"He would not procure your pardon," I replied, "for the good reason that he abhors all rebels and their work. Yet he is strong enough to protect his daughter if the need arose."
This was flat lying, I believe, but when one is hard pressed one is rather summary with truth.
The lad was immovable as rock, though. His conduct threw me in a pet of downright anger and alarm. Having made my mind up long ago to save him if I could, and having planned it all so perfectly, 'twas not my disposition to let his foolish scruples interfere.
"My lad," says I, flashing out at him, "any more of these absurdities and you will put me in a thorough rage. Come, we must not lose an instant now. Why do you view your life so lightly?"
"I only view it lightly where your safety is concerned, dear lady," he replied, with a spice of the proper gallantry.
"It would require a person of a higher calibre than yours to affect it any way, either with the world or with the Government," I answered, harshly. "My Lady Barbara Gossiter is able to take care of herself, I'll hazard."
"My Lady Barbara Gossiter!" he echoed, "whew! this is interesting. Now madam, do you know that I took you for a great lady at a glance! But I'll confess that I thought you scarcely such a personage."
I should have liked this confession better had there been more of embarrassment about it. But
