“Thee must leave me out of such a plan, Clifford,” spoke Peggy quietly. “I am not going to New York. When I was there before only the river lay betwixt my mother and me, yet I was not permitted to cross it. I should be a prisoner as thee would be in Philadelphia. I could not bear it.”
“But you cannot remain here, Peggy,” he remonstrated. “I am doing what seems to me the best that can be done for you. The country is overrun by soldiers of both sides. Were you able to get through the British lines there still remain the rebels.”
“Thee has no need to trouble concerning me at all, my cousin,” spoke Peggy with some heat. “If I can reach the rebel lines, as thee calls them, I shall be sent through. I am not going to New York in any event.”
“I shall not permit you to remain here,” he said, determination written on every feature. “I am your nearest male relative in this part of the country, and as such I shall do what I think is best for you. Come, little cousin, be reasonable. Harriet shall use her influence, once New York is reached, to see that you go to your mother. Will not that content you?”
“It doth not content me,” replied the girl, her whole nature roused to resistance. Too well she knew what Harriet’s promises were to rely upon them. “I am grateful to thee, Clifford, for thy thought of me; but thee must give o’er anything that hath New York for its end and aim.”
“But I cannot let you stay here,” he cried again. “The game is up as far as these people are concerned. I cannot let you remain to be a sharer in their miseries and distresses. Be reasonable, Peggy.”
“I am reasonable, Clifford. Reasonable with the reason born of experience. These people are my people. If I cannot get home I prefer to share their misery, rather than to be at ease among the British. Attend to thy sister, but leave me to do as I think best, I beg.”
“’Tis futile to talk further concerning the matter,” he said. “You must be made to do what is best for you.” With this he left her.
“I can tarry here no longer,” Peggy told herself as she watched Clifford’s retreating figure. “My cousin is sincere in the belief that it is the best thing to do. Were Harriet to be relied upon——But no; too many promises have been broken to trust her now. I must try to get to our lines. I will go in the morning.”
The light was just breaking in the east the next morning when Peggy softly stole into the stable where Star was, and deftly saddled and bridled the little mare.