of a lady, and it is not seemly
for her to see the flash of weapons."

At this he put up his sword.

"To whom do I owe a lesson in gallantry?" he asked with a low and
sweeping bow.

"James Frisby, of Fairlee, a Lieutenant in the Maryland Line," I
replied with equal courtesy.

Mistress Jean had stood as though she were turned to stone during our
exchange of courtesies, but now she seemed to recover.

"Captain Farquharson," she cried, and she came and stood between us,
"this is an old friend of mine. He saved my life at the Braes when we
were raided by the rebels. You must promise me to let him go free out
of the city."

"Your wishes, Mistress Jean, are law," said he, "and shall be obeyed.
I shall give him till morning to escape in."

"Which I promptly accept," said I, "with the hope that I may be able
to repay your courtesy if fortune should bring you within our lines
some day."

And so he bade Mistress Jean farewell, but as he passed me, I
whispered to him:

"Sir, some words have been said that need an explanation."

"It will give me pleasure to offer you one at any place you may
appoint."

"Then meet me," I said, "two days hence at sunrise on the pike,
half-way between the lines."

"With swords or pistols?"

"Swords."

"I will be there;" and he passed on out.

When he had gone, I turned to Mistress Jean, who urged me to leave at
once.

"You must go," said she, "for at any moment you may be tracked and
discovered, and then----"

"And then--what?" I answered, smiling. "Do you think, Mistress Jean,
that I, who travelled for miles through the snow and the storm last
night to catch one glimpse of your face, that I, who at last stand in
your presence, would give a thought to the noose around my neck?"

But she would not let me say her nay, and then her terror grew, until
at last she told me that Lord Howe sometimes came home with her father
at nine o'clock to talk over the plans of the spring campaign, and
that every moment she expected to hear their voices in the hall.

"The sight of your face, Mistress Jean, has repaid me for my journey;
but if you bid me go, why, then, it is fate, and go I must." Then a
thought came to me. "Mistress Jean, tell me this before I leave in the
enemy's camp all that is dearest on earth to me: tell me if you love
that Highlander, if you care for him." And she, who a moment before
was urging me to leave, stood silent, with her face turned away from
me, with never a wo