had
escaped from its prim, white night coif. She started when she saw a
visitor, and her feet drew demurely back under the hem of her gown,
while her hands went up to her disheveled hair; but a second glance
showing her his quality, she recovered her composure and spoke to her
father in her soft, serious voice.

"I heard a noise, my father, and looking into your room, found it empty,
so I came down to see what made you wakeful to-night."

"'Tis but a message from Verney Manor, child," said her father. "Get
back to bed."

"From Verney Manor!" exclaimed Betty. "Then I can send back to-night the
song book and book of plays lent me by Sir Charles Carew, and which,
after reading the first page, I e'en restored to their wrappings and
laid aside with a good book a-top to put me in better thoughts if ever I
was tempted to touch them again. I will get them, good fellow, and you
shall carry them back to their owner with my thanks, if it so be that I
can find words that are both courteous and truthful."

"Stop, child!" said her father as she turned to leave the room. "The
volumes, which you were very right not to read, may rest awhile beneath
the good book. This is a secret mission upon which this young man has
come. It is about a--a matter of state upon which his master and I have
been engaged. No one here or at Verney Manor must know that he has been
at Rosemead."

"Very well, my father," said Betty, meekly, "the books can wait some
other opportunity."

"And," with some sternness, "you will be careful to hold your tongue as
to this man's presence here to-night."

"Very well, father."

"You are not to speak of it to Mistress Patricia or to any one."

"I will be silent, my father."

"Very well," said the Major. "You are not like the majority of women. I
know that your word is as good as an oath. Now run away to bed,
sweetheart, and forget that you have seen this messenger."

"I am going now, father," said Betty, obediently. "Is Mistress Patricia
well, good fellow?"

"Quite well, I believe, madam."

"She spake of crossing to Accomac with Mistress Lettice and Sir Charles
Carew, when the latter should go to visit Colonel Scarborough. Know you
if she went?"

"I think not, madam. I think that Sir Charles Carew went alone."

"Ah! They have fallen out then," said Betty, half to herself, and with a
demure satisfaction in her wild flower face. "I am glad of it, for I
like him not. Thanks, good fellow, for your answering