CHAPTER VIII--HOSPITALITY BETRAYED
"For right is right, since God is God; And right the day must win; To doubt would be disloyalty, To falter would be sin."
--"The Right Must Win," _Frederick William Faber_.
"What is the trouble, Friend Reed?" asked Mrs. Owen as she entered thehall.
"I wish you good-morning, Mrs. Owen. It grieves me to enter David Owen'shouse upon such mission as I must this day perform, but war is norespecter of persons. Were it my own household I still must subject itsinmates to a most rigid inquiry." Mr. Reed fumbled nervously with hiscocked hat as he spoke, and looked the embarrassment that he felt.
"Come in, Friend Reed." Mrs. Owen threw wide the door of thesitting-room with a smile. "Thee may make all the inquiries thee wisheswithout apology. And what is the trouble?"
"Madam--I need hardly ask, and yet I must--did you know that this girlhere had been communicating with the enemy?"
"No; I did not know of it. Harriet, is such the case? Hast thou indeedbeen guilty of this?"
"Yes," admitted Harriet defiantly. "I did write to Sir Henry Clintonabout my brother. If that is communicating with the enemy then I amguilty."
"This then," said Mr. Reed producing a letter from his coat, "this thenis yours?"
Harriet took the missive and scanned it quickly.
"Well," she said. "And what then? It is mine, and, as may be seen, 'tisinnocent enough. It merely asks the commander to get my brother'sexchange as soon as he can. It speaks too of the services our familyhave rendered to the cause. Why should it not be written? Am I notEnglish? Have I not a right to ask aid from my own people?"
"Undoubtedly, mistress; but in times like these there are regulations tobe observed by both sides. One who breaks them does so at his own risk,and subjects himself and those with whom he abides to suspicion. Iwarned you against this very thing. I promised to attend to any letteryou might wish to send to the British commander after we had found anofficer who might be exchanged for your brother. That you preferred torisk sending a message through the lines irregularly rather than tobenefit by my assistance doth not speak well for the harmlessness of theletter, however innocent it doth appear on the surface."
"But it contains nothing that can harm any one," she protested. "And youwere so long in telling me about the parole. Why, look you! 'Tis all ofa month since you promised to get my brother here, and he hath not comeyet! Think you I could wait longer? The letter hath not been writtenfive days, and had you obtained my brother's release as you promised'twould not have been written at all. 'Tis unfair to hold me to accountfor a matter for which you yourself are to blame."
"Your brother was not at Fredericksburg as you thought he would be,Mistress Harriet," answered he. "I was but seeking to find where he hadbeen taken. The delay was in your service. Why did you not come to meinstead of taking matters in your own hands? I would have explained. Asthe affair now stands you have not only brought punishment uponyourself, but you have subjected these, your cousins, to suspicion."
"As to myself," she said superbly, "it doth not matter. I was right toseek aid of my own people. I would do it again if it were to do over. Mybrother's welfare merits any risk I might run. As for Peggy and hermother, it is needless to say anything. They are not responsible for anyof my doings, and cannot be held for them. 'Tis ridiculous to tell methat I have brought suspicion upon them, and 'tis done merely to frightme."
"You speak that which you know not of," he said soberly. "These beparlous times, mistress. Have you forgot that at Middlebrook you playedthe spy? Have you forgot that despite that fact you are brought again inour lines on the plea of ill health? Have you forgot that your father isa colonel in the British army, and that you yourself are an Englishgirl? There are those who say that these facts show plainly that yourcousins but use their patriotism as a mask to aid the side with whichthey truly sympathize."
Harriet stared at him in dismay, and turned very pale as a wail brokefrom Peggy:
"Oh, Harriet, Harriet! why did thee do it? And thee promised."
"No harm shall come to you, Peggy," cried Harriet. "Sir," turning to Mr.Reed, "believe me when I say that these two had naught to do with eitherthe writing or the sending of the letter. In truth, they knew not when'twas done, nor how."
"And how shall your word be believed when you think nothing of breakingit?" he questioned. "You promised your cousin, it seems; you alsopromised me that you would not hold communication with the enemy withoutfirst consulting me. We cannot trust you. Beside, the letter wasreturned with this warning from His Excellency, General Washington:
"'Gentlemen of the Council:
"'Permit no communication whatever between the writer of this letter and the enemy. Young as she is, she hath already shown herself very adept as a spy.'"
"What, what are you going to do to them?" asked the girl, inconsternation. "In very truth, sir, they had naught to do with thematter."
"We know it," he made answer. "And yet, despite past services, despitethe fact that David is in the field, there were some who whisperedagainst them. The purest patriots in times like these are subjected tosuspicion by the least untoward action. A year ago who would havethought that General Arnold would try to betray his country? I, myself,have been approached with offers from an emissary of the king. BecauseMrs. Owen and her daughter are so well known for patriotic services,because we know them to be persons of high honor and unquestionedintegrity, we have permitted no reflection upon them. But this state ofthings will not continue if you are allowed to remain with them.Therefore, we have decided that your punishment shall be----"
"What?" she cried anxiously. "Oh, I pray 'tis not arrest."
