he marauders to jail for ten or twenty years. Now I don't want
the name of Shrimpton mixed up with that of Brandon. So you can cut
Tom adrift."

"But, father"--

"I don't want any buts. You will do as I tell you if you know what is
good for yourself."

"Have you not, father, said in the past that he was an estimable young
man?"

"But he is not estimable now. He meets others in secret to plot
mischief. I have had spies on his track. He is a lawbreaker, a
mischief-maker, and sooner or later will be in jail, and possibly may
be brought to the gallows. Now, once for all, I tell you I will not
have him coming here."

Mr. Shrimpton said it with a flushed face, setting his teeth firmly
together as he rose from his chair.

"Very well, father," said Mary, wiping the tears from her eyes.

She knew how irascible he was at times,--how he allowed his anger to
master reason, and hoped it might pass away. Through the night the
words were repeating themselves. What course should she pursue? Give
up Tom? What if he did help destroy the tea; was it not a righteous
protest against the tyranny of the king and Parliament? He did not do
it as an individual, but as a member of the community; it was the only
course for them to pursue. Tom was not therefore a thief at heart. Was
he not kind-hearted? Was he not giving his time and strength to
relieve suffering? Had he not just as much right to stand resolutely
for the liberties of the people as her father for the prerogatives of
the king? Must she stop seeing him to please her father? It would not
be pleasant to have Tom call upon her, and have her father shut the
door in his face; that would be an indignity. Should she withdraw her
engagement? Should she plunge a knife into her own heart to please her
father? Never. Come what would, she would be true to Tom. She would
not anger her father by inviting Tom to continue his visits, but there
were the elms of Long Acre, Beacon Hill, the market, and other places,
where from time to time they might meet for a few moments. True love
could wait for better days.

There came a morning when the people saw a handbill posted upon the
walls which said that the men who were misleading the people were
bankrupt in purse and character. Tom Brandon's blood was at fever heat
as he read the closing words:--

"Ask pardon of God, submit to our king and Parliament, whom
we have wickedly and grievously offended. Let us seize our
seducers, make p