Hero had so gaily destroyed. The fact that her mother did
not speak of the bonnet only made Betty the more repentant. She and Ruth
had both resolved that they would not again take for granted that they
could use other people's property without permission.

"Aunt Deborah is going home to Barren Hill to-morrow," said Ruth, as she
and Winifred came near home; "Farmer Withal is to call for her. You
know he brings in butter and cheese from his farm every Thursday, and
Aunt Deborah will ride home in his wagon. I wish I were going with her."

"Oh, Ruth Pernell!" said Winifred reproachfully.

"Well, I do. Barren Hill is half-way to Valley Forge, and perhaps I
could see my father. And, Winifred! One day Lafayette stopped at Aunt
Deborah's door! Perhaps I might see him; perhaps he might ask me to
carry a message for him," said Ruth eagerly.

"Little girls can't carry war messages," Winifred rejoined confidently.
"You are just like Gilbert, always wishing you could do something for
Lafayette. I don't see why. I would rather help Washington."

"It's because Lafayette came 'way from France," Ruth replied, "and,
anyway, I am going to Barren Hill. Mother says that I may go next
month."

"I have thought of something!" Winifred announced. "To-morrow you and I
will drive out a little way with your aunt. With Fluff, I mean; and Hero
may go too. I will harness Fluff into the cart, and we will be all ready
to start at the same time they do."

Ruth agreed that this would be a fine plan, and both the girls were sure
that Aunt Deborah would be pleased that they wished to go a part of the
way with her. They decided to take "Josephine" and "Cecilia," as well as
Hero, with them.

[Illustration: IT WAS A FAVORITE PLAY-HOUSE]

"It will make up to them for not taking part in the play," said
Winifred. So much had happened during the past week that Ruth had
entirely forgotten the unfinished chair for Cecilia, but now she spoke
of it to Winifred.

"I will help you finish it. But let's take our dolls and work into the
garden; it is too warm to stay in the house," she said, and in a short
time the two little girls had brought Cecilia and Josephine, as well as
their sewing bags, to the shade of the wide-spreading maple tree that
grew in the further corner of the Pernell's' garden. Ruth's father had
built a low seat around this tree, and it was a favorite play-house for
the two little friends. Hero followed them, and stretched himself out at
th