"I read a story about her once, how when the Revolution started, she
felt that it was something that did not concern her at all. She
wouldn't consent to have Lord Cecil mix into the trouble at all, for
they had so many friends on both sides."

"I know just how she felt, don't you, Bet?"

"Of course! Lady Betty didn't want to think about wars and fighting.
She wanted to have parties and make people happy. But of course the
estate and everything they had, was from the English Crown, for his
services here."

"I should think she would rather have given it up than get into the
quarrel."

"And that's exactly how she felt about it," exclaimed Bet. "And while
they made up their minds not to take sides, it wasn't easy to do. All
their friends had made a decision, some on the English side and some on
the American. And after a while, Lord Cecil and Lady Betty got into
it, too."

"And I know which side they chose," cried Kit excitedly. "They decided
to fight for America."

"Yes, think of it!" cried Bet. "At that time Washington's forces were
being defeated all around here, and it must have seemed to them that
they were giving up their lovely home."

"And did Lord Cecil go to the war and fight?" asked Kit.

"Yes. And Lady Betty smiled as he rode away. That is until he was out
of sight."

"She must have been very unhappy without her husband," whispered Kit.

"Then after Lord Cecil had been fighting for about two months, Lady
Betty received a message from him, telling her to get to the American
lines, down near King's Bridge, just as soon as possible. The English
were advancing and if they found her at the Manor they would make her
answer all kinds of questions and perhaps keep her a prisoner, hoping
to get information." Bet paused for a moment and gazed up at the
portrait.

"Go on Bet! What did she do?"

"She left an old servant in charge at the Manor and started out on
horseback with just a small colored boy to carry her portmanteau. And
just imagine, Lady Betty had never before been out after nightfall
without an escort. She must have been terribly frightened."

"But that wouldn't stop her, I know!"

"No. She galloped along the Post Road.--And Kit, doesn't it give you a
little thrill to know it's the very same road that runs past the house
now?--And pretty soon she saw some riders coming toward her in the
distance. So she turned off on another road that was not used much.
It would lead her to