hough she did not dream of the full extent of Bernard's
hypocrisy, yet all his efforts had been unavailing to restore full
confidence in his sincerity. She dared not trust a matter of such
importance to another, especially when she had reason to suspect that
that other was far from being friendly in his feelings towards her
lover. Once determined on her course, she lost no time in informing her
parents of her resolution; and so, when they were all seated around the
breakfast-table, she said quietly, but firmly--

"I am going to Accomac to-day, father."

"To where!" cried her mother; "why surely, child, you must be out of
your senses."

"No, dearest mother, my calmness is not an indication of insanity. If I
should neglect this sacred duty, you might then indeed tremble for my
reason."

"What in the world are you thinking of, Jeanie!" said her father, in his
turn surprised at this sudden resolution; "what duties can call you to
Accomac?"

"I go to save life," replied Virginia. "Can you wonder, my father, that
when I see all that I hold dearest in life just trembling on the verge
of destruction, I should desire to do all in my power to save it."

"You are right, my child," replied her father, tenderly; "if it were
possible for you to accomplish any good. But what can you do to rescue
Hansford from the hand of justice?"

"Of justice!" said Virginia, "and can you unite with those, my dear
father, who profane the name of justice by applying it to the relentless
cruelty with which blind vengeance pursues its victims?"

"Ah, Jeanie!" said her father, smiling, as he pressed her hand tenderly;
"you should remember, in language of the quaint old satirist, Butler,

'No thief e'er felt the halter draw,
With good opinion of the law;'

and although I would not apply the bitter couplet to my little Jeanie in
its full force, yet she must own that her interest in its present
application, prevents her from being a very competent judge of its
propriety and justice."

"But surely, dear father, you cannot think that these violent measures
against the unhappy parties to the late rebellion, are either just or
politic?"

"I grant, my child, that to my own mind, a far more humane policy might
be pursued consistent with the ends of justice. To inspire terror in a
subject is not the surest means to secure his allegiance or his love for
government. I am sure, if you were afraid of your old father, and
always in dread of his