“It is anent that very thing that I have come to speak to you both,” she said seating herself on the side of the bed. “Why could not you and Peggy go to Jersey with me for a while? You need a change, Miss Sally, and my sister is near enough to the coast for you to have the benefit of the sea air. She hath a large house, and likes young company. We will give you a fine time, and ’twould do you no end of good. Will ye go?”
“Oh, I should like it,” cried Sally eagerly. “If Peggy will go I am sure that mother would be pleased to have me accept, Friend Nurse. Will thee, Peggy?”
“I’ll have to see mother about it, Sally,” answered Peggy slowly. She did not like the thought of leaving home again even for a few days, but Sally did need a change. She had extricated her from a grave difficulty, and so, stifling a sigh, she added: “I will go if mother will consent to it.”
“I’m going to get up,” spoke Sally decidedly. “When did thee wish to start, Friend Nurse?”
“I should like to go to-morrow,” answered Nurse Johnson. “Fairfax hath made arrangements for a large sled to use in place of the double wagon in which we came. That will make traveling easy, and we should start while the snow is on the ground. Should there come a warm spell the roads would be terrible.”
“Let’s go right down-stairs to see about it,” cried Sally. “If we go to-morrow there will be need for haste. See, Friend Nurse, the mere thought of going with thee hath given me strength. How much better I do feel already.”
“I’ll see that you have some color in these pale cheeks before I’m through with you,” declared Nurse Johnson pinching them lightly. “With Peggy and me to look after you a few days will make a great difference in you. Yes; let’s see about it right away.”
After all the matter was not mentioned immediately. David Owen had received some further orders which hastened his departure, and in the confusion of preparation the subject was not broached. It was at the tea table that Nurse Johnson unfolded the plan.
“And the raids, Friend Johnson?” spoke Mistress Owen. “Doth thy sister live where she would be subjected to them?”
“When Brother Tom wrote he said that there had been no trouble since Yorktown,” answered Nurse Johnson. “Did I think for one moment that there was danger I should not wish to take them into it. But Freehold is some distance from the coast, though the sea breezes have an appreciable effect upon the climate, and ’twill be of benefit to both girls to get away for a little while. Miss Sally certainly needs the change. I would take good care of them.”