Page:Milady at Arms (1937).pdf/154

 "But that seems traitorous!" objected the girl. "To eat o' a neighbor's bread and then betray him!"

"Think rather 'tis traitorous to turn against one's country," whispered Mistress Ball, and for a grim moment she showed relationship to her stern son, Uzal. "Nay, ha' no scruples, my child. As long as there be wealthy Tory families i' New Jersey to feed and help the enemy, just so long this most dreadful war will be prolonged! The quicker all Tories be discovered and banished—aye, though they be our best friends"—and the tears started involuntarily to Mistress Ball's eyes, to be surreptitiously wiped away—"the better 'twill be! Do ye not see that, Sally?"

"Aye," sighed the girl. "Yet, methinks Uzal be right and misfortune e'er finds me out! For I like not to stay here wi' the feeling o' mayhap turning traitor to this family!"

More and more she had that feeling of reluctance, as the afternoon waned at last, and she watched Mistress Williams happily bidding a cordial farewell to her guests, congratulating each one upon the amount of work she had done for a noble cause. More and more bitterly Sally asked herself why fate had chosen her to play so mean a part.

It was while she was standing beside Mistress Williams upon the doorstep, holding the Williams baby in her arms—for Sally could never see a baby