“What’s the matter, little daughter?”
“I—I—don’t know.”
“I understand. You were quite right to send him away, but you did not want him harmed.”
“I—I—didn’t want anybody harmed.”
“I know. It’s too bad, but none of us seem quite to trust him.”
“That’s it,” she sobbed; “I don’t either, and yet——”
“I know. I know. My little girl must be wise and brave, and maybe it will all pass and she will be glad. But she must be brave. Mother is not well and she must not be made unhappy too. She must not know. Can’t my little girl come back to the house now? She must be hostess and this is Erskine’s last night.” She looked up, brushing away her tears.
“His last night?” Ah, wise old colonel!
“Yes—he goes to-morrow to join Captain Clark at Williamsburg on his foolish campaign in the Northwest. We might never see him again.”
“Oh, father!”