Exactly what this meant, Dolly could not conceive; but, coupled with her mother's sorrowful face and her father's prayer, it must mean something dreadful. Something of danger to them all might be at hand, and she said her "pray God to bless my dear father and mother" with unusual fervor. Revolving the matter on her pillow, she had a great mind, the next time she met General Lewis with his smiling face, to walk boldly up to him and remonstrate, and tell him to let her papa alone and not upset the State! Dolly had a great store of latent heroism and felt herself quite capable of making a courageous defense of her father--and her heart swelled with a purpose to stand by him to the last gasp, no matter what came. But sleep soon came down with her downy wings, and the great blue eyes were closed, and Dolly knew not a word more till waked by the jingling of sleigh bells and the creaking of sleds at early sunrise. She sprang up, dressed quickly, and ran to the window. Evidently the State had _not_ been upset during the night, for the morning was clear, bright and glorious as heart could desire. The rosy light of morning filled the air, the dreary snow wreaths lay sparkling in graceful lines with tender hues of blue and lilac and pink in their shadows, and merry sleigh bells were ringing and the boys were out snow-balling each other in mere wantonness of boy life, while Spring was barking frantically, evidently resolved to be as frisky a boy as any of them. [Illustration: HIEL IN HIS GLORY. _"And wasn't you running to look at him?" asked Dolly._ _"Land o' Goshen, no!" said Nabby. "I jest wanted to see----well, them horses he's got." ... "Oh" said Dolly._--p. 109.] The fears and apprehensions of last night were all gone like a cloud, and she hurried down into the kitchen to find Nabby stirring up her buckwheat batter, and running to the window to see Hiel go by on the stage, kissing his hand to her as he passed. "I declare! the imperence of that cretur," said Nabby. "What, Hiel?" asked Dolly. "Yes, Hiel Jones! he's the conceitedest fellow that ever I did see. You can't look out of a window but he thinks your running to look at _him_." "And wasn't you running to look at him?" asked Dolly. "Land o' Goshen, no! What should I want to look at _him_ for? I jest wanted to see--well, them horses he's got." "Oh," said Dolly. Upon reflection she added, "I thought you liked Hiel, Nabby." "You thought I liked Hiel?" said Nabby laughing. "What a young 'un! Why, I can't bear the sight of him," and Nabby greased her griddle with combative energy. "He's the saassiest fellow I ever see. _I cant bear him!_" Dolly reflected on this statement gravely, while Nabby dropped on the first griddleful of cakes; finally she said, "If you don't like Hiel, Nabby, what made you sit up so late with him Christmas night?" "Who said I did?" said Nabby, beginning to turn griddle-cakes with velocity.