Their little sailing vessel was gliding in, having passed Kent Island on the left. The fresh breeze had brought them down in a comparatively short time, and Lettice was soon scanning the small wharf to see who stood to meet them. “There’s Brother James,” she cried; “and I do believe it is Patsey Ringgold herself, Cousin Joe. Yes, there she sits on her white horse.” And almost before the boat had touched the sands, Lettice was ashore, crying: “Howdy, Brother James! Howdy, Patsey. Here we are, safe and sound, and so glad to get here.”
A warm color came into the face of the girl sitting on her horse ready to welcome them, and she slid down, before James could help her, to be heartily kissed and embraced by Lettice, who said: “I am dying to hear the neighborhood news, and, Patsey dear, there is so much to tell you, and I have brought a new sleeve pattern, and oh, tell me, have the gowns come home yet?”
“They are on the way,” Patsey told her. “Who is the young lady, Lettice?”
“That is Rhoda Kendall, my Aunt Martha’s niece, from Boston. I see Brother James is already making his manners to her.”
“Yes, I have heard of her,” returned Patsey; “but I wonder that she should come down here just now.”
“Her father is obliged to be in Washington, and thought it safer that she should come down here with us, since there are such troubles in the city.”
“Troubles, yes; and there are like to be more of them, if what we hear is true. Every one is talking of the war, and the planters are making ready for defence.”
“And they are sending out vessels from Baltimore to chase the British cruisers; Cousin Joe—” Lettice paused, for Patsey cast an apprehensive look at the tall figure then stepping over the side of the vessel. “Cousin Joe,” Lettice repeated, “will tell you all about it.”
Up toward a white house set in a grove of locust trees, they all took their way, attended by an escort of negroes, big and little, who lugged along whatever was portable. Lettice linked her arm in that of her brother, when her Cousin Joe joined Patsey, and this youngest pair fell behind the rest. “You’ll take me straight home, Jamie dear, won’t you?” Lettice coaxed. “I do so want to see Sister Betty and the baby, and Brother William, and oh, so many things! You don’t know how glad I am to get back! Does Betty make a good housekeeper, and has she changed the place much?”
“No, very little,” her brother made reply; “and, yes, she is a fair housekeeper; perhaps not so good as our mother was, but Betty has some years before she will need to have great things expected of her. How is father? and what is this I hear of his going to join the troops? Joe says Uncle Tom is talking of going, too.”