She shook her head. "No, no,—I must not do that. I must go back to Dorchester, to see Mary and Mistress Knollys once more. And, too"—with a blush—"I could not go without any raiment besides this." And she touched the folds of her riding-habit.
He stood a minute as if thinking, and then asked if she would come out for a short walk.
"Most assuredly," was her smiling response; and turning from the window, she was not long in putting on her hat.
As she was about leaving the room, she noticed her riding-whip lying on the table where she had tossed it upon her arrival the previous evening. It was a gift from her father, and one she prized very highly; and fearing that the sight of it might excite the cupidity of some of the servants, she picked it up, and then passed quickly out to the porch.
Here she encountered several of the officers whom she had seen talking with her brother a short time before. They now drew aside to let her go by, which she did hurriedly, her eyes lowered under the shadowy plumes of her riding-hat, and oblivious of the admiring glances they stole at her.
Many of the inmates of Washington's headquarters had become acquainted with her little romance; and so, unknown to herself, she was an object of much interest. It was for this reason also, as well as on account of the responsibility assumed with regard to him by Washington himself, that the English captain was occupying a somewhat unusual position amongst the American officers.
Finding her brother and husband together, the two coming to meet her at the porch, Dorothy asked after Hugh, and was told by Jack that he had gone with a message to some of the outposts, but would return shortly.
"And is he well this morning, Jack?"
"Oh, yes," her brother answered lightly. "You will not go far away, of course," he added, "nor stay long, else I shall have to come or send for you."
"Only a short distance;" and Captain Southorn motioned to the wood that lay not far from the rear of the house.