“That shall be stopped immediately, madam,” he said. “War is not a gentle thing, and sometimes suffering must fall upon even our friends. In this case, however, your inconvenience will be short.”
The good woman had not recovered from her bewilderment at this speech, ere he pushed past her into the house, and they heard him reprimanding the looting soldiers sharply.
“What doth it mean, child?” she gasped as every article taken was restored to its place, and a guard mounted before the dwelling. “Why are we so favored when our poor neighbors are faring so ill?”
“’Tis Clifford,” Peggy told her. “He insisted that my friends and I should not be subjected to annoyance by his people as a return for nursing him.”
“Well, of all things!” exclaimed the nurse. “And you thought he did not like you!”
“He doesn’t, friend nurse. He made sure that I should understand that his feeling toward me had not changed, but he felt that he was under an obligation of which he would be quit. Still,” a little gleam came into Peggy’s eyes as she spoke, “he did think that he would not mind my ministering to him so much now.”
“Of course not,” laughed Nurse Johnson. “He will think it his due now. Isn’t that like an Englishman? But I am very thankful none the less, though I see not how he could do other than he hath done. It is certainly reassuring to know that we shall not be molested.”
So Peggy and her friend stayed in the cottage, or went back and forth to the hospital untroubled, save for the irksomeness of having armed men about the dooryard. And in the stable Star ate her oats, or tossed her slender head unwitting of the fact that she had been saved from helping in the marauding expeditions of the enemy.
“I have misjudged my cousin,” thought Peggy with a warm glow of gratitude toward the lad as she prepared his breakfast the next morning. “And yesterday I was so angry. Peggy, Peggy! will thee never learn to govern thy temper? Thee must be more patient, and guard thy unruly tongue better. Heigh-ho! ’tis an adventurous jaunt after all, though still I would I were with mother. There! I don’t believe that my cousin will ignore my offering this morning.”
And with this she placed a few violets on the platter, and started for the hospital, going through the gate of the orchard which opened into Palace Street.