"You would have been expelled in your present capacity."
"Ah, yes! But I would have affected a disguise."
"You would expect to obtain important information?" She fingered her gown of pink satin as she spoke, oblivious of everything save the interest of the conversation.
"I might possibly have stumbled across some items of value."
"None were there save the British Officers and their Tory friends, you know."
"A still greater reason for my desire to be present. And why did you not dance attendance?" This question was frank.
"Do you really want to know my sole reason?" She looked at him somewhat suspicious, somewhat reliant, awaiting her womanly instinct to reveal to her the rectitude of her judgment.
"I should not have asked, otherwise," Stephen gravely replied.
"Well, it was for the simple reason that my soul would burn within me if I permitted myself to indulge in such extravagance and gayety the while our own poor boys were bleeding to death at Valley Forge."
Stephen grasped her hand and pressed it warmly. "You are a true patriot," was all he could say.