“What? That old Tory?”
“Yes, that’s it. Those Shippens have turned Ben Arnold’s head. He’s not the same since he became mixed up with that lot.”
“Well, Ben Arnold used to be a fine soldier before he knew those Shippens. Now he doesn’t want to fight, he wants to lie around and play the dandy.”
“Yes, I heard that General Washington wanted him to join the army, but his wife is afraid that he will be shot. That’s a pretty pass. I wonder if she’s better than any of the rest of us? We have husbands and sons fighting.”
“I wonder where they will put him? I heard that he wanted to go to West Point.”
“Yes, if I were General Washington, I wouldn’t do anything like that. There must be some fire where there is so much smoke. He doesn’t want West Point for any good purpose.”
“Well, I believe Ben Arnold is all right at heart if those Shippens didn’t have a noose around his neck.”
“Poor man! I feel sorry for him.”
“But, do you know that I started to go to market, and here I am talking yet.”
“Yes, that’s my case too, I must go.”