wo days
before its engagement with the British, the old clock within the house
struck seven. With her breath caught in her throat Nancy counted
sixty, twice--then suddenly sprang to her feet and rushed off the
veranda.

"Why, Nancy--dear," cried Aunt Milly, startled.

"Humph," grunted Aunt Sabrina, clicking her needles faster than ever.

Peter was in the orchard. He had been there since quarter of seven.
He was disappointed at the coolness of Nancy's greeting; it seemed to
him that he had been gone for ages, and he had, during his absence,
quite foolishly, been looking forward to this meeting.

He had hoped, too, that she might wear the rose.

"One guess where I've been," he commanded lightly, as he held out his
hand to assist her into the tree.

"Dear me, how can I tell? Buying plows or pigs or----"

Nancy tried to make her tone seem airily indifferent, when all the time
she was really consumed with curiosity and a desire, too, to tell him
how splendidly her work was going.

"I have seen Theodore Hoffman!"

"_What?_"

"Don't look as though you thought I'd gone mad. He's human. I
happened to hear that he was staying at Bluff Point, so I went over to
see the gentleman."

Nancy's eyes _did_ say that she thought he had gone quite out of his
mind!

"How did you _dare_?"

"I know a fellow that knows him. He was very nice--as I said, he's
human, terribly human. You should see him playing tennis!"

"What--_what_ did you say to him?"

"I told him I had a little friend who was soon to become one of the
greatest playwrights in the world and----"

"_Peter!_" Nancy lifted an imploring finger. "Honest, what _did_ you
say? And why----" she was suddenly abashed. He had done this for her.

Peter kept his tone light.

"You see I did have some pig business over that way, so it was easy
enough to do a favor for a little pal at the same time. Hoffman was
very nice--he's going to be around up here for some weeks and promised
me he would drive over here. Now it's up to you to have the manuscript
ready."

"Oh, Peter, I'm _frightened_! You're a darling! I shall _always_
bless pigs! Of _course_ I'll have it done--I'll work night and day.
I'll go straight back to the house now." She jumped to the ground. In
her haste she forgot the poor rose she had hidden behind her.

Peter, crestfallen at her sudden flight, found it, however. He smiled,
whimsically, as he held it in the palm of his hand.

"Nice l