“Good!” cried Lettice. “I wonder how Rhoda likes that.”
James looked down, and with the toe of his boot rolled over one of the hounds at his feet; then he looked up, saying, “And Robert Clinton, how do you suppose he takes it?”
Lettice gave her head a little toss. “What do I care how he takes it! Is there news from Canada, Brother William?”
“No good news. We must be content with our victories at sea, for the present. Our little state has nothing to be ashamed of in her naval exploits.”
Just then the smart rap of a whip-handle on the door announced a visitor, and Birket Dean walked in. “I was coming this way, Miss Lettice,” he said, after greeting them all, “and I brought along this letter that came for you on one of the boats.”
“A letter?” Lettice eagerly held out her hand, and tore open the letter fastened with seals, for as yet envelopes were unknown. She gave her attention to the closely written pages, then looked up, and said animatedly: “Oh, brother! oh, Sister Betty, Rhoda wants me to come to Washington for a visit! I should so love to go to see the President and Mrs. Madison, and oh, do say I may go!”
“Alone?” returned her brother William, smiling. “You wouldn’t expect me to leave Betty and the baby to take you, would you?”
“Jamie could take me. You would like nothing better, would you, Jamie?”
“I’d like to, yes; but—”
“Oh, well, never mind; I can go as far as Baltimore with Aunt Martha, and she can find some one in whose charge to place me. I will see Aunt Martha this very evening.”