cated. But as for the vendue, that was another affair altogether!
"What do ye mean, Master Hedden?" Mistress Williams had asked, her toil-worn hands clasped in her lap. She had leaned forward anxiously to ask this; and behind her, upon a three-legged stool, Sally had leaned forward anxiously, too, for the girl knew that, if poor Mistress Williams lost her property, she would be cast upon her relatives, with her children, for never, never would she willingly flee to the protection of the British, as her husband had done.
"I mean," Master Hedden had told her gravely, "that, considering the circumstances, an no one bids against ye, you will be allowed to buy back all of your property, dear mistress, for the bare costs of the vendue."
"And that is?" Mistress Williams had queried hopefully.
"That will be about five pounds!"
Twenty-five dollars! Of course, that was absurd, in the face of the valuable property involved. At last Mistress Williams, who had been staring straight ahead of her with relief plainly written upon her face, turned and looked at her caller gratefully.
"You are kind, indeed, sir, to tell me so soon," she said quietly. "I—I can stand aught that befalls an I know I shall not be dependent at this time o' my life!"
