treated.' Since then," Sally continued half crying, "I've tended them all alike--American or English, French or Hessian." "Bless my soul!" ejaculated Jacob Deering, as the maiden's voice broke. Like a flash she turned upon him. "Thee has a niece, Kitty, hasn't thee, Friend Deering?" she cried. "Why, so I have, Miss Sally. So I have." "And she married an Englishman, didn't she?" "Yes," he answered with a bewildered air. "Yes, she did." "Now, Friend Deering," she cried, shaking her finger at him earnestly, "just suppose that Kitty's Englishman had come to thy house for shelter last Sixth-day, when it was so cold and stormy that thee would feel bad if the house cat was left outside? Suppose he had come asking for shelter? Would thee be any the less a friend to thy country if thee should listen to the dictates of humanity and give him shelter?" "Bless my soul!" ejaculated Mr. Deering, again helping himself liberally to snuff. "Bless my soul!" "Wouldn't thee give him shelter?" persisted she. "Wouldn't thee, Friend Deering?" "Zounds! Of course I would," he cried. "Englishman, or not. No matter what he was, I would turn no man from my door on such a day." "Of course thee wouldn't," she cried in a blaze of indignation. "Yet thee and thy fellows here want to indict Peggy and me for the very thing ye would do yourselves. Shame on ye!" "Indict ye!" cried the old gentleman, getting to his feet with the agility of a youth. "Indict ye!" he roared, shaking his fist at the council belligerently. "If any man dares to indict so much as a hair of your pretty heads he shall answer to Jacob Deering." CHAPTER IX OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE FIRE "Long war without and frequent broil within Had made a path for blood and giant sin, That waited but a signal to begin New havoc, such as civil discord blends, Which knows no neuter, owns but foes or friends." --_"Count Lara," Byron._ The two mothers were at the door to greet them as David Owen brought the girls back. Both girls were much excited, half laughing, half crying, over the turn events had taken. "'Tis good news, I can see," said Mrs. Owen leading them into the sitting-room. "As to how it came about I can gather nothing clearly." "Oh, 'twas Sally, Sally," cried Peggy. "'Tis said that Mr. Henry of Virginia is eloquent, but ye should have heard Sally. He could not excel her."