He kissed her hand again, bowed to Miss Sally, and hastened from the hall, closing the door behind him. Once outside, he made his way to the stables, where he knew that Cuff, not having returned to Elizabeth, must still be. "It's little reward you give that gentleman's devotion, Elizabeth," said Miss Sally, when he had gone. "Why, am I not going to give him myself? Come, aunty, don't preach on that old topic. My parents wish me to be married to Jack Colden, and I have consented, being an obedient child,--in some things." "More obedient to your own whims than to anything else," was Miss Sally's comment. The sound of Colden's horse departing brought to the amiable aunt the thought of a previous departure. "That fine young rebel captain!" said she. "If our troops take him they'll hang him! Gracious! As if there were so many handsome young men that any could be spared! Why can't they hang the old and ugly ones instead?" Mr. Valentine suspended his chewing long enough to bestow on Miss Sally a look of vague suspicion. The door, which had not been locked or bolted after Colden's going, was suddenly flung open to admit Cuff. The negro boy had been thrown by the dragoons' visit into an almost comatose condition of fright, from which the orders of Colden had but now sufficiently restored him to enable his venturing out of the stable. He now stood trembling in fear of Elizabeth's reproof, stammering out a wild protestation of his inability to save the horse by force, and of his inefficacious attempts to save him by prayer. Elizabeth cut him short with the remark, intended rather for her own satisfaction than for aught else, that one thing was to be hoped,--the chance of war might pay back the impertinent rebel who had stolen the horse. She then gave orders that the hall and the east parlor be lighted up. "For the proper reception," she added to her aunt, "of the next handsome rebel captain who may condescend to honor us with a visit. Mr. Valentine, wait in the parlor till supper is ready. I'll have a fire made there. Come, aunt Sally, we'll discuss over a cup of tea the charms of your pretty rebel captain and his agreeable way of relieving ladies of their favorite horses. I'll warrant he'll look handsomer than ever, on the gallows, when our soldiers catch him."