"I should not mean to fly from duty," said Lionel, "but wherever the first hard blow for freedom is struck there will men be needed, and for a time at least I think the conflict will be hottest near old Boston town."
There came at that moment the sound of gay voices from near the house.
"What you say may be true," Reginald hastened to reply, then he added in a sly tone, "but I thought it might be there were fair ones, I might say, a fair one, it would be your first sweet duty to stay and defend."
"Oh, prithee, halt!" cried Lionel, half impatiently. "The fair one I would guard and defend, at present, is my native land. All fair dames and maidens have my respect and command my service, but I can think neither of billing or cooing or wooing with sound of clanking guns being raised in our midst, and by those who call us 'rebels!'
"Now here come the ladies. And hark ye! the subject must be changed. I like not talking of war with those who think it sin to take up arms against the king."
After they had gone Sally sat for several moments lost in thought.
"It would sometimes seem that he loveth the Lady Rosamond not one whit," she said, dreamily.
Then she arose, shook out her pretty skirt with its simple but tasteful overskirt of flowered cloth, and began a leisurely homeward walk.
Her heart-beats quickened and she turned her head aside, when two soldiers appeared at a turn in the road. She could usually avoid meeting them, but to-night they were so near she must needs pass them.
As she hurried by, some green sprays she had held fluttered to the ground. The next instant a tall, graceful form was by her side, and a pair of curious eyes were peeping into her straw bonnet.