"And," continued the general, fixing his eyes on her face, "you will
also understand that I may be compelled to detain you here as a hostage
for the safety of my men."

"Oh no! no! please!" said Mrs. Bunker, springing up with an imploring
feminine gesture; "I am expecting my husband. He may be coming back at
any moment; I must be there to see him FIRST! Please let me go back,
sir, with your men; put me anywhere ashore between them and those men
that are coming. Lock me up; keep me a prisoner in my own home; do
anything else if you think I am deceiving you; but don't keep me here to
miss him when he comes!"

"But you can see him later," said the general.

"But I must see him FIRST," said Mrs. Bunker desperately. "I must see
him first, for--for--HE KNOWS NOTHING OF THIS. He knows nothing of my
helping Colonel Marion; he knows nothing of--how foolish I have been,
and--he must not know it from others! There!" It was out at last. She
was sobbing now, but her pride was gone. She felt relieved, and did not
even notice the presence of two or three other officers, who had entered
the room, exchanged a few hurried words with their superior, and were
gazing at her in astonishment.

The general's brow relaxed, and he smiled. "Very well, Mrs. Bunker;
it shall be as you like, then. You shall go and meet your husband with
Captain Jennings here,"--indicating one of the officers,--"who will take
charge of you and the party."

"And," said Mrs. Bunker, looking imploringly through her wet but pretty
lashes at the officer, "he won't say anything to Zephas, either?"