found that she had gained a better knowledge of him than in years of
ordinary acquaintance. For she could not have realized by that how
many-sided the man was, how full of resources, and how indomitable.
She noticed how sympathetically he spoke of the brave fellows he was
leading. When he said that the hardships of the campaign and the cold
of a severer climate than they had been accustomed to had prostrated
numbers of them. Elizabeth saw that it was not only soldiers that he
felt he was losing when they died, but men from his own home and
neighborhood and in whom he had a personal interest. Then as he sat
there, she begged him not to think of her if others needed him but
to go.

"This time is at my own disposal," he answered, adding with a smile. "If
the struggle had come, Mistress Royal, I should think of you, no doubt,
but I should not give you a moment's attention. The pointing of the
smallest cannon would at the moment be of more importance than all your
affairs. A besieging army can have no cry of '_Place aux dames_;'
therefore I shall not invite you to stay after to-morrow. I shall even
send you home. Or, lest I should hurt your feelings too much, I will put
it this way; I shall send your father home, and he will take you with
him."

Elizabeth laughed; and the conversation went on with its interest
increasing, when all at once Pepperell rose, and held out his hand to
her in farewell. "I may not see you again until we meet in Boston." he
said, "but if I can, I will come for a moment in the morning."

She was surprised at his going away so soon after his assurance of being
at leisure but as after speaking to her father he stepped over the side
of the vessel, she perceived the reason for his sudden departure. His
trained eye had caught what the distance had hidden from her, the figure
of a man coming rapidly toward the shore.

When the General landed, the keel of the little boat he was in grated on
the beach at Stephen Archdale's feet. With a salute to his commander,
the latter sprang into it, and before Elizabeth had recovered her
breath, was coming over the ship's side.

The General walked on without turning his head toward the schooner.
Nevertheless, it is true that once he said to himself distinctly. "The
Yankee in me does clamor to know what they want of that fellow."

[Footnote 1: Copyright, 1884, by Frances C. Sparhawk.]

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ROOM AT THE TOP.

Never y