reception which his hard face discountenanced,--"the baron visits
us under discouragement. He comes from far countries. It is the
custom of gentlefolk of--of foreign extraction to wander through
strange lands, commenting upon the habits and doings of the
peoples. He will find in Jersey," continued Mr. Blossom,
apparently appealing to Thankful, yet really evading her
contemptuous glance, "a hard-working yeomanry, ever ready to
welcome the stranger, and account to him, penny for penny, for all
his necessary expenditure; for which purpose, in these troublous
times, he will provide for himself gold or other moneys not
affected by these local disturbances."

"He will find, good friend Blossom," said the baron in a rapid,
voluble way, utterly at variance with the soft, quiet gravity of
his eyes, "Beauty, Grace, Accom-plishment, and--eh--Santa Maria,
what shall I say?" He turned appealingly to the count.

"Virtue," nodded the count.

"Truly, Birtoo! all in the fair lady of thees countries. Ah,
believe me, honest friend Blossom, there is mooch more in thees
than in thoss!"

So much of this speech was addressed to Mistress Thankful, that she
had to show at least one dimple in reply, albeit her brows were
slightly knit, and she had turned upon the speaker her honest,
questioning eyes.

"And then the General Washington has been kind enough to offer his
protection," added the count.