"No!" she answered, stamping one little slippered foot on the floor. Then going to the captain's side, she laid her head on his shoulder and said:
"My father will protect me; I want no other protection."
"Morgianna," began the baffled lieutenant, "I would like a word with you in private--"
"Lieutenant Matson, I don't care to hear you--I will not listen to you. As my father's friend, I once did tolerate you; but now, as my country's enemy, I have no forbearance with you. Begone!" and her white, jeweled hand pointed to the door.
The Briton's face flushed crimson, as he retorted:
"Morgianna, you may regret--"
"Lieutenant Matson!" interrupted the captain fiercely. "Not another word, lest I forget your father was my mate. Begone!"
With an oath, Matson left the town and returned to his men on the neck of the peninsula. When he was gone, Captain Lane turned to his daughter and was surprised to see a look of contempt instead of the grief he had expected. That one glance convinced him that he had been mistaken, and that she did not love the Englishman after all.
"Father, that man's true spirit was revealed to-night. Even though he is your old friend's son, he is a villain."
Next day some of the Marylanders had a skirmish with the British on the neck of land, and one of the villagers was wounded. The Xenophon still hovered near the mouth of the narrow harbor and only waited a favorable wind to enter the bay, and commence the siege which could have but one result.