(_Annie enters_.)
_Annie_. Dear Helen, dress yourself. It is all true! We must go
to-night, we must indeed. They are dismantling the fort now.--Come to
the door, and you can hear them if you will; and here is word from
Henry, we must be ready before morning--the British are within sight. Do
you hear me, Helen? Do not stand looking at me in that strange way.
_Helen_. To-night!
_Annie_. I was frightened myself at first, sadly; but there is no
danger, not the least. We shall be in Albany to-morrow, Henry says.
Come, Helen, there is no one to see to any thing but ourselves. They are
running about like mad creatures there below, and the children, are
crying, and such a time you never saw.
_Helen_. To-night! That those beautiful lips should speak it! Take it
back. It cannot be. It must not be.
_Annie_. Why do you look so reproachfully at me? Helen, you astonish and
frighten me!
_Helen_. Yes--yes--I see it all. And why could I not have known this one
hour sooner?--Even now it may not be too late. Annie--
_Annie_. Thank Heaven,--there is my mother's voice at last.
_Helen_. Annie, stay. Do not mark what I have said in the bewilderment
of this sudden fear. Is George below?--Who brought this news?
_Annie_. One of the men from the fort.--George has not been home since
you sent him to Elliston's. She is calling me. Make haste and come down,
Helen.
[_Exit_.
_Helen_. They will leave me alone. They will leave me here alone. And
why could I not have known this one hour sooner?--I could have bid him
come to-night--If the invisible powers are plotting against me, it is
well. Could I have thought of this?--and yet, how like something I had
known before, it all comes upon me.--Can I stay here alone?--Could
I?--No never, never! He must come for me to-night. Perchance that
pacquet still lies at yonder hut, and it is not yet too late to recal my
letter;--if it is--if it is, I must find some other messenger. Thank
God!--there is one way. Elliston can send to that camp to-night. He
can--even now,--He can--he will.--
[_Exit_.
* * * * *