; "I told him you were gon

flushing brightly unde

hear his feet as he climbed, and once he slipped and I was so frightened lest he should come tumbling down

scovered here, dressed. Oliver is not one to notice; now lie still until you are called for rising;" and Betty tripped back to her own room, wher

riskly at the door where Pamela and Dolly Trumbull were slumbering sweetly, and resolved that she would request Oliver to permit Captain Yorke to come down and breakfast with the family. "For," mused Miss Euphemia, "our obligations to that young man

ur) when Oliver came hastily into the room, demanding a hammer and chisel, and with such

if he desired hot water, and to offer him a change of clean linen (as we are much the same size and build); but although I made sufficient noise

phemia, in alarm. "I noted

seizing the chisel, and Miss Euphemia followed him as he went

d, addressing Oliver. "I have knocked at h

nd yet I made sure there was no chance for escape,-ha!" as the door swung open and discovered the closed shutt

ned the party, and Pamela, with Dolly, opened her door across the

fool's head not to have thoroughly examined it last night," and he rushed across i

red without knocking, to find her with her hair over he

her table, and then pausing, as he was about to rush

etty, facing him cal

ney," said Oliver,

g inward thanks that to that question she cou

, without closing the door, and hurrying to the kitchen for a light

easy enough to see how our prisoner escaped. Fool that I was not to have searched this plac

y; "let us get out on the roof and see if we can

the ground below." All of which was true, and quick-witted of Pamela; but Moppet could have explained the presence of the bits of bark, for, as it happened, the child had emptied her ap

pointing westward, where his keen eye perceived a fresh path broken in the meadow. "I must follow Ol

amela; "how could Captain Yorke contrive to climb down so softly t

t's; where is Aunt Euphemia?" and running out into the hall, she e

me into my room in the night, Aunt Euphemia, and was so cold and shivering that I went ba

the pond did her some injury," and she opened the door softly, only to see Miss M

all about? W

ving her a kiss. "Did you s

tty suspected on the instant that the keen little ears had been on the alert for more minu

e not even had breakfast. Captain

liest curiosity in her tone. "Oh,

that," said Pamela in an undertone

t, giving way to laughter. "Oh,

at Moppet's view of the situation. "Did you happen to h

er short life, and had indeed spent a wakeful half hour that very morning wondering how she would be able to evade any questions that mi

d Pamela, "but he did go down the tree from the

relief, "and I will be glad if Betty will assist you, for I must go down and see if breakfast be stil

of all this?" ask

lute relief to her to speak her mind. "I am as glad as I can possibly be that Captain Yorke has escaped,

d Pamela, shocked

ing? Do you not wish to acknowledge an obligation when it is doubly due? I am ashamed of you, Pam

r little sister as well as you? You do mistake me; I did not dare go co

cks to order, and rushing into Pamela's arms with quick repentance. "I am cross and upset this morning,

sage of arms in shy fright, put her hand in Pamel

Betty is most forward to sp

am displeased,-yes downright displeased with myself that I did not side with her last night," and with unwonted

try and went west instead of north. They climbed through the trap-door, but as the heavy dews had not yet begun there was no trace of footsteps upon the roof beyond a faint mark, which might be the spot where the prisoner had dropped from the chimney. It was quite possible for an agile fellow, accustomed to use his muscle, to

tty could not keep her dancing eyes in order, and before the meal was over she flashed so rogui

e she has her own way, and apparently cares not

you are unfair to tax her because she heartily disapproves of your course in regard to

, much as he would at a dove who had ruffled its plumes. "This from you, Pamela? If Betty be all

ooking man dressed in the Continental uniform entered the room. "Who is it t

ging her arms around General Wolcott's neck as he stooped down to embrace

liver, you will find Captain Seymour and Lieutenant Hillhouse on the porch

the newcomers. Betty, busying herself by fetching cups and saucers from the china pantry, caught fragments of the conversation, and became aware that Miss Moppet was telling the story of her adventure at Great Pond, in the child's most dramatic fashion, and that Miss Eu

w and where he had found Captain Yorke, and how safely he supposed he had imprisoned him in the north chamber, from which his clever and ready escape had

ring to join in the conversation, as few children of that period would have done, "Oliver's prisoner was

gentleman refusing his parole because he preferred to take the chances of war, while I felt it my sworn duty to detain him and to forward him to General Putnam without delay, as I know we ar

n Betty, who confronted him across the table with parted lips and large, bese

ntly pinched her little ear,-"more especially as the gentleman has taken the law in his own hands and escaped from Wolcott Manor despite the fact that as it is the residence of a Continental officer and the sheriff of Litchfield

om the sounds below that Pamela and Dolly wore bidding the young officers good-by; so, waiting until the sound of their horses' feet had died

eard her father's voice bid her enter, and the

l hand pressed downward on the table behind which

the paper which he had been careful

motioning her to a chair. "I thought at break

your censure, though I hope not your displeasure. Father, Oliver has told you of the escape of Capt

aimed Gener

e or I known that you were so near us, there had been no such

e the escape?" said

gled a swift sob,-"but I could not bear to think of a gallant gentleman, be he British or American, confined in a prison, and so I resolved I would assist his escape. I waited until midnight, and then I spoke to him through the aperture in the great chimney and instructed him how to climb up through it by the pegs Reuben had left there, and I stole to the garret and waited until he came. Ruben did not see me pass the door of the north chamber, for he was asleep (do not tell this to

ceased; she stood with head thrown back, but downcas

t slowly; "and I think that it were well I sh

and in another second she had thrown her arms around

n Yorke is doubtless a manly foe, and of such I have no fear. It shall be our secret, yours and mine, Betty; we will not even tell Oliver just now, else it might make sore feeling between you. For Oliver was right, and"-smiling

o find judgment so lenient accorded her, "I cra

the family idol. "Now run away, for I must close these papers in time for Oliver, who rides dispatch to Fort Trumbull to-night. And, Betty," as she stood glowing and smiling be