“No, indeed,” smiled Claflin, “subduing a bully and putting to flight a crew of murderous wretches like those a while ago are scarcely performances that will do her complete justice. Now at Fort Clinton, for example——”
“Hush, lieutenant,” commanded young Mistress Hayes. But he never heard her.
“When the enemy had hemmed us in so that there was scarce time for the hindmost to make safely away, who remembered that there was a loaded cannon left unfired? Who was it that went back, in the peril of her very life, applied the match and discharged it in their very faces as they came rushing on, shouting in triumph? Who but Molly Hayes, herself?”
“The lieutenant is a kind-hearted young man,” Molly explained to Ben. “And he do be always giving more credit to people than is their due.”
“I can plainly see that you’re more than an ordinary person, Mistress Hayes,” smiled Ben, “and so I will not take even your own word against yourself.”
And so laughing and chatting they passed a half hour; at the end of this time Paddy Burk and Molly Hayes and Ben and Lieutenant Claflin became immersed in more momentous things.
“My father,” the young officer had said, “does a great deal of entertaining, even at York.”
This remark was brought out in his insisting that Ben make them a visit while in the town. And instantly upon hearing it, Ben’s face took on an expression of much seriousness.
“In Philadelphia,” said he, “all the notables flocked to your father’s entertainments.”
The lieutenant laughed.