“The conversation went like this, Peggy,” giggled Sally: “‘Is the farm a large one that thy aunt hath taken, Friend Fairfax?’ ‘Yes,’ answers he. Then Betty with a smile: ‘I believe Southerners call a farm a plantation, do they not?’ ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Is being with the military so much the reason thou and thy mother left Williamsburgh?’ ‘Yes,’ he said again. ‘It really must be tiresome,’ goes on Betty, ‘though it hath been said that the French are exceedingly well behaved troops. Does thee not think so, Friend Fairfax?’ ‘Yes,’ he said once more. And that is the way the whole conversation went. I don’t believe the poor fellow said anything else but that one word, yes.”
“He did,” declared Betty with heat. “I remember quite distinctly that once he said, ’It doth indeed;’ and—and—oh! lots of other things. Ye are both just as mean as can be. And he did listen most attentively. I really enjoyed the talk, as I said.”
“I’ll warrant thee did,” laughed Peggy while Sally was convulsed with mirth. “I think thee did well, Betty. Thou art to be congratulated.”
“There, Sally Evans,” cried Betty. “I knew that Peggy would think about it in the right way.”
“Listen to her,” sniffed Sally. “Didst ever hear the like? Betty,” she ejaculated suddenly, “thee should not have helped with the dishes in such a gown. Thee has got a spot on it. This is no place for a belle. Suppose that thee goes back into the sitting-room now, and find out some more of Master Fairfax’s plans.”
“So thee can have a chance to talk me over with Peggy?” questioned Betty scornfully. “I don’t see any spot.”
“Here it is,” answered Sally, lifting a fold of the pink paduasoy on which a small spot showed darkly. “It may be just water, which will not stain. I should not like anything to happen to that gown. Thee looks so charming in it.”
“Thank thee, Sally,” said Betty examining the spot critically, quite mollified by Sally’s compliment. “I think ’twill be all right when ’tis dry. It might be as well, though, to go back to the sitting-room. I dare say they are wondering what hath become of us. Thee will come too, will thee not?”
“Yes, go; both of you,” said Peggy, picking up the dish-pan, and starting for the kitchen. “I will come too in a few moments. No, Sally, thee cannot help in the kitchen. Sukey and I will finish the pots and pans. It won’t take long. And thee needs to be there to keep Betty in order,” she ended merrily.