Nellie Netterville; or, One of the Transplanted, Chapter III-V [pp. 175-190]

Nellie Netterville.
old man answered restlessly. "And Now a lady is coming forth, and
the iniquity - for it is an iniquity - now they are mounting her, and a
is theirs who have driven us to such tall, stately personage in-yes-cer spoliation, not ours who have been tainly in military attire, is mounting
compelled in our own despite to do also, and takes his place at her side.
it." Now half a dozen servants, I sup But Nellie was far too noble, and pose, or friends, are on their horses
too clear-sighted in her nobleness, likewise, and now they are moving
to shelter her actions behind such a forward. Father, they must come
subterfuge, and she answered vehe- this way, there is none other that
mently: I can see by which horses can
"But it must not be in ours, sir- pass with safety. Let us wait for
it must not be in ours! We will go them behind the bank, and then,
down at once, and if the persons when they are near enough, we will
whom we see yonder be the rightful accost them, and if they be of the
owners of that tower, we will merely conquering army, showthem our cercrave rest and hospitality at their tificate. They will, of course, bow
hands, until such a time as we have to its authority, and help us to take
found a place, however humble, in possession of that house which the
which, without injury to honor or document assigns us. I am glad a
conscience, we can make ourselves woman is among them; it will make
a home." it easier, I think, to speak."
"As you will, Nellie-as you will," As Nellie ran on thus, she drew
he answered, too weary, perhaps, to her grandfather with her behind a
be able longer to dispute the point. bank which dipt down suddenly
"But after all, we may be mistaken upon the path, narrowing it until it
as to the ownership of these people. was all but impassable to riders.
Look again, and tell me, if you can, There, with pale face and tightened
whether they are clad like English- breath, she nervously awaited the
men, or in the native weeds?" advent of the party upon whose fa "Not in the native weeds, I think, vorable or unfavorable disposition
my father. Rather I should say, if toward them she felt her own fate
it were not impossible, that the men and Lord Netterville's to be so painwhom I see down yonder beloniged fully dependent.
to the army of the oppressor. Ha! TO BE CONTINUED.
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