"You are free to return, sir, without exchange; but it is my advice that you do not do so. What you can explain to us you could never explain to the gentlemen who are temporarily in New York city."
Colonel Roberts, of Washington's staff, here whispered a suggestion. It was taken up at once, and the sentence of the court to which William had presented his remarkable petition was as follows:
"Lieutenant William Frothingham, late of his Majesty King George's service, is hereby ordered to free confinement at the Manor House of Stanham Mills, to be paroled there on honor not to escape or desert a country that has profited by his free service."
"BROTHER MINE," SAID GEORGE.... "IT IS FOR KING OR COUNTRY."
It was at Stanham Mills.
"Yes, I knowed it all de time," said old Cato to the group in the kitchen. The old man was breathless from reiterating this statement.
In the big hall a strange meeting was taking place. So many explanations had to be made; so many questions asked and answered; so many stops and pauses for Aunt Clarissa to overcome her tears and bursts of self-deprecation, that it was a long time before quiet and calm could be restored; but when this had happened, the impossible seemed to have been accomplished, for there sat the twins as they had years and years before, hand in hand, and grouped around them were Aunt Clarissa, Colonel Hewes, Grace, and Carter, for the young Captain had considerately been given charge of the remarkable prisoner, and many a long chat and silent hand-grasp had they indulged in between Morristown and Stanham. William's depression was rolling off him. Somehow it seemed very natural to be here with his own people again, so much happier than being with the roistering, swaggering officers that he had so long been thrown in with.
At last good-nights were said, and Aunt Clarissa, with a final burst of weeping, had gone up stairs on the arm of her tall young niece. George and William stepped to the door as they watched Carter and his father mount their horses, for the latter was now living in a small house with the troops at the foundry.