ad thar's a tablet these here Daughters
of somethin' or other from Montpelier put up for some pi'neers that
died fightin' the Indians while their women folks set off in boats for
the mainland. I heard B'lindy tell that at the last social down at the
meetin' house. I cal'late some of them pi'neers were Leavitts, at
that, fur it want long before that the pretty lady came who hed the
name built in the mantel. B'lindy knows--she can tell jes' what day
the pretty lady come and the very room she died in. B'lindy was born
in the old house and she and Miss Sabriny growed up like sisters though
B'lindy's a good sight younger and spryer like than Miss Sabriny!"

From the warmth of his tone Nancy guessed that there was a weak spot in
Webb's heart for B'lindy.

"Tell me more about B'lindy," she asked, softly.

"Wal, if you jus' take a bit of advice from an old man you be _purty_
nice to B'lindy! Folks sez that Miss Sabriny's high and mightier than
the worst Leavitt, and they're a mighty proud lot, but I jus' got a
notion that the only person who runs Miss Sabriny is B'lindy and I sort
o' think she runs the hul of Happy House! And now here I am a
gossipin' so with a pretty passenger that I clean furgot to leave off
that chicken wire for Jenkins. _Whoa_, there, whoa, I say!"

Nancy guessed that the cluster of housetops she glimpsed ahead, almost
hidden by the great elms and maples, was Freedom. She stared at them
reflectively. Through Webb she seemed suddenly to feel that she had
known the little tragedies and joys of Freedom all her life. She was
not a bit afraid now to meet Aunt Sabrina or this Miss Milly or
B'lindy. And she was eager to see the old, old house and the spot
where Leavitts had been massacred as they protected their women! After
all, it was going to be very pleasant--this playing at being one of the
old Leavitts! She wished Webb would hurry.

When Farmer Jenkins followed Webb to the wheel of the wagon, Nancy knew
that Webb had lingered to tell of her coming. She met the farmer's
open stare with a pleasant little smile so that, an hour later, he
"opined" to the thin, bent-shouldered woman who shared his name and
labors, that "if that young gal wouldn't set things stirrin' pretty
lively up at Happy House, he'd miss his guess!"

As they approached the outlying houses of the village Webb assumed an
important air. "This here's Freedom, Missy, and I'm proud to do the
honors for Miss Sabriny's niece! It