In the afternoon Miss Lavender returned, and her first business was to
give a faithful report of Gilbert's condition and the true story of his
misfortune, which she repeated, almost word for word, as it came from
his lips. It did not differ materially from that which Martha had
already heard, and the direction which her thoughts had taken, in the
mean time, seemed to be confirmed. The gentle, steady strength of
purpose that looked from her clear blue eyes, and expressed itself in
the firm, sharp curve of her lip, was never more distinct than when she
said,--

"Now, Betsy, all is clear to me. You were right before, and I am right
now. I must see Gilbert when he calls the men together, and after that I
shall know how to act."

Three days afterwards, there was another assemblage of the Kennett
Volunteers at the Unicorn Tavern. This time, however, Mark Deane was on
hand, and Alfred Barton did not make his appearance. That Gilbert Potter
should take the command was an understood matter. The preliminary
consultation was secretly held, and when Dougherty, the Irish ostler,
mixed himself, as by accident, among the troop, Gilbert sharply ordered
him away. Whatever the plan of the chase was, it was not communicated to
the crowd of country idlers; and there was, in consequence, some
grumbling at, and a great deal of respect for, the new arrangement.

Miss Betsy Lavender had managed to speak to Gilbert before the others
arrived; therefore, after they had left, to meet the next day, equipped
for a possible absence of a week, he crossed the road and entered Dr.
Deane's house.