t we
conversed lightly. We passed Grant, even as I held my breath, almost
afraid to venture with words. Yet they would not be restrained.

"You certainly startled me; how do you know this? Surely we have never
met before?"

"I refuse to be questioned, sir; it means nothing how I know--the fact
that I do should be sufficient."

"But Mistress Claire--"

"Rather Mistress Mortimer."

"Yet the Captain called you Claire."

"And we were children together--you can scarcely claim such familiarity."

"I warrant you can name me."

"Allen, is it not, sir?"

What was it the witch did not know! This was no guess-work, surely, and
yet how could her strange knowledge be accounted for? Sweet as the face
was, greatly as it had attracted me, there was nothing to awaken a throb
of memory. Surely I could never have seen her before, and forgotten; that
would have been impossible. The music ceased, leaving us at the farther
extremity of the hall.

"And now you will go?" she questioned eagerly.

"Do you mean, leave here?"

"Yes; you said once to-night, that but for me you would be riding yonder.
I realized all you meant, and you must not remain. The guard-lines are
slack to-night, and you can get through, but if you wait until to-morrow
it may be too late. Believe me, I am your friend, a friend of your
cause."

"I do believe you; I could not connect you with deceit, but I am
bewildered at this sudden exposure. Does Captain Grant also suspect my
identity?"

"I think not--not yet, at least, for if he did you would be under arrest.
But there are others here who would recognize you just as I have. There
is no mystery about it. I was in Philadelphia when the Continental troops
were here, and you were pointed out to me then. No, we have never met,
yet I was sure I recognized you this afternoon."

"I was pointed out to you by whom?"

"My brother--my twin brother on the staff of General Lee."

"Did you not inform me your family were loyalists?"

"Yes; it is true," earnestly, her foot tapping the floor, as though
annoyed at such persistent questioning. "I have a father and brother in
the King's service--but one is a renegade, and I--I--"

"You are what?"

"I am merely a woman, sir, unable to determine whether to finally become
loyalist or rebel."

I looked gravely into her eyes until they fell, veiling their revelation
of truth behind long lashes.

"Mistress Mortimer," I murmured, bending so close to her pink ear, I felt