wrath and authority, you would not love him as
you do, Jeanie--and government is at last nothing but a larger family."

"Well, then," returned the artless girl, "why should I not go to Sir
William Berkeley, and represent to him the harshness of his course, and
the propriety of tempering his revenge with mercy?"

"First, my daughter, because I have only expressed my private opinion,
which would have but little weight with the Governor, or any one else
but you and mother, there. Remember that we are neither the framers nor
the administrators of the law. And then you would make but a poor
mediator, my darling, if you were to attempt to dissuade the Governor
from his policy, by charging him with cruelty and injustice. Think no
more of this wild idea, my dear child. It can do no good, and reflects
more credit on your warm, generous heart, than on your understanding or
experience."

"Hinder me not, my father," said Virginia, earnestly, her blue eyes
filling with tears. "I can but fail, and if you would save me from the
bitterness of self-reproach hereafter, let me go. Oh, think how it would
add bitterness to the cup of grief, if, when closing the eyes of a dead
friend, we should think that we had left some remedy untried which might
have saved his life! If I fail, it will at least be some consolation,
even in despair, that I did all that I could to avert his fate; and if I
succeed--oh! how transporting the thought that the life of one I love
had been spared through my interposition. Then hinder me not, father,
mother--if you would not destroy your daughter's peace forever, oh, let
me go!"

The solemn earnestness with which the poor girl thus urged her parents
to grant her request, deeply affected them both; and the old lady,
forgetting in her love for her daughter the indelicacy and impropriety
of her plan, volunteered her very efficient advocacy of Virginia's
cause.

"Indeed, Colonel Temple," she said, "you should not oppose Virginia in
this matter. You will have enough to reproach yourself for, if by your
means you should prevent her from doing what she thinks best. And,
indeed, I like to see a young girl show so much spirit and interest in
her lover's fate. It is seldom you see such things now-a-days, though it
used to be common enough in England. Now, just put it to yourself."

The Colonel accordingly did "put it to himself," and, charmed with his
daughter's affection and heroism, concluded himself to accompany her