Page:Mistress Madcap Surrenders (1926).pdf/83

 back toward the thickets to retrace her steps; but Mehitable, as soon as she had retreated to a safe distance, vented her ire in words.

"In good sooth, they take a maid's service for granted here, Tabbie!" she exclaimed with a low, angry laugh.

Tabitha, crawling along through the underbrush, glanced around at her in mild surprise. "What did ye expect, Hitty?" she asked soothingly.

"I expected, at least, to be invited to inspect the powder mill and see how they made gunpowder!" retorted Mehitable, dodging an especially vicious briar which, though stripped and dried by wintry winds, could yet deal wounds with its thorns. "After carrying the heavy package to them through—through this awful place!" she added bitterly.

"Nay!" Tabitha's voice was shocked. "They cannot stop to dance attendance upon chance Visitors, these men who work here, Hitty! Why," she went on earnestly, "surely ye know that most, if not all, o' the gunpowder used by our Continental Army in New Jersey is made i' this very mill!"

There was huffy silence upon Mehitable's part; but she was too sunshiny of temper to sulk long, and at last her better nature came to the fore.

"I vow ye be right, Tabbie," she said then, good—haturedly. "Have ye ne'er been in the mill, then?"