As soon as Elizabeth shut the door, Felicity gathered up all her contraband and shoved it under the bed. Sitting back on her heels she tried wiping away the stead flow of tears. Her temper clouded her mind causing her to weep harder, she got up and flung herself onto Ben's bed and wept into his pillow. Everything was so wretched. Her heart ached; she had never had such a disagreement with Elizabeth before. Elizabeth who was always there for her, who listened to her joys and heartaches, did not understand her on this.

Worn out from her fight with Elizabeth, Felicity eventually cried herself to sleep. A few hours later she was awoken by her father.

"It is almost time to eat, Lissie dear." He said softly, sitting down on the bed. "Why Lissie, you have been crying! Whatever is the matter child?"

"Oh Father, I, I . . ." Felicity threw her arms around her father and he held her tight.

"Dry your tears and tell me what troubles you."

Looking up at her father, Felicity wiped her tears with the palm of her hand. With a deep breath she began, "Father, I want to go see Ben. Even if I do not get to see him I at least want to try."

"Felicity, you know that—" Father began, but Felicity interrupted.

"I know you are going to say it is foolish and dangerous, but I have to try. I cannot sit her wondering any longer. You would fight through ice and fire for Mother, why can't I for Ben. I have to know he's alright."

Mister Merriman to a deep breath, he had no idea Lissie felt so strongly about Ben. "It is different, Lissie. . . . You have a letter from him, you at least know that much."

"I have to try, to at least have the knowledge that I did." Felicity pleaded.

"That is a tall task you want, my child."

Playing with the edge of the quilt, Felicity confessed, "I was going to try and help him. I was going to just leave without your permission— "

"—Felicity!"

"I didn't think you would understand–that you would stop me. But I had to see him . . . Elizabeth stopped me, we had a terrible fight. I am afraid I said something awful to her. I'm sorry Father! I've made a mess of things, but I just had to see Ben!"

"Seeing Ben maybe impossible."

"I need to fight for what I believe, even if the task is impossible."

". . . you, you must truly love Ben." Mister Merriman said with some understanding of his daughter.

"Aye, I do."