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 His Excellency can make exception of me? Our family affairs loom small against those of the country!"

Mistress Nancy, coming down the stairs an hour later with Charity's breakfast tray in her hands, looked around the kitchen in obvious dismay.

"What, art alone, Hitty?" she asked, her face falling.

Mehitable, busily washing dishes, loked up with a naughty grin.

"Why, John is out in the woodshed polishing his boots, an that is what ye mean," she answered coolly. "He has not yet departed."

Setting the tray down with a Httle slam, Mistress Nancy bit her lips.

"Indeed, I asked not for information concerning your—your—brother!" she retorted, the color flooding her face.

Mehitable polished a pewter trencher; then, placing It upon the table, she turned and came over to her with an air of determination.

"Nancy," she said, her honest eyes looking straight into the older girl's, "I could not help seeing you and John last night. Why do you treat my brother thus? I guessed, of course, that you had met before—perhaps in New York."

Mistress Nancy drew herself up proudly. "I know not who gave you thus charge o' my affairs, Hitty. Ye know nothing about them. But come"—her face changed and coming close to Mehitable she held out a three-cornered note—"knowst aught o' this, my child?"

Mehitable, feeling snubbed, took the note silently;