"I can guess, I know Papa Edgar, but being an American I don't see things as he does. Eli and I have been hoping you would do it." "I don't know what you are talking about, but you certainly don't know the truth, and you must hear it before we go any further." Without preface he told her of his arrest at Kingston, and then the trial. Bee's bewilderment at the abrupt beginning changed to horror as he repeated Vere's evidence. "Poor Vere," she murmured. "What do you pity him for?" said Ned roughly, "even if you do think me guilty." "You? You are strong, you will soon get over this; it is only a little thing," (Ned wondered what her idea of serious trouble was) "but Vere was a traitor to you, and traitors must go to--to their own place." Her voice sank to a whisper, but she dared not say the terrible name. The straight, strong faith he had accepted once came back to Ned then. Time seemed nothing beside eternity, the blundering injustice of men too little a thing to think of beside the awful Justice of God, high-throned in eternal calm. He raised his head for the first time since they had chained him at Kingston--"Then you do not think I am guilty, though Sir John does?" he asked her. She laughed softly. "You a coward--who saved my brother!" she exclaimed, and before he guessed what she meant to do, she had kissed him on his forehead, flushing a little as the instinct of a young girl made itself felt through the impulsive abandon of a child. "That is what I think of you," she repeated. "I never kissed any man but Sir John, and Papa Edgar and Eli before, but I think I love you nearly as much as Eli, and I believe in you as much as I do in him. Now, sit right down here, while I get breakfast." Ned sat down, but that kiss had given him back his courage and self-respect; he knew now what he could do. Then Bee came out again, followed by Chloe with a tray of dishes, and Eli with the coffee pot. So they sat down to their pic-nic meal. Eli was startled at Ned's white face, and evident nervous condition, but put it down to dejection at the British defeats, and weeks of starving in the bush. He talked about the weather, and tried to stop Bee when she started on the war, but that young lady insisted on talking as she liked. "I hope this dreadful war is almost over," she said earnestly. "Upper Canada is conquered except Kingston and those few men from Fort George who are in the bush. Brother Eli, what are you making signs at me for? What are you trying to make me do?" "Nothing, I assure you, my dear girl. I may be able to manage the crew of a ship, but I know I couldn't one woman, even a very young one. Do you ever let any body boss you, Bee?"