“You must dine with me to-day, Lieutenant Walden. I want Colonel Knox, who commands the artillery, and who is to be here with his estimable wife, to hear what you have to say.”
It was a pleasure to meet Colonel Henry Knox and Mrs. Knox.
“We all thought you went down in the mêlée at Bunker Hill, and yet here you are,” said Colonel Knox.
“Yes, and ready to do what I can to drive the redcoats into the sea.”
Mrs. Knox was delighted to hear from her old-time associate, Berinthia Brandon. She said that Tom was giving a good account of himself. There were tears in the eyes of all when he told them how Miss Ruth Newville had used her influence, she the daughter of a Tory, to save him.
“That is the noblest type of womanhood,” said General Washington. “Perhaps,” he added, “you may wish to visit your parents for a few days, but a little later I shall desire you to assist Colonel Knox in executing an important trust.”
“I am ready to do what I can in any capacity for which I am fitted,” Robert replied.
A flag of truce went out from the headquarters; among the letters to people in Boston was one directed to Miss Ruth Newville. The red-coated officer who inspected the letters read but one word.
“Safe.”