“Thank you, madam,” murmured Harriet in some confusion. “But, but Peggy here——”
“’Tis no more than we expect from Peggy,” said the matron, giving Peggy such a gentle pat on the shoulder that Peggy’s heart grew warm and tender. “Her views are so well known that nothing she could do for us would surprise us. That is why we say so little of her share in the matter.” And she gave Peggy another caressing touch.
Why, of course that was it, Peggy told herself with a flash of understanding. How foolish she had been to care, or to have any feeling on the subject at all. It was a great thing for Harriet to do. And so thinking she felt her heart grow very tender toward her cousin who had suddenly lost her animation and was pale and silent as they came down the stairs, and were ushered into the commander-in-chief’s office.
General Washington was sitting before a large mahogany table whose well polished top was almost covered by papers. He rose as the girls entered.
“Mrs. Washington has hardly forgiven me for taking you away from her,” he remarked smilingly. “I have promised that I will detain you but a few moments. Miss Harriet, your head will be quite turned before you will have finished with the toasting and feasting. But ’twas bravely done! You both showed rare judgment and courage in acting as you did. It saved a valiant man from capture and perhaps the slaughter of an entire brigade.”
“Your Excellency is very kind,” stammered Harriet while Peggy murmured a “Thank thee, sir.”
“Mr. Hamilton, will you kindly place chairs for the ladies?” spoke the general to a slight young man who came forward from the fireplace near which he had been standing. “Nay,” in response to an inquiring glance, “you are not to stay, sir. Mrs. Washington will gladden you later by an introduction.” Then as the young man left the room he added with a slight smile, “I have to be stern with the blades when there are ladies about, else they would have time for no other engagements. And now tell me, I beg, all about this affair. How came it that ye were riding upon that road?”
“I asked Peggy to go there,” spoke Harriet quickly; “you see, sir,” with charming candor, “Governor Livingston is a great friend of Cousin David’s, and came to see him but the other day. He told us a great deal of Liberty Hall, and how he had planted hundreds of trees which he had imported from France and England, until I was curious anent the place. Cousin David, or Ensign Drayton, usually rides with us, but Wednesday both were on duty; so, as Cousin David said that there was no danger so long as we kept within the lines, Peggy and I went for our ride alone. I know not how it came about; but perhaps ’twas because the governor had talked about his home, but we found ourselves all at once upon the turnpike going toward Elizabethtown. Presently Fleetwood, being a swifter nag than Star, became restive at our slow pace and to take the edge off him I dashed ahead for a little canter. While I was gone Peggy found the letter and when I came back there she was reading it. It did not take us long to decide what to do, and—but the rest you know, sir,” she ended abruptly.
“Yes; I know the rest,” he said musingly. “And so you were not there when Miss Peggy found the note?”
“No,” she answered him. “I must have been a mile away. Don’t you think so, Peggy?”