ssage from me," said the niece.
"Most of the officers know me, and those at King's Bridge are aware I
came here to-day."

Thereupon she called in Cuff, and sent him off for Williams, with
orders that the steward should bring her pen, ink, paper, and wax.

"Oh, Elizabeth!" cried Miss Sally, looking at the floor. "Here's some
of the poor fellow's blood on the carpet."

"Never mind. The blood of an enemy is a sight easily tolerated," said
the girl, probably unaware how nearly she had duplicated a famous
utterance of a certain King of France, whose remark had borne
reference to another sense than that of sight.[6]

Williams soon came in with the writing materials, and placed them, at
Elizabeth's direction, on a table that stood between the two eastern
windows, and on which was a lighted candelabrum. Elizabeth sat down at
the table, her back towards the fireplace and Peyton.

"I wish you to send black Sam to me," said she to the steward, "and to
take his place on guard with the gun till he returns from an errand."

Williams departed, and Elizabeth began to make the quill fly over the
paper, her aunt looking on from beside the table. Peyton opened his
eyes and looked at them.

"It does seem a pity," said Miss Sally at last. "Such a pretty
gentleman,--such a gallant soldier!"

"Gentleman?" echoed Elizabeth, writing on. "The fellow is not a
gentleman! Nor a gallant soldier!"

Peyton rose to a sitting posture as if stung by a hornet, but was
instantly reminded of his wound. But neither Elizabeth nor her aunt
saw or heard his movement. The girl, unaware that he was awake,
continued:

"Does a gentleman or a gallant soldier desert the army of his king to
join that of his king's enemies?"

Quick came the answer,--not from aunt Sally, but from Peyton on the
sofa.

"A gallant soldier has the right to choose his side, and a gentleman
need not fight against his country!"

Elizabeth did not suffer herself to appear startled at this sudden
breaking in. Having finished her note, she quietly folded it, and
addressed it, while she said:

"A gallant soldier, having once chosen his side, will be loyal to it;
and a gentleman never bore the odious title of deserter."

"A gentleman can afford to wear any title that is redeemed by a
glorious cause and an extraordinary danger. When I took service
with the King's army in England, I never dreamt that army would be
sent against the King's own colonies; and not till I arrived in
Bo