"Wait," he said. "The arrest was thought of, but the council consentedto give it o'er on condition that you withdraw immediately into theenemy's lines. In short, mistress, you are to be sent to New York."
"Banished to New York?" she repeated in amazement. "Why, that is where Iwant to be. Good sir," sweeping him an elaborate courtesy, "I thank youand the excellent gentlemen of the council. The punishment is mostagreeable to my liking."
"And to ours," he answered her sternly, offended by her levity. "Beready, therefore, to go to-morrow morning. In company with a number ofother women, Tories and wives of Tories guilty of the same misdemeanoras yourself, you will be sent under escort to the British. MistressOwen, you have my sympathy and congratulation also that the matter is noworse. I will bid you all a very good day."
Harriet sank down on the settle as the door closed upon the gentleman,and looked expectantly at the other two. But neither Mrs. Owen nor Peggyspoke. The matron quietly resumed her sewing, while Peggy stared at heras though this new breach of trust was more than she could believe.
"Say something, one of you," cried the girl suddenly. "I'd rather youwould be angry than to sit there like that."
"How could thee do it?" came from Peggy. "Oh, Harriet! doesn't thee everkeep thy word?"
"Well, I promised not to bring any harm upon you, and I didn't; did I?Mr. Reed tried to scare us anent that, but he soon told the truth of thematter."
"It was not owing to thee that harm did not result to us, Harriet," saidMrs. Owen in a serious tone. "I dare not think what would have happenedhad we not been in our own city, and have given proof many times of ourpatriotism. I am not going to rail at thee, child; for I believe thatthee did not wittingly try to injure us. But reflect on this: here werewe all, Mr. Reed, Peggy and myself, who were trying to aid thee ingetting a release for thy brother. We did all that could be done, andcautioned thee against trying to do anything without our help. We hadthy best interests at heart, Harriet. Now, dear child, doth it not seemthat something was owing to those whose hospitality thou wert enjoying?Was not the letter inexcusable as a breach of hospitality?"
"Oh," cried the girl bursting into tears. "I see now that it was. I didnot mean to bring h
arm to you, madam my cousin. Oh, I was wrong in doingit. I am sorry now."
"Then we will dwell no longer upon that feature of it," remarked thelady. "The thing now is to see what good can be got out of it. Thou wiltsee about thy brother's exchange, wilt thou not? He should be there withthee."
"Yes," assented the girl miserably. "I will go to Sir Henry at onceanent it. In that way 'tis much better to be where I can see him. Still,while I am glad to go I shall miss you both. You have been very good tome, but it will be gayer there. We British know better than you how tomake merry. But if I were to be ill again I know of no place that Iwould rather be than here."
"If thee only cares for us when thee is ill or in trouble, thee can juststay with the British," cried Peggy indignantly. "Thy family seem tothink that we live for naught else than to do you service. I wonder ifthe day will ever come when one of you will meet favors with aught buttrickery?"
"Peggy," chided her mother sharply.
"I can't help it, mother. I am sick and tired of deceit and falsehood,and the knavery that makes us appear like traitors to the country. I amglad that she is going." With this passionate outbreak Peggy burst intotears.
Harriet looked at her for a moment unable to make any reply, butpresently she spoke in tones that were unusually gentle for her:
"Peggy, the day will come when you shall see what I will do. We are notall bad, if we are English."
"Don't ever promise about anything any more," sobbed Peggy. "I can neverbelieve thee again."
But all of her resentment vanished the next morning as a hay cart drewup before the door under escort of a guard. There were a few women inthe cart, and a number of people, men and boys mostly, had collected toview the departure.
"Oh, Harriet," she sobbed putting her arms about her, "since thee mustgo I wish the mode was different."
For an instant Harriet's lips quivered. She grew very pale and clung toPeggy convulsively. It was only for an instant, however, that shedisplayed any emotion.
"Oh, well," she said with a toss of her head. "The mode is well enough,I dare say, since 'twill convey me to New York. And Fleetwood is to gowith one of the men."
But Peggy knew that in spite of her brave front the girl was humiliatedat the manner of her departure. Without a glance at the surroundingcrowd of curious ones Harriet took her place in the cart, and settledherself comfortably.
"If a letter should come from Clifford, madam my cousin," she saidleaning forward to speak to Mrs. Owen, "I pray you to read it. Thenwrite him in answer what hath befallen me. Tell him I will spare noeffort to have him join me soon in New York. And so farewell!"
She smiled brightly at them, and waved her hand repeatedly as the cartdrove off. Peggy and her mother stood watching it as long as it was insight.
"Oh, mother, I am so tired of it all," said the girl, with tears. "Willnothing ever be right any more? Will this long war and all itscomplications never be over with? I am so weary, mother."
"Give not way to such feelings, Peggy," said her mother, drawing herinto the house. "It doth seem dark at times, and this happening is intruth a sad ending to Harriet's stay with us. But everything will comeright in time. Do not doubt it. Have faith. All will be well some time."