int is due to my interposition with Sir William Berkeley."

"Oh yes, indeed," interposed Virginia, "for I heard my father say that
it was Mr. Bernard's wise suggestion, adopted by the Governor, which
secured your release."

"Hardly so," returned Hansford, "even if such were his disposition. But,
if I am rightly informed, your assistance only extended to a very
natural request, that I should not be judged guilty so long as there was
no evidence to convict me. If I am indebted to Mr. Bernard for
impressing upon the mind of the Governor a principle of law as old, I
believe, as Magna Charta, I must e'en render him the thanks which are
justly his due, and which he seems so anxious to demand."

"Mr. Hansford," said Virginia, "why will you persist in being so
obstinate? Is it such a hard thing, after all, for one brave man to owe
his life to another, or for an innocent man to receive justice at the
hands of a generous one? And at least, I should think, she added, with
the least possible pout, "that, when I ask as a favour that you should
be friends, you should not refuse me."

"Indeed, Miss Virginia," said Alfred Bernard, without evincing the
slightest mark of displeasure; "you urge this reconciliation too far. If
Major Hansford have some secret cause of enmity or distrust towards me,
of which I am ignorant, I beg that you will not force him to express a
sentiment which his heart does not entertain. And as for his gratitude,
which he seems to think that I demand, I assure you, that for any
service which I may have done him, I am sufficiently compensated by my
own consciousness of rectitude of purpose, and nobly rewarded by
securing your approving smile."

"Nobly, generously said, Mr. Bernard," replied Virginia, "and now I have
indeed mistaken Mr. Hansford's character if he fail to make atonement
for his backwardness, by a full, free, and cordial reconciliation."

"I must needs give you my left hand, then," said Hansford, extending his
hand with as much cordiality as he could assume; "my right arm is
disabled as you perceive, by a wound inflicted by one of the enemies of
my country, against whom it would seem it is treason to battle."

"Nay, if you go into that hateful subject again," said Virginia, "I
fear there is not much cordiality in your heart yet."

"Oh! you are mistaken, Miss Temple," said Bernard, gaily; "you must
remember the old adage, that the left is nearest to the heart. Believe
me, Major Hansford and myse