wretched rabble of Hancock and Adams at the point of the bayonet,
he writes letters."

"A dignified, formal old fool," interrupted Mistress Thankful
indignantly; "and look at his wife! Didn't Mistress Ford and
Mistress Baily, ay, and the best blood of Morris County, go down to
his Excellency's in their finest bibs and tuckers, and didn't they
find my lady in a pinafore doing chores? Vastly polite treatment,
indeed! As if the whole world didn't know that the general was
taken by surprise when my lady came riding up from Virginia with
all those fine cavaliers, just to see what his Excellency was doing
at these assembly balls. And fine doings, I dare say."

"This is but idle gossip, Thankful," said Capt. Brewster with the
faintest appearance of self-consciousness; "the assembly balls are
conceived by the general to strengthen the confidence of the
townsfolk, and mitigate the rigors of the winter encampment. I go
there myself rarely: I have but little taste for junketing and
gavotting, with my country in such need. No, Thankful! What we
want is a leader; and the men of Connecticut feel it keenly. If I
have been spoken of in that regard," added the captain with a
slight inflation of his manly breast, "it is because they know of
my sacrifices,--because as New England yeomen they know my devotion
to the cause. They know of my suffering--"

The bright face that looked into his was suddenly afire with
womanly sympathy, the pretty brow was knit, the sweet eyes
overflowed with tenderness. "Forgive me, Allan. I forgot--
perhaps, love--perhaps, dearest, you are hungry now."