_Annie_. Dear Helen, dress yourself. It is all true! We must go to-night, we must indeed. They are dismantling the fort now.--Come to the door, and you can hear them if you will; and here is word from Henry, we must be ready before morning--the British are within sight. Do you hear me, Helen? Do not stand looking at me in that strange way. _Helen_. To-night! _Annie_. I was frightened myself at first, sadly; but there is no danger, not the least. We shall be in Albany to-morrow, Henry says. Come, Helen, there is no one to see to any thing but ourselves. They are running about like mad creatures there below, and the children, are crying, and such a time you never saw. _Helen_. To-night! That those beautiful lips should speak it! Take it back. It cannot be. It must not be. _Annie_. Why do you look so reproachfully at me? Helen, you astonish and frighten me! _Helen_. Yes--yes--I see it all. And why could I not have known this one hour sooner?--Even now it may not be too late. Annie-- _Annie_. Thank Heaven,--there is my mother's voice at last. _Helen_. Annie, stay. Do not mark what I have said in the bewilderment of this sudden fear. Is George below?--Who brought this news? _Annie_. One of the men from the fort.--George has not been home since you sent him to Elliston's. She is calling me. Make haste and come down, Helen. [_Exit_. _Helen_. They will leave me alone. They will leave me here alone. And why could I not have known this one hour sooner?--I could have bid him come to-night--If the invisible powers are plotting against me, it is well. Could I have thought of this?--and yet, how like something I had known before, it all comes upon me.--Can I stay here alone?--Could I?--No never, never! He must come for me to-night. Perchance that pacquet still lies at yonder hut, and it is not yet too late to recal my letter;--if it is--if it is, I must find some other messenger. Thank God!--there is one way. Elliston can send to that camp to-night. He can--even now,--He can--he will.-- [_Exit_. * * * * * DIALOGUE III. SCENE. _The porch. Helen waiting the return of her messenger from the hut_.