or!"

"But, Molly, the young lady fell in love with the English officer; and I
think it was very noble of her father to sacrifice his own dearest hopes
on the shrine of his daughter's happiness."

"Oh, don't talk to me about shrines and sacrifices! That's all out of the
romances you wear your eyes out reading at night. I believe in neighbors
and in kinsfolks, not in strangers and foreigners. There!"

"Well, Molly, you have a right to your own opinions, and the Forces have a
right to theirs. You must admit that!"

"Yes; and the heathen have a right to theirs, I suppose you think,
Sukey."

"No; that is carrying the matter too far. But good-by, Molly. We must go
now. We will be back as soon as we can."

The departing ones kissed their relatives, and went out to the block,
where Dan stood holding the horse.

Henny followed with a heavy shawl, which she folded and laid upon the
saddle.

"Mind, girl; as soon as you have cleaned up the room, get ready and come
after us. We may stay longer than we expect Down on the Bay, so you must
bring a change of clothes with you. Be sure to start from here in time to
get to Oldfield before night. I don't like, the idea of your going through
the forest alone after dark," said Miss Grandiere.

"Nebber you fear, Miss Sukey. I be down at Olefiel' by de time yo' dere
yo'se'f--fo' sundown, anyhow," said the negro girl, as she helped her
mistress to climb into the saddle, and then lifted Rosemary up to a seat
behind her.

"Now, Miss Rose'ry, yo' hole on tight. Put yo' arms 'roun' yo' Aunt
Sukey's waist, and hole on tight. Don't you slip off! Look'ee here, yo'
nigger Dan; yo' walk 'longside ob dis chile, case she fall off. Tell yo'
wot, nigger, ef dis chile fall off an' break her arm or anyfing, yo'
better not show yo' face at Olefiel'--nor likewise here, needer! Yo' hears
me, doan yo'?"

"Oh, Aunt Henny, I am not going to fall off; nor neither would Dan let me.
Poor Dan! Don't scold him beforehand," pleaded Rosemary.

"High, chile, 'twould be too late to scold arterward. Wot I sez is, do
you' scoldin' an' yo' whippin' 'fo' dere's any cause fer it--'taint no
good to do it arterward; 'twon't ondo nuffin' wot's done," said Henny; but
her wisdom was lost on the party, who had already started on their way,
aunt and niece riding double, and Dan walking beside the horse.

Their way lay over snow-covered ground, through bare woods, up and down
rolling hills, and over frozen streams.

It