"Don't be in too big a hurry to go, sons," said Mrs. Dare sadly, when
they were discussing the matter, that evening at supper. "Think how
lonesome Mary and I will be when you are gone."

"Mrs. Foster and the girls will come over often," said Dick. "They
will keep you cheered up."

"It will help," was the reply. "But we will be lonely, just the same."

"You might try to be cheerful, mother," said Tom. "Dick and I won't
want to think of you as being lonely."

"Oh, I will get along all right, sons," said the brave woman, forcing
a smile. She wanted to have the boys go away feeling that she was in
good spirits.

They had just finished eating supper, when Ben Foster came in. There
was an eager, excited look on his face, and he said earnestly:

"There's a plot on foot against Dick and Tom, and I came right over to
let you know about it."

"A plot!" exclaimed Mrs. Dare, her face paling and her voice
trembling. "By whom!"

"The Tories."

"Ah!" breathed the woman, a look of anxiety on her face. "This is
terrible!"