CHAPTER XXXVIII
“You have been very quiet these past few weeks, Miss Mollie. What has been the matter? We have not seen you,” contended Miss Sallie Redman, when she greeted Mollie at the Greydons’ party.
The old mansion at Dorminghurst was brilliantly illuminated and the guests were fast arriving in carriages, and passing up one side of the double staircase and down the other.
People were beginning to come to Philadelphia for the autumn session of Congress. The French army had landed at Newport, and the French fleet was fitting out for a demonstration against New York or against some other stronghold of the English. Enthusiasm among the Whigs was running high. The Tories were beginning to look with more favor upon independence. The French minister M. de la Luzerne was the popular lion of the hour, and anywhere that he was invited was sure to be thronged with the dignitaries of a new nation.
The Greydons began the social season for the purpose of preparing society for the early announcement of the engagement between Roderick Barclugh and their daughter. When the invitations were first issued, the purpose was to announce the engagement at this time, but Mollie would not yet give her consent to Barclugh. Dr. Greydon could see no reason, but Mollie was waiting to see Segwuna. However, Dr. Greydon consulted with his wife and decided that if the announcement of the engagement could not be made, a social function at Dorminghurst at present would crystallize the enthusiasm of the Whigs and bring the counsellors of the nation together for an exchange of ideas and sentiments.
Mollie received with her mother and Dr. Greydon when the guests came into the reception room. She was beaming with good-nature but when she saw Roderick Barclugh approaching with the brilliant and haughty Miss Bessie Shippen on his arm the color rose to her cheeks as Barclugh shook Mollie’s hand and lingered long enough to say:
“You charm me with your beauty and happiness this evening.”
Miss Shippen shook the hand of Mollie with hauteur and looked at her gown with indifference; and when she and Barclugh passed on through the crowded rooms, she remarked bitterly: