“Thank you, Sven,” replied Segwuna knowingly, as she started on up the street.
Philadelphia’s streets contained little knots of men and women discussing the latest news, and everybody had it on his tongue that General Arnold was about to leave town, and no one was sorry, for his cold and overbearing manners had disgusted even his friends with him.
His extravagance and debts had brought unsavory gossip upon himself and household. As Segwuna went through the market-place where two old women,—seasoned gossips of the town,—stood and regaled each other, she paused to hear their chatter:
“Have you heard about General Arnold and his spouse?” quizzed the first.
“What? About paying off his debts?” questioned the second.
“I wonder where he got the money? I heard that he sold merchandise to the enemy,” continued the first one.
“No, he went to Connecticut last month and has just returned. He must have had property there and sold it,” argued the second one.
“Have you heard what they named their boy?”
“No, what is it?”
“It’s Edward Shippen.”