"Thank God! then
Henry is safe!"
Lawton regarded her with a mingled expression of pity and admiration;
then shaking his head doubtingly, he continued,--
"I hope so; and with your permission, we will leave the matter for his
decision."
The color of Frances changed from the paleness of fear to the glow of
hope. Her dread on behalf of her brother was certainly greatly
diminished; yet her form shook, her breathing became short and
irregular, and her whole frame gave tokens of extraordinary agitation.
Her eyes rose from the floor to the dragoon, and were again fixed
immovably on the carpet--she evidently wished to utter something but was
unequal to the effort. Miss Peyton was a close observer of these
movements of her niece, and advancing with an air of feminine dignity,
inquired,--
"Then, sir, we may expect the pleasure of Major Dunwoodie's company
shortly?"
"Immediately, madam," answered the dragoon, withdrawing his admiring
gaze from the person of Frances. "Expresses are already on the road to
announce to him our situation, and the intelligence will speedily bring
him to this valley; unless, indeed, some private reasons may exist to
make a visit particularly unpleasant."
"We shall always be happy to see Major Dunwoodie."
"Oh! doubtless; he is a general favorite, May I presume on it so far as
to ask leave to dismount and refresh my men, who compose a part of his
squadron?"
There was a manner about the trooper that would have made the omission
of such a request easily forgiven by Mr.
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