Mistress Williams was talking to her friend, Esther Ball, and to Uzal Ball when Sally came hurrying up, and turned in some surprise to glance at the girl's shining eyes and rosy cheeks. Her own gaze traveled to Uzal's face, and though she found pleasure there, when she looked back at Sally, she knew at once that that young bachelor was not the cause of the girl's obvious delight. Indeed, Sally paid not the slightest attention to him as she stood with clasped hands before them, her eager gaze upon Mistress Williams.
"Why, Sally lass," said Mistress Ball indulgently, "hast no words for Uzal or me this morn?"
Sally, at that, took and squeezed the hand her friend held out to her and dropped Uzal a hasty curtsey, then turned once more to Mistress Williams.
"Well, speak, child!" laughed that lady. "'Tis plain ye be dying to tell me something! Is't aught o' great importance?" And she exchanged a confidential glance with Mistress Ball.
"Oh, dear mistress," gasped Sally, "Captain Littell hath e'en now arrived!"
"Captain Littell?" A puzzled look dawned upon Mistress Williams's face. She shook her head in impatient denial of knowledge of his identity.
"Captain Littell o' the 'Jersey Blues,'" explained Uzal, at this point. He looked meaningly at her. "Why, then, wi' his men—and here be one,
