The moon was just rising through a bank of threatening clouds which had gathered since the sunset. They obscured the moonlight at one moment, then swept onward permitting the full light of the orb to shine. Peggy’s voice trembled a little as she called softly:
“Friend Fairfax!”
“Mistress Peggy!” Fairfax Johnson rose slowly from the copse near the grove, and came toward her.
“Is it thou?” asked Peggy in a low tone. Then as he drew closer: “Thee is to put on this frock, friend. ’Tis thy mother’s. Then thee is to come boldly back to the cottage with me, and enter while thy mother hath the guard in the kitchen regaling them with Indian cakes and honey. Be quick!”
The youth took the bundle silently, and retired a short distance from her. The clouds cleared in the next few moments, discovering Master Fairfax arrayed in his mother’s frock, which was a trifle long for him. He stumbled as he tried to approach Peggy, and grabbed at his skirts awkwardly.
“Thee must not stride, friend,” rebuked Peggy in a shrill whisper. “Thee is a woman, remember. Walk mincingly. So! Hold not thy skirt so high. Thy boots will betray thee. No woman had ever so large a foot. Oh, dear! I don’t believe that thee will ever get by the guards. And thy mother is uneasy about thee.”
“I’ll do better,” answered the youth eagerly. “Indeed, I will try to do better, Mistress Peggy. Show me just once more. Remember that I’ve never been a woman before.”
“’Tis no time for frivolity,” chided the girl, laughing a little herself. “There! ’tis a decided improvement, Friend Fairfax. I think we may start now. And as we go thee may tell me why thee should be so rash as to venture into the town while the enemy is here. Thy mother wondered anent the matter. Why did thee, friend?”
“Why, because the Marquis de Lafayette hath entered the state, and is marching to meet the British,” he answered. “The militia of Williamsburg is to join him. We march at daybreak. I wanted to see mother before going, and to get something to eat. I have eaten naught since yesterday morning.”
“Why, thou poor fellow,” exclaimed Peggy. “No wonder thee would dare greatly. And ’tis venturesome, friend. Vastly so! And hath the Marquis come from General Washington?”