"But the scrimping was n't the worst of it by a great deal. I began to feel like a fly caught in a spider's web. I could hardly ever get a chance to speak to Lewis—never alone—and Abiram was always in my way, hanging round and giving me presents and trying to make himself agreeable. Aunt Betsy watched me as a cat watches a mouse, and by and by it began to be said about the village that I was engaged to Abiram. I told Emma Parvin, who was my most intimate friend, to contradict it everywhere, and so she did; but a great many believed it. Even Lewis almost began to doubt, because he never could see me alone. About this time he went across the creek, and took on with James Whitecar, who had a deal of stock and horses. James did well by him, for Lewis was very knowing in such matters, and he began to lay up money. Well, of course we saw less of each other than ever, but his going was an advantage in one way. Old Uncle Jacob, an old negro, used to paddle across and up and down the river, fishing. He was a good friend to both of us, and used to carry our letters back and forth. Then every morning at just such an hour Lewis used to wave his handkerchief out of his window and I used to wave one out of mine. So we knew that all was well." Aunt Elisabeth had looked uneasy for a few minutes, and as grandma paused to take up a stitch she said mildly,— "Some people would say, grandmother, that it was not very wise to be putting love-stories into the heads of these young girls." Grandma looked up, and her still bright eyes twinkled a little. "Elisabeth," said she; "does thee know that the white kitten had her nose in the cream this morning?" "Yes," answered Aunt Elisabeth; "I saw her." "Did thee show her the way to the milk, Elisabeth?" "No!" said Aunt Elisabeth, surprised. "Oh!" said grandma. "I did n't know but some one had put it in her head." Aunt Elisabeth smiled and went on with her hemstitching. "But there was another thing which annoyed me almost as much as the love-making," continued grandma. "It was, as I said, in the year 1774—the year before the war. The whole country was stirred up against the British, and their unjust and illegal taxations and other oppressions—though I do think the bad manners and arrogance of the British officers and governors had almost as much to do with the business. The tax on tea had caused specially hard feeling, and you know how they served the cargo which was brought to Boston. When we got the news of the Boston tea-party, as it got to be called, there was a good deal of division of opinion. Most of the young men were on the patriot side, and so were many of the old ones, but still those were not wanting who called the business a shameful outrage, and stood up for the British through thick and thin. Abiram was one of these and Aunt Betsy another, and they used to abuse the patriots and uphold the British till they made my blood fairly boil.