"You, too, Jack--and every gentleman among you must be mad to flout our King!" "Mad, indeed--and therefore to be pitied, not punished," says Claudia. "Therefore, let us drink tea with our rebel officers, Polly--out of sheer compassion for their common infirmity." "We rebels don't drink tea, you know," said I, smiling. "Oh, la! Wait till we invite your Continentals yonder. For, if Polly and I are to be imprisoned here, I vow I mean to amuse myself with the likeliest of these young men in blue and buff, whom I can see yonder, stalking to and fro along the Johnstown Road. May I not send them a civil invitation, Polly?" "If you insist. I, however, decline to meet them," pouted Lady Johnson. "I shall write a little letter to their commanding officer," quoth Claudia. "Do as you like, Polly, but, as for me, I do not desire to perish of dullness with only women to talk to, and only a swamp to gaze upon!" She sprang to her feet; Lady Johnson and Penelope also rose, as did I. "Is it true, Jack, that you are under promise to take this young girl to Douw Fonda's house in Caughnawaga?" asked Lady Johnson. "Yes, madam." She turned to Penelope: "When do you desire to set out?" "As soon as may be, my lady." "I like you. I wish you would remain and share my loneliness." "I would, my lady, only I feel in honour bound to go to Mr. Fonda." Claudia passed her arm around the Scottish girl's slim waist. "Come," she coaxed, "be my companion! Be more friend than servant, more sister than friend. For I, also, begin to love you, with your dark eyes and yellow hair, and your fine hands and sweet, fresh skin, like a child from a bath." They both laughed, looking at each other with a gaze shy but friendly, like two who seem to think they are, perhaps, destined to love each other. "I wish I might remain," said the Scottish girl, reluctantly turning toward me. "Are you for Caughnawaga?" I asked bluntly. "Yes, sir." "Very well," said I. "Polly Johnson, may I take your carriage?" "It is always at your command, Jack. But I am sorry that our little Scottish lass must go." However, she gave the order to black Colas, who must drive us, also, because, excepting for Colas and poor Flora, and one slave left in Johnstown, all servants, slaves, tenants, and officers of Sir John's household had fled with the treacherous Baronet and were now God knows where in the terrific wilderness and making, without doubt, for the Canadas. For personal reasons I was glad that the dishonoured man was gone. I should have been ashamed to take him prisoner. But I was deeply troubled on other accounts; for this man had gone northward with hundreds of my old neighbors, for the purpose of forming an army of white men and Indians, with which he promised to return and cut our throats and lay our beautiful countryside in ashes.