I started slightly, yet as instantly recovered my outward composure, realizing that this strange girl again purposed protecting me from exposure, even at the expense of a falsehood. "Indeed; you were doubtless aware then that he was within Sir Henry Clinton's lines as a spy?" "Far from it," she laughed easily, not glancing toward me, but permitting her eyes to rest upon the bewildered face of Captain Grant. "Why, that idea is perfectly absurd. Did you tell my father so ridiculous a story, Captain?" "Did I! What else could I say?" he growled indignantly. "He was within our lines in British uniform." Her long lashes veiled the blue depths modestly. "Yet there might be other reasons for such masquerade, gentlemen," she confessed. "Would it be impossible, think you, that he should have taken so great a risk to again meet with me?" There was a silence following the simple question, broken by Seldon's laugh, as he slapped his knee in appreciation. "Good enough, by Gad!" he exclaimed heartily. "The lass has cleared the mystery with a word. The fellow would be a poor soldier indeed to fail in such a test--eh, Grant?" The Ranger scowled at him in sullen response, his face dark with passion. "Hell's acre! This sort of thing may touch your humor, but not mine. What is the meaning of your words, Mistress Claire? Are you shameless, forgetting the pledge between us?" She turned her face toward him as a queen might, her head held high, her cheeks flaming. "You have had your answer once for all, Captain Grant. There is no pledge between us." "But, daughter," broke in the Colonel, still bewildered by this sudden explosion. "I can scarcely comprehend; surely it was understood that you were affianced to this son of an old neighbor." "Understood, yes, by those who kindly arranged the affair, but the fact that I might possess a heart of my own was entirely overlooked. As a child I permitted you to plan my future without protest. I am a woman now; I have been out in the world; the war has taken all girlhood from me. If this were not true the way Captain Grant has watched my every action in Philadelphia would have disgusted me with the thought of ever intrusting my happiness to him. He has openly quarrelled with every man I have spoken to, or danced with. He has made me the sport of all the city gallants by jealous wrangling. Now it is done with. 'Tis in shame that I am driven to say all this here in presence of these gentlemen, but I will not stand in silence while Major Lawrence is being condemned as a spy. He was at the dance to meet again with me, and for no other purpose." Colonel Mortimer's face had expressed many emotions, while she was speaking, but now it hardened into military severity, his hand clinched on the arm of the chair. "Do I understand then that this officer was there at your request?" "I think," hesitating slightly, "he knew he was not unwelcome." "And," his voice breaking slightly, "he came here also to meet you?"