“But it so neat and clean,” said Betty, pulling a three-legged stool toward the fire, and surveying the recently scrubbed floor; “we are cold and weary, and you are very good to take us in.”

Evidently the woman was amenable to politeness, for she bustled around and insisted upon making the coffee, which Caesar produced in due time from his hamper under the box-seat, and she laid a cloth on the pine-wood table, and at last, after disappearing for a few minutes into the darkness of a small inner room, reappeared with three silver spoons and two forks in her hand, which she laid carefully down beside the pewter plates on the table with an air of pride as she remarked, addressing no one in particular:—­

“The forks was my grandmother’s, and my father fetched the spoons from a voyage he made on the Spanish main, and he always said they was made of real Spanish dollars.”

Thereupon Mrs. Seymour and Betty fell to admiring the queer-looking articles (which from their workmanship were really worthy of admiration), and the spinster relaxed her severe air sufficiently to accept a cup of the coffee they were drinking.  And then Mrs. Seymour induced her to give consent that Caesar should have a shake-down in a corner of the kitchen, and although the bed which Betty and the pretty matron had to share was hard, it was clean, and the pillows soft, and they slept soundly and well amid their rough surroundings, and, to confess the truth, enjoyed the novelty of the situation.

Lieutenant Hillhouse aroused them early in the morning by a message; and as Mrs. Seymour was not ready to receive him, Betty ran out and met him at the door.

“You look so fresh and bright that I am sure your night spent upon the roadside has not harmed you,” said the officer, bidding her good-morning.  “I am off at once, as I carry an order to General Wolcott for quartermaster’s stores in Litchfield.  What shall I say to your father for you?”

“Oh,” cried Betty, rejoiced at this chance to send word of mouth to her beloved ones, “how truly fortunate!  Tell my father we are well and in good spirits, and hope to reach the neutral ground to-night at farthest.”

“You may easily do that; the storm has passed, as you see, and if my friend Caesar can urge his horses somewhat, you are not likely to meet with detentions.  One of my men has assisted in shoeing the horse, and if you can, you should start at once.”

The coach and Mrs. Seymour appeared at this moment simultaneously, and the lieutenant insisted upon seeing the ladies safely started.  Betty seized the opportunity to ask for news of Josiah Huntington, and was told of his having rendered good service, and that he gained in popularity daily.

“And Oliver—­my brother,” said Betty, leaning from the coach as they were about to move off:  “what tidings of him?”

“He has not been with me,” replied Hillhouse with some constraint; “indeed, I think he was to be sent on some special service.”