"At least, dear Lady Washington, she will not give it to the man
who has proven a traitor to HER," said the younger woman
impulsively. "That is--I beg your ladyship's pardon"--she
hesitated, observing in the dead silence that ensued that the two
superior male beings present looked at each other in lofty
astonishment.

"He that is trait'rous to his country," said Lady Washington
coldly, "is apt to be trait'rous elsewhere."

"'Twere as honest to say that he that was trait'rous to his king
was trait'rous to his country," said Mistress Thankful with sudden
audacity, bending her knit brows on Lady Washington. But that lady
turned dignifiedly away, and Mistress Thankful again faced the
general.

"I ask your pardon," she said proudly, "for troubling you with my
wrongs. But it seems to me that even if another and a greater
wrong were done me by my sweetheart, through jealousy, it would not
justify this accusation against me, even though," she added,
darting a wicked glance at the placid brocaded back of Lady
Washington, "even though that accusation came from one who knows
that jealousy may belong to the wife of a patriot as well as a
traitor." She was herself again after this speech, although her
face was white with the blow she had taken and returned.

Col. Hamilton passed his hand across his mouth, and coughed
slightly. Gen. Washington, standing by the fire with an impassive
face, turned to Thankful gravely:--