undeserved treatment you have received. I may be unwise in saying
this; but justice to all, it appears to me, requires that you should
be apprised of it. You will not surely make use of this to embroil us?"

"Certainly not; but what you communicate is hardly news to me. I well
understand that the principal one of those to whom you allude is no
other than the person who just rode away from your house."

"You saw him, then? I am thankful you did not come in collision with
him; for he is a man you must avoid. Yes, that was indeed Colonel Peters."

_Colonel_ Peters! _Colonel_, did you call him? Has he, then, actually
joined the British forces, and received a commission for such a post
in their army?"

"Yes; but I had supposed this was known, else I might have hesitated
to disclose it, lest his frequent visits here might implicate my
father, who, I hope, may be induced to remain neutral in this unhappy
contest."

"Fear not, fair friend. No advantage shall be taken of this, through
my means, to the injury of your father. But, tell me, does that
officious adviser of your father still urge a suit, and plead an
engagement, of which, I have inferred, you would not be sorry to be
relieved?"

"He does," answered the maiden, sadly--"he does urge a suit, and
insist on an engagement, of which he knows I wish to be relieved."

"Why should he do this?"