Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/126

 CHAPTER VII

MASTER DEAN'S BEWILDERMENT

children entered the living room at the exact moment when Master Dean, welcoming this second visit of the citizens as an opportunity for him to extricate himself from the dilemma in which Dorothy and Sarah had placed him, sprang from his chair to give the new-comers admission.

Master Lamb, who it must be confessed was quicker to grasp all the details of a newly presented situation, ran after him, catching the silversmith by the coat-sleeve with a clutch sufficient to detain him against his will, and said hurriedly, speaking in a low tone as if fearful that those on the outside might hear him:

"Now is the time to be cautious, friend Dean. Let Scip open the door."

"To what end?" the silversmith asked irritably, trying in vain to release himself from his friend's hold. "It is my purpose to explain immediately what we have learned, and lead these good people to where the spy is hidden."

"And thus rush into the same mistake you were so eager to avoid? Many of them would 113