Robert glanced at Peggy questioningly. "I will stay, Robert, if the friend wishes it," said Peggy. He saluted and remounting his horse sped back down the road. The Quakeress turned toward Peggy mildly. "Did not the son of Belial call thee Peggy?" she asked. Peggy felt the slight irritation that had assailed her but a moment since return at this remark, so she answered with dignity: "Major Dale so called me. All my friends speak of me as Peggy." "'Tis pity to spoil so fine a name as Margaret by substituting Peggy for it. I much mislike the practice." "I do not," responded Peggy briefly. "I fear thee is frivolous, Margaret," chided the other serenely. All in a moment Peggy was amused. She reflected that this Friend must come from one of the country districts where observances as to demeanor and dress were much stricter than in the cities. She was, no doubt, conducting herself according to the light that was in her, and with this view of the situation Peggy's ruffled feelings were soothed. "I fear so too, Truelove," she said laughingly. "Quite frivolous. Now thine own name: Did none ever term thee True, or Love? Either would be sweet." "Thee must not utter such things," reproved the other in a shocked voice. "'Tis indelicate for maidens to even speak the word love. Where is thee going?" "To Lancaster, to be with my father, who is stationed there." "Stationed there? Is not thy father of the sect of Friends? Thou art using the speech." "Yes; but he is in the patriot army, Truelove." "Defying those who are set to rule over us? Hath he not been taught to bear meekly that which Providence hath called us to suffer? Where did he learn of Fox to retort violence for violence, or that shedding of blood was justifiable? And does thee hold with these misguided Whigs, Margaret?" "I do," answered Peggy shortly. She had dismounted, and was letting her pony graze while she awaited Robert's return. A slight regret that she had offered to let this Quakeress be her mother's companion assailed her. [Illustration: "WHERE IS THEE GOING?"] "And was thee not punished for it?" Truelove Davis was regarding her with a curious steadiness of gaze that Peggy found extremely irksome. If she would but remove that riding mask, she thought, she could talk to her better. "Did the friends bear in silence that thee and thine should depart from their peaceful practices?" "They read us out of meeting," replied Peggy controlling herself with difficulty. "Father, nor any of us, did not embrace the Cause of Liberty without due thought. It did seem to us that life was not of worth unless it were accompanied by Freedom. To be free to worship God in our own fashion was the reason that the Great Founder built our city on the Delaware. England would have taken religious freedom from us also had not her oppression with regard to political rights been checked. It was not without the guidance of the inward light that we arrayed ourselves with Liberty, Truelove."