CHAPTER XXV.

TREACHERY.

Thus do all traitors;

If their purgation did consist in words,

They are as innocent as grace itself.-Shakspeare.

Thou art a traitor and a miscreant;

Too good to be so, and too bad to live.-Shakspeare.

CIRCUMSTANCES favored the wishes of Aylesford even more than he had dared to hope, for that evening, at the tea-table, Kate announced her intention of riding over, on the following morning, to Uncle Lawrence's. She had heard of the destruction of Widow Bates' dwelling, and understanding that the houseless family was sheltered at Mr. Herman's for the present, desired to ascertain in what way she could best assist them.

Aylesford had been watching for an opportunity, the whole afternoon, to fulfil his promise to the outlaw; but none had offered. He, therefore, heard this announcement with pleasure. But, in order to prevent suspicion from afterwards resting on himself, he ventured to suggest that it was scarcely safe for Kate to venture out.

'Surely," were his words, as he looked at Mrs. Warren rather than at his cousin, "if the refugees are so daring as to burn houses on Sunday, they will not be afraid to rob, and perhaps insult, a defenceless lady on Tuesday."

"Suppose you go with me, Charles," said Kate looking up. To understand this frank offer, it is necessary to recall the fact that, as but one person, beside the actors, had witnessed the rencontre between Aylesford and Major Gordon, and as Uncle Lawrence had wisely kept his own counsel, Kate was

ignorant of the affair. She naturally concluded, therefore,

that her cousin's threat had been an idle one. In his calmer moments he had, she reasoned, repented of his angry violence. She accordingly resolved to exhibit, by a conciliatory manner, her appreciation of this conduct.

Aylesford, for a moment, was embarrassed, but less by the offer than by the tone in which it was made. He attributed it, however, to its true cause. "She would be very, far from being so affable," he moodily thought, "if she knew

all."

"I am sorry," he said, "that I connot accompany you,” addressing his cousin. "But I leave, as early as possible, for the mouth of the river." And as he spoke, he looked around to see that none of the servants were within hearing.

"For the mouth of the river," exclaimed Mrs. Warren and Kate in the same breath. "Deary me, what now's the matter?" added the aunt.

Aylesford made no direct reply, but began whistling the Jacobite air, "Over the water to Charlie."

"What does he mean?" said Mrs. Warren, looking in alarm at Kate.

"I suppose he is going to join his Majesty's troops," answered our heroine. "But surely," she added, addressing her cousin, "you choose a roundabout path."

It must be confessed that Kate's heart beat high even at the suspicion that Aylesford was going within the royal lines; for in that case he had concluded, she reasoned, to abandon his pretensions to her hand. She waited, therefore, for his reply with deep interest.

"What if his most gracious Majesty's forces," said her cousin, speaking low, and again glancing cautiously around, were coming half way to meet me? What if there was a royal expedition at this moment lying in the bay below?" "I hope not," answered Kate, turning pale. "I sincerely hope not."

"And why not?" asked Aylesford.

"Is my fair cousin so much of a rebel to her king as to wish for the defeat of his Majesty's cause."

"Deary me!" said Mrs. Warren, lifting her hands, "Kate a rebel. How can it be? Who told you so?" she added, confusedly, looking from one to the other. "It isn't so, Kate, is it?"

'I never said it was," answered our heroine composedly. "I merely expressed regret at the possible arrival of a royal expedition against the bay, because it would lead to bloodshed, and bring the horrors of war almost to our very doors, and lo! Charles," she added, with something of haughty contempt, 'cries out that I am a rebel."

"I knew Kate wasn't a rebel," said Mrs. Warren, looking appealingly to Aylesford. "You don't really mean to say she is one, nephew? You were only jesting?"

"I cry Kate's pardon," answered Aylesford, whose object was not to irritate, and who had now hastened to repair his error. "As you say, aunt, I was only jesting. But, in serious earnest, a royal expedition has probably anchored in the bay by this time; and, as I am tired of an aimless life," he glanced meaningly at Kate as he spoke, "I intend seizing the opportunity to offer my sword to his Majesty."

"Oh! my dear boy, don't think of it," cried his aunt in alarm. "You'll be killed, I know you will; and then what will become of us."

"Never fear for me, auut," replied Aylesford. "I am no more unfortunate than others, at least in war," he added, significantly looking at Kate. "The chances are ten to one that I'll escape even a wound. And then, you know, I'll naturally rise in the service; all officers who serve faithfully do; so that, by the time these revolted colonies are subdued, I'll probably be a Colonel. Let us hope, some day, to attend a levee of his Majesty, I accompanying you in the uniform of that rank. Besides, aunt, I'm but doing my duty.

No Aylesford should refuse to draw sword for his king. I've no doubt Cousin Danville has often wondered why I did not serve."

This last allusion, adroitly introduced, calmed the good lady's fears, and reconciled her to the scheme more than anything which had gone before. She still, however,

looked undecided.

"What do you think of it, Kate ?" she said, in perplexity. "It does look odd, doesn't it, that none of our family are in arms for the King?”

Kate, during the time Aylesford was speaking, had been carefully counting the grounds in her tea-cup. She was persuaded that this sudden scheme of her cousin's had its origin entirely in her refusal. She could not but feel a pang at being the cause of his exile, yet her reason told her that it was the best for both him and her; and therefore, on being thus appealed to, she looked up and said

"If Charles thinks he ought to go, under all the circumstances," and she emphasized these last words, "it is not for us to thwart him. There is certainly both honor and wealth to be had in the service of King George; while here there is nothing at all to engage a man of spirit. And if any Aylesford joins the royal standard," she added, laughingly, striving, for her aunt's sake, to give a gayer tone to the conversation, "it must be Charles, unless you choose, aunt, to enlist, a la Joan of Arc, or I go a soldiering, like a vivandiere in the French army."

have it your own way," "All I hope is that we

"Well, you two children will said Mrs. Warren, with a sigh. shall soon see you back again, Charles, with a royal army. Who knows but his Majesty may make you Governor of New Jersey, when the war's over ?" she added, abandoning herself to her favorite castle-building.

"Who knows?" answered Aylesford.

"But Kate said nothing. She was again studying the contents of her cup. After awhile she looked up.

"You really go to-morrow, Charles ?" she said.

"Really and positively. I shall only wait to see you in the saddle, that is if you still persist in your determination."

"I see no reason," answered Kate, frankly, "why I should not. The very fact that a royal expedition is down the river will make it all the safer here; for the refugees will flock there like vultures to a feast. They are but carrion warriors at best," she added, contemptuously, "and only devour generally the prey that stronger and braver ones have pulled down."

Aylesford thought that he had remonstrated enough for his purpose, so he said no more, not wishing to hazard Kate's undertaking, by arousing his aunt's fears.

"I will attend you as far as the church," he said; "for my way will lie down that side of the river." He deemed it best to do this, in order to be sure, before he finally left Sweetwater, that Kate would fall into the ambush prepared for her. "But," he added, lowering his voice and looking across to Kate, as his aunt turned for a moment, "a word from you will change all my plans."

"It cannot be, Charles," answered Kate, in the same low tone. But her eyes thanked him for his forbearance.

Aylesford was not so degraded but that he felt a pang of shame. It was not too late, he reflected for a moment, to retreat. But the thought passed as instantaneously as it came. Before he could reply, Mrs. Warren again turned and spoke; and directly afterwards they all rose from the table.

"Why here is Aunt Chloe!" cried Kate, approaching the window. "She has come to see you, cousin; for it was but the other day she was asking when you would come home." And she ran out into the porch.