“Now, now, ’twill not do. After being such brave, helpful girls all night, are ye going to give way now? ’Twill never do, sweetings. For the boy’s sake, ye must be brave. See! I have nice, hot coffee all ready. Run after them, and tell them that I want them to take a cup before going far.”
“And we were going to be so brave,” reminded Sally wiping her eyes.
“’Tis all my fault,” said Peggy, “but ’twas the thought of——”
“Now be quick, or they will be gone too far,” interrupted Mistress Ashley.
The two men were entering the confines of the forest when Peggy called to them:
“Mistress Ashley wishes that ye would take a cup of coffee before going, friends. She hath it already prepared.”
Fairfax shook his head.
“Mother first,” he said. “I could not take anything.”
The tears came again to Peggy’s eyes.