her that were
real or assumed, and she too brightened up.

The friends then discussed the details of the projected flight.

"In the first place," began Captain Pendleton, "you must both be so well
disguised as to seem the opposite of yourself in rank, age, and personal
appearance. You, Lyon, must shave off your auburn beard, and cut close
your auburn hair, and you must put on a gray wig and a gray beard--those
worn by your old Peter, in his character of Polonius at your mask ball,
will, with a little trimming, serve your purpose. Then you must wear a
pair of spectacles and a broad-brimmed hat and an old man's loose
fitting, shabby travelling suit. I can procure both the spectacles and
the clothes from the wardrobe of my deceased father. Mrs. Berners, too,
should cut her hair short, and wear a red wig and a plain dress. The wig
you wore as Harold the Saxon will suit very well, with a little
arrangement. Then I can procure the dress from my sister. You must
travel as a poor old farmer, and your wife must go as your red-headed
illiterate daughter. You are both excellent actors, and can sustain your
parts very well."

"Dear me!" said Sybil, half crying, half smiling; "I have been warned
that it is never well to begin any enterprise of which one does not know
the end. And I'm sure when I undertook to give a mask ball and take a
character in it, I had not the slightest idea that the masquerade would
last longer than a night, or that I should have to continue to act a
character."

"Never mind, darling; it is but for a season. Go on, Pendleton. You seem
to have settled everything in your own mind for us. Let us hear the rest
of your plan," said Mr. Berners.

"It is this," continued the Captain. "I will bring these disguises to
you to-morrow night. I will also have a covered cart, loaded with
turnips, potatoes, apples, and so forth; I will have this cart driven by
your faithful Joe down to the Blackville ferry-boat, in which of course
he can cross the river with his load of produce unsuspected and
unquestioned."

"Or even if some inquisitive gossip should ask him where he might be
going, Joe would be ready with his safe answer. He can beat us in
baffling inquiry," put in Sybil.

"Like all his race," laughed Lyon.

"The chance you have mentioned is provided for. Joe is instructed to
answer any haphazard questioner, that he is bringing the load to me,
which will be the truth."

"But proceed, dear Pendleton. Develop you