Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/114

Rh army, and it behooves us to stand well with the public if we would save our own skins and property."

The worthy silversmith sank back on a chair moaning.

"Have you any proposition to make?" he asked after a long time of silence.

"You know better than I what should be done; but as it appears to me, we are both equally in a way to be blamed regarding this matter, and I surely have the right to question concerning the possible outcome of our movements."

"Oh, I wish the villain was out of this house!" Mistress Dean cried nervously.

"I could echo that wish, wife, if it might be done without my knowledge," the silversmith said fervently. "Why couldn't he have had sense enough to make his escape by one of the back windows before I arrived?"

"Since you are simply indulging in wishes, it would be as well to pray that he had never come, or, to go still further afield, that our wives had not sent the children here," Master Lamb replied, smiling sadly.

"Are we to be blamed because a spy sought refuge in this house, taking advantage of an open door?" Mistress Lamb cried shrilly, and straightway her husband set about soothing her, while Master Dean remained in an attitude of despair,