Both because of Nurse Johnson and the sandy nature of the soil they were obliged to proceed in a leisurely manner, but the family, rejoicing in the sense of security afforded by the presence of an armed escort, minded neither the manner nor the mode of travel. With the buoyancy of youth, Peggy and Sally soon regained their accustomed spirits, and chatted gaily. Above was the blue and white woof of the spring sky. The plaint of the meadow-lark and the note of the robin sounded sweetly against the stillness of the air. A trio of crows sailed athwart the blue, their great wings beating the air to slow, solemn measure. The pine woodland added shelter and picturesqueness to the road, and to the light breeze its sweet resinous odor. And Fairfax was here, there, everywhere, looking after things with all the zeal of a young officer. "You are merry," he said after a time, accommodating the speed of his horse to that of the wagon in which the girls rode. His manner had brightened perceptibly since the beginning of the journey, and he spoke lightly. "Yet I feared that you might be annoyed by the smell of fish. They are oyster wagons, you know." "Is it fish that we smell?" cried Sally, laughing for very joyousness, and forgetting to wonder at the unusualness of his addressing them. "Methought it was the pines." "Nay; 'tis fish," he declared. "At what are you looking, Mistress Peggy?" "I am admiring thy horse," she replied. "'Tis a beauty. Almost as pretty as my own little mare." "Nay," he protested. "Few animals are that. Star hath not many equals." Peggy flushed with pleasure. Praise of her little mare always delighted her. "Thee can afford to be unstinted in thy praise when thine own mount hath so much of beauty," she remarked. "And what has thee named her?" questioned Sally. "It should be something charming." "A name hath just occurred to me that is both charming and uncommon," he responded, meeting her glance without blushing. It was the first time that she had seen him so much at ease in ordinary intercourse, Peggy reflected marveling. "I think," continued the youth, "that no other horse ever bore it." "Then it must be unusual," declared Sally. "Thee makes me very curious, Friend Fairfax. What is it?" "Marsal," he answered. A twinkle came into his eyes as he added: "After Margaret and Sally: Marsal!" Saluting, he passed on to the head of the column. There was a gasp of surprise from the maidens, then a peal of laughter followed, so mirthful that Nurse Johnson and her sister joined it. "He hath the best of us, Peggy," cried Sally. "But who would have dreamed that he had it in him?" "Of a truth he hath improved markedly," agreed Peggy. "I fear me that we shall have to change our tactics, Sally." "'Tis not that he hath lost his diffidence, girls, but the reaction from fear of danger to us hath rendered him light-hearted," declared the lad's mother. "He is so relieved that 'tis easy to jest."