ay, sir. Accommodations are easily procured either
in the village, or out here with one of the officers' families. She
would be well cared for, and 'twould be a comfort to me."

The boyish face was full of pleading. He was very young. David Owen's
eyes misted suddenly as his youth came home to him.

"It must be as Peggy says, lad," he rejoined, turning toward his
daughter with concern. He had noted her pallor and sadness when he
told her that there was but little hope for the boy, and he knew that
if she stayed it must of necessity be a tax upon her strength. Peggy
met his anxious glance with a brave smile. She was ever ready to sink
self if by so doing she could give comfort to another.

"Certainly I will stay, if Clifford wishes it, father," she said. "I
think I should like to, and Harriet would wish it, I know."

"Can thee bear it, lass, knowing that thy cousin's time may be short?"

"Cousin David," spoke Clifford quickly, "there isn't going to be
anything melancholy about these two weeks. 'Twould benefit neither my
cousin nor myself to dwell upon the approach of death; so----"

"She shall stay, lad," interrupted Mr. Owen. "Thy words remove the
last scruple I had anent it. Would that I might be with thee also, but
I shall try to come back."

Accordingly when David Owen started on his return to Lancaster Peggy
was left at Chatham. Mrs. Dayton had declared that she must make her
home with them, and gratefully the maiden accepted the hospitality.
Clifford, conformable to the instructions sent by General Washington,
was subjected to little restraint. Relying upon the safeguard of his
honor the American colonel let him come and go through the cantonment,
the village, and about the surrounding country at his pleasure.

Peggy had her own little mare with her, and Clifford having procured
a mount, it came about that they spent long hours in the saddle,
exploring the neighboring hills, the roads and byways around the camp.
At no time did Clifford exhibit sadness or melancholy. Had it not
been for the knowledge ever present in the background of their
consciousness of what was to come it would have been a happy period.

The days passed. Ten had gone by, but there came no word from Harriet.
Peggy found herself growing apprehensive. Would Harriet succeed? she
asked herself again and again. No word had come from her. Did it mean
failure? She had been so sure. And Peggy was glad that General
Washington had insisted that tw