"There was no danger. The men camped out, and spent their time in riotous living I fear. At least the British were not within hundreds of miles of them." "But they might have come. I should have lain awake nights fearing something would happen, if it had been my husband." "I think I did not lie awake nights much," grandmother answered, smiling. "I was but eight years old, and did not know that there was such a person in the world as William Sanford. It was before my father removed his family to Quinnebasset." "But, mother," Dr. Sanford said, "you must be entitled to a pension as the widow of a veteran of the war of 1812. I'd forgotten all about father's being mustered in. This land-grant is evidence enough to show that he was." "O grandmother!" put in Patty. "Now I shall begin to behave, so as to be remembered in your will." "I am little in favor of receiving money obtained by bloodshed, son Charles, as thee knowest." "Nonsense, mother. There was no blood shed. The money will be clean of any taint of war according to your own story. The money won't hurt you: you know you are only half Friend, when all's said and done." And, after much laughter and joking, it was decided that the matter should be put into the hands of Mr. Putnam. Many were the allusions made to the grandmother's pension, and out of the matter came several odd incidents as will in due time appear. CHAPTER XII. AN AFTERNOON RIDE. The quiet which falls upon a country village after its noonday meal, brooded over Montfield. Only the great butterflies and the bees were stirring, except for a humming-bird that now and then darted among the flowers. Patty and Flossy were together upon the piazza, lazily discussing matters relating to the theatrical entertainment, when a buggy stopped at the gate, from which descended the huge form of Burleigh Blood. "Now, Burleigh," Patty cried, as he approached, and before he had time to say more than good-day, "I know you've come to take Flossy to drive, but I want to go myself. It is too lovely for any thing this afternoon, and I am an invalid and must be humored, you know." "If I could ever see that mushrooms had any taste," Flossy said deliberately, but with no discoverable connection, "I am sure I should be fond of them: so I always eat them, and think what a good time I am having if I only knew it." "Flossy, you get to be more and more incomprehensible every day. Sit down, Burleigh, please. Of course you'll have to take me to ride." "That is what I came for," he answered.