An Unwilling Maid

er head, passed on to where Mrs. Seymour stood with Caesar on the other side of the coach. But if she expected him to follow she was swiftly made aware of her mistake, for Geoffrey me

ed away, "I will ride on before you and be waiting at the river; if it be safe, you will cross on horseback; if not, on foot, and I shall take great pleasure in seeing that you reach King's Bridge I

ke and proud little toss of her head. "'Mistress Betty'! Very well, so be it; and thanks to the star of good fortune which guided

tled on gayly. So engrossed was she with being nearly at her journey's end, and th

how could I possibly have explained with any air of truth unless I told her the whole story-which I would rather die at once than do. He has not changed at all; I should have

have some kinship with the Earl of Hardwicke; very probably this young man may be a

of an earl-oh, me, in what a coil am I enveloped! But at le

nd behold a dismal prospect enough. The bank shelved gradually down to the river, which at this point was narrow, and between them and the other shore st

et. "I wish I had an extra pair of woolen stockings to pull over my shoes;

h you ladies and Caesar in it, but if you can mount your horses we can lead them and you can cross in safety. Meanwhile Caesar can remain here to guard your property, and when my men fetch the

l surely slip off on the ice! Betty her

et be strapped over my saddle I think you can sit on it.-Cae

icely; how kind you

ride one of your horses?" asked

or my mare is"-and then she bit her lip and c

shall lead your horse myself. L

, and then Geoffrey (artful fellow!) summoned a tall, good-looking trooper from the

are, letting the lady put her hand on your shoulder to steady hers

, saluting respectfully. "Am I t

murely and at ease awaiting him. Geoffrey seized the bridle and walked slowly down the bank, taking great care of his own steps lest he should by slipping cause the horse to stumble, and in a few seconds th

he stroked the horse's neck and checked him for a brief second. Mrs. Seymour an

ropping her eyelids-"Oh, sir, do you rea

h;" and he plodded on in silence. Another few rods, a slip, a half

et. "But we are nearly there. See, Mrs. Seymour

ce lest its first sound should be a sob. And Yorke, divided between amusement and

zvous and intrigue had been carried on within its low, wide rooms since the Colonies had declared their independence of British rule. As Yorke approached the door, inside which Mrs. Seymour had already disappeared, a tall, dark man in rid

od fortune brought you in contact with Captain Yorke's patrol? Had I known of your near approach, I should myself

began Geoffrey, as Bett

"this is Mistress Betty Wolcott, sister to my wife. Betty, I present t

but as she raised her eyes she said, with a mischievous glance, "I am pleased to learn the name of this gentl

ty, for Sir Henry has to make ready dispatches for England and will need me. Mrs. Seymour's coach will b

btain fresh horses here and the Inn seems somewhat over-crowded

at least two of my men as escort for the coach and yourself

" said Verplanck. "Farewell,

od fire was burning, and Verplanck sought to find a seat for her near the hearth. The room was occupied by perhaps a dozen persons, all men: some troopers, and a group of traders whose bundles of furs, lying on the floor beside the table where they were partaking of glasses of home-brewed beer, told their occu

esides there is room here. Wake up, grandfather," and he gave the

ll join you presently," and he departed to hasten the hostlers, who could be

r to the thirsty party of traders. A little boy in one corner was playing with some nails and a pewter plate; each time he dropped the nails, making a jingling noise, the landlord said, "Hush, there, Hans," in a loud whisper, to which the child paid no attention. Betty wondered if it was his son, and felt as if she would like to go over and play with him; and then thought, with a half-homesick longin

e from the pair opposite her on the other side of the chi

s gay voice, as she came across the ro

he other door. "Hasten, Betty;

reticule directly in front of the mysterious pair on the settle. The bo

a brief second. The old man stirred sleepily, raised his head from his bundle, and

matter how or where you see me

across the room, out of the door, and darted into the waiting coach, afraid to even glance behind her, her