But at this Mistress Jean gave her head a toss and walked away to the end of the porch.
Then John Cotton brought the horse to the steps.
"Are you going so soon, Mr. Frisby?"
"I must," I answered; "I am a bearer of despatches to the Council of Safety. I would gladly desert my trust to be your escort to Chestertown, but—"
"The honour of the House of Fairlee stands in the way," said she mockingly.
"Not that, my lady," I replied, bowing courteously, "but the fact that I would fall even lower in your good graces."
"Well said, cavalier," she retorted, with a sweeping courtesy. "'Tis a pity that so fine a gentleman should be a rebel."
"Or so fair a maid a Tory."
"Is this a minuet?" came the laughing voice of my mother from the door.
"Nay, mother, I am only bidding Mistress Jean good-bye with all due ceremony."