Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/73

62 father comes; he will know what it is best for you to do."

"Ay, my child, he will doubtless know what is best for him to do, and I can well fancy what that may be; but I am going more particularly in order to relieve you from a disagreeable visitor."

"Then you may stay, sir, for Sarah and I are no longer afraid. It is much nicer to have you here in the place of Scip," Dorothy said in the most friendly tone.

"I thank you, young mistress, and I am well pleased to have shown that a British officer, even though he be playing the spy for the time, is not as great a villain as you had supposed. But how can you, the daughter of Jacob Dean, that most violent of Whigs, allow a spy to outwit those children of liberty who are howling for blood?" and Lieutenant Oakman waved his hand toward that point from which the cries and shouts could yet be heard.

"You must not go out while those people are there," and Dorothy felt quite proud because she had succeeded in speaking as her mother would have done.

This satisfaction with herself because she had made the proper reply, was so pleasing that she glanced down at her gown to make certain it was showing to the best advantage, when, for the first