her very much like Melvina, for she had learned her
daily lessons obediently, and moved about the house as quietly as a
mouse.

But when she awoke on the morning of the day upon which she was to
return home she was sure it was the happiest day of her life. Mrs. Lyon
had even called her a "quiet and careful child," and the minister smiled
upon her, and said that she "was a loyal little maid." So she had great
reason for being pleased; and the thought of being home again made her
ready to dance with delight.

The day that the tree of liberty was planted was declared a holiday, and
the inhabitants of the town gathered on the bluff where it was to be
set. Melvina and Anna and Luretta were together, and the other children
of the neighborhood were scattered about.

"Where is Rebby, Mother?" Anna asked, looking about for her sister.

"To be sure! She started off with Lucia Horton, but I do not see them,"
responded Mrs. Weston, smiling happily to think that her own little
Danna would no longer be absent from home.

There was great rejoicing among the people as the tree was raised, and
citizen after citizen stepped forward and made solemn pledges to resist
England's injustice to the American colonies. Then, amid the shouts of
the assembled inhabitants, the discharge of musketry, and the sound of
fife and drum, Machias took its rightful place among the defenders of
American liberty.

But Rebecca Weston and Lucia Horton, sitting in an upper window of the
Horton house, looked out at the inspiring scene without wishing to be
any nearer. Rebecca was ashamed when she remembered her own part in
trying to prevent the erection of a liberty pole, for now she realized
all it stood for; and she was no longer afraid of an attack upon the
town by an English gunboat. To Rebecca it seemed that such an attack
would bring its own punishment. Her thoughts were now filled by a great
desire to do something, something difficult and even dangerous to her
own safety, in order to make up for that evening when she had crept out
in the darkness and helped Lucia send the tree adrift.

But Lucia's mind was filled with entirely different thoughts. She was
ready to cry with disappointment and fear in seeing the liberty pole set
up. She could not forget that her father had said that such a thing
would mean trouble.

"If we had not set it adrift, Lucia, we could be on the bluff now with
the others," Rebby whispered, as they heard the gay notes of the f