"Any fool--any one," supplemented Thankful hastily, with a slight
blush--"may have the general's pass, ay, and his good word. But
what of Mistress Prudence Bookstaver?--she that has a sweetheart in
Knyphausen's brigade, ay,--I warrant a Hessian, but of gentle
blood, as Mistress Prudence has often told me,--and, look you, all
her letters stopped by the general, ay, I warrant, read by my Lady
Washington too, as if 'twere HER fault that her lad was in arms
against Congress. Riddle me that, now!"

"'Tis but prudence, lass," said Blossom, frowning on the girl.
"'Tis that she might disclose some movement of the army, tending to
defeat the enemy."

"And why should she not try to save her lad from capture or
ambuscade such as befell the Hessian commissary with the provisions
that you--"

Mr. Blossom, in an ostensible fatherly embrace, managed to pinch
Mistress Thankful sharply. "Hush, lass," he said with simulated
playfulness; "your tongue clacks like the Whippany mill.--My
daughter has small concern--'tis the manner of womenfolk--in
politics," he explained to his guests. "These dangersome days have
given her sore affliction by way of parting comrades of her
childhood, and others whom she has much affected. It has in some
sort soured her."

Mr. Blossom would have recalled this speech as soon as it escaped
him, lest it should lead to a revelation from the truthful Mistress
Thankful of her relations with the Continental captain. But to his