about
noon
Much to her surprise , she found that this latest enormity called forth less of an outburst than her previous misconduct , her father being quite staggered by its daring and seriousness ; while Mrs. Meredith , with a sudden display of maternal tenderness that Janice had not seen for years , took the girl in her arms , and tried to soothe and comfort her . One more friend in need proved to be Clowes , who , when Harcourt declared that the girl should be carried to Princeton in the morning , along with Lee , that Lord Cornwallis might decide as to her punishment , sought to make the officer take less summary measures , but vainly , except to win the concession that if Hennion recaptured the prisoner he would take a less drastic course . The morrow brought a return of the pursuing party , empty-handed , and in a hasty consultation it was agreed that the squire should accompany Janice , leaving Mrs. Meredith under the protection of Philemon , -- an arrangement by no means pleasing to the young lieutenant , and made the less palatable by the commissary 's announcement that he should retrace his own steps to Princeton in the hope of being of service to his friends . Philemon 's protests were ineffectual , however , to secure any amendment ; and the sleigh , with Brereton 's mare and Joggles to pull it , received the three , and , together with Lee and the escort , set out for headquarters about noon . With the arrival at Nassau Hall , then serving as barracks for the force centred there , a fresh complication arose , for Colonel Harcourt learned that Lord Cornwallis , having seen his force safely in winter quarters at Princeton , Trenton , and Burlington , had departed the day previous for New York , while General Grant , who succeeded him , was still at Trenton . Taking the night to consider what was best to be done , Harcourt made up his mind to carry his prisoners to New York , a decision which called forth most energetic protests from the squire , who had contrived in the doings of the last two days to take cold , and now asserted that an attack of the gout was beginning . His pleadings were well seconded by the baron , and not to harass too much one known to be friendly both to the cause and to the commander-in-chief , the colonel finally consented that the fate of Janice should be left to the general in command .