"I have no idea," was Mary's indifferent answer. She had scarcely heard the question, for wondering what it might be that Dorothy was thinking about as she stood by the window, from which she had drawn away the curtain.
Certain it was that the girl could distinguish nothing in the pitchy darkness outside, even if she could see through the rain-dashed panes, that looked as if encrusted with glass beads.
Mistress Trask's information—whispered, like her question, as if she feared the furniture might hear her words—caused Mary to sit very erect, with kindling eyes and indrawn breath.
"Hush-h," warned the landlady, with a broad smile of delight at the surprise she had aroused. "Hush-h; we was ordered on no account to let it get out."
"Dot, did you hear what she said?" Mary asked, when the two, left to themselves, sat down to the tempting supper.
Dorothy shook her head, wondering the while at Mary's agitation.
"She said," and Mary lowered her own voice, "that the Commander-in-Chief is to arrive here soon, and that he will stop here all night, as there is to be a meeting of some sort with many of his principal officers."
"General Washington!" A new light came to Dorothy's face, kindling a rush of color in her cheeks, and sending a glitter from her eyes that routed all their sad abstraction.
Mary nodded.
"I wish we could see him," said Dorothy. "Oh—I must get a peep at him."