self striving to marshal
them to the cold realities of duty that lay before her. She had been
cleaning the little addition at the rear of the dwelling proper, used as
a kitchen, and her work took her into the yard. Dolly's whinny had
caused her to turn her head, and the next moment cares and
responsibilities and all else were forgotten. Now she wondered what she
had been about! Seizing a cloth she began to dust industriously. The
crash of one of the dishes on the kitchen floor brought her to her
senses. Her mother heard the noise from the adjoining room.

"What ails thee, child? Hast thou lost thy reason?"

"I believe so, mommy. I must have been thinking of other things." And
she stooped to gather the fragments.

"Was it Captain Meagher? I saw you two at the gate."

A guilty smile stole over the corners of her mouth.

"He was passing while I was in the yard, and he stopped only to wish me
the greetings of the day. I was right glad that he did, for I had an
opportunity of extending to him the invitation from Peggy."

"He will go, I suppose?" she queried, knowing well what the answer might
be. She did not spare the time to stop for conversation, but continued
with her duties.

"He is quite pleased. And, mommy, he will call for me."

"Be careful, now, to break no more dishes."

"Lud! I have not lost my head yet. That was purely an accident which
will not happen again."

"That poor unfortunate Spangler made a better defense."

"He deserved what he got. So did Lieutenant Lyons and the other officers
of the Ranger who deserted to the enemy. But my sympathies go out to the
old man who kept the gates under the city. These court-martials are
becoming too common and I don't like them."

"That is the horrible side of war, my dear. And until our people learn
the value of patriotism, the need of abolishing all foreign ties and
strongly adhering to the land that has offered them a home and a living,
the necessity of these dreadful measures will never cease."

"A little power is a dangerous weapon to thrust into a man's hand,
unless he be great enough to wield it."

"Now you are going to say that General Arnold is to blame for these
tragedies."

"No, I am not. But I do think that a great deal more of clemency could
be exercised. Many of those poor tradesmen who were convicted and
sentenced to be hanged could have been pardoned with equal security."

"That is the law, my dear, and the law is God's will. Leave all to