"Of course, but then the Squire didn't seem to want to make you uneasy any sooner than was necessary. That's why he cautioned me about tellin' you, I suppose."
"And very thoughtful it was of him, too," declared the girl with shrewdly feigned graciousness. "So it was the squire that told you about the raiders?"
"Yes, and it goes to prove how much he really thinks of you, not to want you worried."
"That's true," the girl's manner took on a careless indifference, "He was speaking to me the other day about the raiders; what did he have to say to you?" she asked in an off-hand way that threw the mother quite off her guard for the moment.
"He was sayin' that he feared you'd be badly frightened if you knew the raiders would be here tonight."
"Tonight?" cried the girl excitedly, no longer acting a part.
"There! I've gone and let the cat out of the bag, after all!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown in sudden contrition. "You partly guessed it, though. I didn't tell you out and out." She came a little closer to Sally, while her voice dropped to a tragic whisper. "Yes, the raiders air comin' this very night."
"How does he know?"
"He didn't tell me, but he's found out somehow."
"What will become of us?" cried her hearer in genuine apprehension.