“Well, you two children will have it your own way,” said Mrs. Warren, with a sigh. “All I hope is that we shall soon see you back again, Charles, with a royal army. Who knows but his Majesty may make you Governor of New Jersey, when the war’s over?” she added, abandoning herself to her favorite castle-building.
“Who knows?” answered Aylesford.
“But Kate said nothing. She was again studying the contents of her cup. After awhile she looked up.
“You really go to-morrow, Charles?” she said.
“Really and positively. I shall only wait to see you in the saddle, that is if you still persist in your determination.”
“I see no reason,” answered Kate, frankly, “why I should not. The very fact that a royal expedition is down the river will make it all the safer here; for the refugees will flock there like vultures to a feast. They are but carrion warriors at best,” she added, contemptuously, “and only devour generally the prey that stronger and braver ones have pulled down.”
Aylesford thought that he had remonstrated enough for his purpose, so he said no more, not wishing to hazard Kate’s undertaking, by arousing his aunt’s fears.
“I will attend you as far as the church,” he said; “for my way will lie down that side of the river.” He deemed it best to do this, in order to be sure, before he finally left Sweetwater, that Kate would fall into the ambush prepared for her. “But,” he added, lowering his voice and looking across to Kate, as his aunt turned for a moment, “a word from you will change all my plans.”
“It cannot be, Charles,” answered Kate, in the same low tone. But her eyes thanked him for his forbearance.
Aylesford was not so degraded but that he felt a pang of shame. It was not too late, he reflected for a moment, to retreat. But the thought passed as instantaneously as it came. Before he could reply, Mrs. Warren again turned and spoke; and directly afterwards they all rose from the table.