Lettice nodded, too full of distress to speak, and the two women, holding each other closely, watched the young men as they galloped out of sight. “Oh, Lettice, Lettice,” Betty sobbed, “suppose we never see them again!”
“Don’t!” cried Lettice, sharply. “Betty, don’t say such things. Let us busy ourselves about something, or we shall not be fit to face trouble when it comes. I must hide these papers at once.” She concealed them under her apron, and stole through the orchard to the graveyard, where, dropping on her knees, she hastily dug a hole close by the leaning footstone of Theophilus Hopkins’s grave, and in the cavity she placed the box of papers. From time to time she glanced apprehensively around to be sure that no one observed her, and she was startled in the very act of covering up the place of hiding, by hearing some one say: “I knew I should find you here. Are you honoring your ancestor by planting fresh flowers upon his grave? It is rather late in the season, isn’t it?”
Lettice, looking greatly confused, stammered: “I—yes—no, I was not. It is rather late for some flowers, to be sure, but some can be planted at almost any time, you know.” As she recovered herself, she spoke with more assurance. “How long have you been watching me, Mr. Clinton?” she asked.
“Only a few moments. I saw you digging away for dear life, but I didn’t disturb you, for I liked to watch your little white hands.” He tried to take them in his, but Lettice drew them away.
“They are all covered with earth and stuff,” she said. “You came very early.”
“Yes, I came from your aunt with a message. We have heard that the British are moving in this direction, and Mrs. Hopkins thinks you will all be safer under her roof. I suppose your brothers are off at first alarm.”
“Yes, they have gone; but I am not sure what Betty will consent to do. The negroes, to be sure, are scattering off toward the woods, and our being here will scarcely keep them together. The older and more faithful ones will stay anyhow, and we could take Lutie, and Mammy, and Speery with us. Jubal has been stirring them all up with his fearsome tales, and I shouldn’t be surprised if he coaxed off a lot of the field hands. I never did trust Jubal,” she said meditatively.
“Then I will escort you over, if your sister consents.”
Lettice agreed, and they started for the house. “Do you know if it is simply a foraging party of British on the way here, or is it really a large force?” Lettice asked.
“I believe it is quite a large force; at least I was told so by some one who brought the news. A company of scouts under Captain Massey made the discovery that the British were advancing, and there has been a skirmish. Major Nicholson and his troops are at Queenstown, which I believe is expected to be the point of attack.”