"Friend," broke in Peggy eagerly, "if thee could get us to Trenton there would be no need for thee to go on to Philadelphia. Both Sally and I have friends there who would see that we reached home safely. Beside, the stage runs thrice a week from that point to our city, and should other means fail, we could take that." "Come! that's well thought of," he cried quickly. "'Twould be but a day's travel to Trenton, if the snow holds. Mary and Hannah could bide in Freehold until our return; so we'll call the matter settled. Nevvy, we will start Tuesday." "Then on Tuesday ye will both be gone," said Fairfax with such a sigh of relief that Sally, despite the gravity of the situation, could not forbear a little laugh. "Oh, Peggy!" she cried, "why weren't we named Betty? Had we been Captain Johnson would not wish us gone as soon as we arrived." "'Tis not as you think, Mistress Sally," he protested earnestly. "Indeed, in truth "--he faltered, then continued manfully--"did I regard your friend as your words imply I would not consent to wait until Tuesday to take her back." A puzzled look spread over Sally's face. "Doth he mean that he is indeed fond of Betty?" she whispered to Peggy under cover of Thomas Ashley's laughter which followed the youth's response. "I fear to say," was Peggy's amused reply. And so, in spite of the fact that ravage and pillage had come very near to them in the night, they returned to the farm in much better spirits than would have been deemed possible when they left the meeting-house. CHAPTER XIII A WOMAN'S WIT "Man is not born alone to act, or be The sole asserter of man's liberty; But so God shares the gifts of head and heart, And crowns blest woman with a hero's part." --_Author Unknown._ "Surely thee is not unpacking, Peggy?" questioned Sally as she entered their little room for the night. Peggy had preceded her by a few moments, and was now bending over her portmanteau. "It hardly seems worth while when we return so soon." "I am just getting my diary, Sally," answered Peggy, drawing forth the book after several attempts to locate it. "Methought the time was propitious to make an entry. And of a verity that encounter with those robbers ought to make exciting reading for the Social Select Circle." "'Twas a wondrous adventure," cried Sally with a shiver of pure enjoyment. "Since none of us received injury 'tis delightsome to have so stirring a thing to record for the girls. And oh, Peggy! is it not charming that I am with thee?" "It is indeed, Sally. Anything is always more enjoyable when thee shares it with me; although I agree with Fairfax in wishing that we were at home." "If we start Third-day we should be there soon, Peggy. Were it not for the danger I should like to stay a little longer." "And so should I," responded Peggy. "There! that entry is finished, with a half page to spare. Wouldn't thee like to add something, Sally?"