after a pause, during which surprise and indignation kept him silent.
"That, then, explains the hints she has several times thrown out to me
respecting some peculiar trials and difficulties to which she was
subjected. But was she of age when she signed that paper?"

"No; but she probably, in her great scrupulousness, would long
hesitate to break the engagement on account of that, or the fraudulent
means they doubtless used to draw her into the shameful affair.
Nevertheless, I would persevere. Her right to stave off the fellow,
with her known wish to get rid of him, may yet procure her an
honorable release; or she may be brought to take a different view
about the binding nature of a promise obtained under such
circumstances; or, as a last resort, that paper may be got out of his
possession by some scheme or other. So I think you will worst him in
the long run, in spite of his present advantages of the father's help,
his own wealth, and----"

"And his recent promotion," interrupted Woodburn, "which is to be the
stepping-stone to the dukedom of Vermont, the reward for betraying his
country, and the glittering bait, which, in anticipation, is already
held out to this besieged, but bravely resisting, girl!"

"What do you mean, Woodburn?" bluntly said the other, in surprise.

"I mean," replied the former, "that Peters has lately received a
colonel's commission in the British service, and is even now secretly
but actively engaged, I suspect, in trying to seduce the people with
British gold, and raise troops among us to co-operate with Burgoyne."

"You astonish me. Why, the hypocritical rascal has been giving out