that the task he had been set to do in the provincial towns that
day was not an easy one; that, when hard pressed and trodden
down, the despised rustics, in home-spun dress, could sting even
English soldiers; and thus it happened that, when he felt the
touch of Mother Moulton's plump little old fingers on his
military sleeve, he was not in the pleasant humor that he had
been, when the same hand had ministered to his hunger in the
early morning.

"Well, what of it? LET IT BURN! We won't hurt you, if you go in
the house and stay there!"

She turned and glanced up at the court-house. Already flames
were issuing from it. "Go in the house and let it burn, INDEED!"
thought she. "He knows me, don't he? Oh, sir! for the love of
Heaven won't you stop it?" she said, entreatingly.

"Run in the house, good mother. That is a wise woman," he
advised.

Down in her heart, and as the very outcome of lip and brain she
wanted to say, "You needn't 'mother' me, you murderous rascal!"
but, remembering everything that was at stake, she crushed her
wrath and buttoned it in as closely as she had Uncle John behind
the door in the morning, and again, with swift gentleness, laid
her hand on his arm.

He turned and looked at her. Vexed at her persistence, and
extremely annoyed at intelligence that had just reached him from
the North Bridge, he said, imperiously, "Get away! or you'll be