Then Betty read the letter from Sir John at Kingston. He did not mention Ned, so Bee was still the only one above Kingston who knew of the boy's disgrace. Sir John wrote--"Vere is steadying to his work like the Haslem and gentleman-born that he is. He is expecting promotion, and may be sent to Montreal. I have spoken to him of Bee, and like his spirit very much, for he is quite willing to overlook that she is penniless, and that her mother made a disgraceful marriage with an American. So I am hoping to arrange for you and Bee to travel to Kingston under a flag of truce. The enemy, in spite of their Infernal and Thrice Damnable Republicanism, seem to act like gentlemen whenever our women are concerned. So you can prepare Bee for her marriage soon. She is a wilful minx sometimes, but I am sure she will be overjoyed at the prospect of being Lady Haslem some day." Betty was not so sure. She looked out into the fine rain that had begun to fall, while a south wind blew, and saw Bee racing home with the three Edgar boys. Then Bee was in the room, flushed and laughing, her eyes shining like stars, and her coarse homespun frock showing her strong young figure. That dress had been made from wool off Susie's sheep, spun and woven in York, for the women who made the holding of Canada possible in 1812, had to depend on themselves for clothing as well as food. "You do look quite grown-up, Bee," said Betty. "Next thing you will be thinking of getting an establishment." Bee knew that her world had no room for an unmarried woman, but she said nothing as Betty went on. "You could be very happy living with me--and I would love to keep you--while you are young and handsome--oh, yes, dear, you are that now--but when you grew old and faded and sour-tempered, like all unmarried women do, you would blame me for not helping you to get established while you were young enough." "But nobody wants to marry me," murmured poor Bee, heartily wishing that girls did not have to grow up. "Someone does, Bee, I know there has been a little against him, but I have just heard that he is retrieving himself splendidly. We women have to overlook very much in men, as long as they are not cowards." Betty did not mention Vere's name, and Bee suddenly thought of Ned, poor Ned!--yet not so poor if a woman like Betty believed in his innocence. Knowing as she did what Sir John thought of her mother's marriage, she never dreamed that he thought of her (with an American father) as a future Lady Haslem, but confused at the idea of an establishment, even with Ned, she turned to ask Betty what she had heard of him. Then through the open window the damp wind brought the terrible sounds of far-off cannon, and they both forgot marrying and giving in marriage, as all that day, they and the other women in York listened with straining ears to catch the faint sounds that meant the men they loved might even then be dying among those thundering guns.