e quickly
drew it in again, for her mother reproved her when she found her
hanging out at the window.

"What is all the stir about, mother?" she asked; "there be so many
folks abroad, and they have been passing in and out of the Assembly
Rooms for above an hour. What does it all mean? Are they baiting
the Governor again? Are they having another fight about the taxes?"

"Nay, child, I know not. I have been in the kitchen, looking to the
supper. Thy father came in awhile back, and said we had guests
arrived, and that he desired the supper to be extra good. That is
all I know."

"Something has happened, I am sure of that!" cried the girl again,
"and I would father would come and tell us what it is all about. He
always hears all the news. Perhaps the travellers he is bringing
here will know. I may sit with you at the supper table, may I not,
mother?"

"Yes, child; so your father said. He came in with a smile upon his
face. But he was in a great haste, and has been gone ever since. So
what it all means I know not."

Susanna--for such was the name of the girl--became at once
interested and excited.

"O mother, what can it be? Hark at that noise in the street below!
People are crying out in a great rage. What can it be? It was so
that day a week agone, when news was brought in that some poor
settlers had been murdered by Indians, and the Assembly would do
nothing but wrangle with the Governor instead of sending out troops
to defend our people. Do you think something can have happened
again?"

The mother's face turned a little pale.

"Heaven send it be not so!" she exclaimed. "I am always in fear
when I hear of such things--in fear for my old father, and for my
brothers. You know they live away there on the border. I pray
Heaven no trouble will fall upon them."

Susanna's eyes dilated with interest, as they always did when her
mother talked to her of these unknown relations, away beyond the
region of safety and civilization.

To be correct, it should be explained that Susanna was not the real
daughter of the woman whom she called mother; for Benjamin Ashley
had been twice married, and Susanna had been five years old before
Hannah Angell had taken the mother's place. But she never thought
of this herself. She remembered no other mother, and the tie
between them was strong and tender, despite the fact that there was
not more than thirteen years' difference in age between them, and
some girls might have rebelled ag