The latter, stately in an olive-colored silk velvet with knee buckles, silk stockings, bright silver shoe-buckles and the usual three looped hat held in his hand, hastened to greet them as they entered.
"Zounds! Miss Peggy," he cried. ""Tis well that I am not a young buck, else you should look no further for a gallant. Bless me, but you have grown pretty! Bob, you rascal! why did you not prepare me for what I should see? Upon my word, child, you must not mind a kiss from an old man."
So saying he held her at arm"s length in admiration, and then kissed her on both her cheeks. Whereat Peggy blushed right prettily.
"Thee will make me vain," she protested. "And mother hath but ceased warning me against such vanity. In truth, Friend Deering, I believe that no girl was ever so happy as I am to-night."
""Gather ye rosebuds while ye may: Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles to-day, To-morrow may be dying,""
he quoted gaily. "Have your fling, child. The morrow may bring grave problems to be solved, so be happy while you can. "Tis youth"s prerogative. Bob, do you follow with Mrs. Owen. I shall take an old man"s privilege and lead the princess to the coach myself. I" faith, there will be no opportunity for a word with her once she reaches headquarters."
Peggy gave Robert Dale an arch glance over her shoulder as the old gentleman led her to the coach, where she settled herself to await with what patience she could their arrival at Major-General Arnold"s.
At this time there was no suspicion whispered against the patriotism of Benedict Arnold. Scarcely any soldier had done so much to sustain the liberties of his country, and tales of his prowess, his daring and courage were rife in the city. Upon being placed in charge of Philadelphia by the commander-in-chief, General Washington, he had taken possession of the mansion in High Street, once the home of Richard Penn, and recently occupied by Sir William Howe. It was regarded as one of the finest houses in the city, was built of brick, and stood on the southeast corner of Front and High Streets.
Peggy and her mother knew that the affair was to be more than the ordinary tea, but they were scarcely prepared for the sumptuousness of the occasion.
"Is it a ball, Robert?" whispered the girl as they stood for a moment in the crush about the door.
"No," answered the youth a frown contracting his brow. ""Tis elaborate enough for one, and that is truth, Peggy. But when one is given it seems to be the general"s purpose to outvie all that rumor hath spoken of the Mischianza. All his entertainments are given on a most magnificent scale; as though he were a man of unbounded wealth and high social position. I like it not."
Peggy opened her lips to reply, but before she could do so the way was cleared for them to approach the general. The girl looked with intense interest at the gallant soldier of whose prowess she had heard so much.
He was a dark, well-made man, still young, not having reached the meridian of life; his face, bronzed and darkened by fatigue and exposure, indicated that he had seen the severest hardships of a soldier"s life. Unable to accept a command in the field because of the wounds received at Saratoga the preceding fall he had been made commandant of the city. He was still on crutches, being thin and worn from the effects of his hurt.
Some of the stories of his great courage upon that occasion came to Peggy"s mind, and brought a glow of admiration to her eyes. She flushed rosily as he said in greeting:
"I am pleased to welcome you, Mistress Peggy. A certain aide of mine hath talked of naught else but your return for a week past. You are to report him to me if he does not give you an enjoyable time. Ah, Dale!
look to"t that you distinguish yourself in the matter."
"Are there none but Tories?" questioned Peggy, as General Arnold turned to greet other arrivals, and Mrs. Owen paused to converse with some acquaintances.
"Well," the lad hesitated a moment and then continued, "they seem remarkably fond of him, Peggy, and he of them. I would it were not so, but many of the staff have thought that they flocked to his entertainments in mischievous numbers."
"But are there no others?" asked the girl again, for on every side were Tories and Neutrals to such an extent that scarce a Whig was to be seen.
"Oh, yes, the gentlemen of Congress are here somewhere, for there is Mr.
Charles Lee, who is always to be found where they are. He pays court to them upon every occasion in the endeavor to convince them what great merit he showed at the battle of Monmouth." And the youth laughed.
"And the head-dresses," exclaimed the girl in astonishment. "How high they are. And the pomade! And the powder! Why, Robert, all the fashion of the city is here!"
"And what did the general say to thee, Peggy?" cried Sally"s voice, and Robert and Peggy turned to find Sally and Betty directly behind them.
"Did he compliment thee upon thy name? "Tis his favorite, thee knows.
There comes Miss Margaret Shippen now, and look at thy general, Robert.
One could tell that he was paying court to her."
"They are to be married soon, I hear," announced Betty, when the laugh that had followed Sally"s remark died away.
"How beautiful she is," exclaimed Peggy admiringly as she gazed at the stately Miss Shippen.
"She is indeed," a.s.sented Robert, "though I would she were not a Tory."
"Fie, fie, Robert," laughed Peggy. "Is not thy Cousin Kitty a Tory? I never heard thee object to her."
"Oh, Kitty! that"s different." Robert was plainly embarra.s.sed.
"Is it?" The three girls laughed again, enjoying his confusion.
"I but voice the objections of the army," explained he when their merriment had subsided. "Of the Congress also, who fear the effect upon the people, there is so much feeling anent the Tories."
"Congress!" exclaimed Sally with a scornful toss of her head. "I should not mind what Congress said if I were General Arnold. They wouldn"t even give him his proper rank until after Saratoga, though His Excellency, General Washington, did his utmost to make them. I wouldn"t ask the old Congress anything anent the matter. So there!"
"Hoity-toity, my young lady! Have a care to your words. Know you not that the gentlemen of that same Congress are present? It seems to me that I have heard that some of those same gentlemen are the very men who are on the board of a certain inst.i.tution--"
"Oh, hush, hush, Mr. Deering," cried Sally turning with some excitement to the old gentleman. ""Tis a secret known to but few."
"Now what did I say?" he demanded as the others looked at the two in surprise. "Miss Peggy, won"t you defend me?"
"Let him say it over, Sally," said Peggy roguishly. "Perhaps we can tell then."
"No, no," uttered Sally with a questioning glance at him. "Thee does know," she burst forth as she met his twinkling eyes. "How did thee find it out, Mr. Deering?"
"If you will glad an old man by treading this measure with him, I"ll tell you," he answered. "Or perhaps you prefer a younger squire?"
"Oh, thee! Thee every time," cried she, linking her arm in his.
"Won"t you follow them, Peggy?" asked Robert.
"Why, no," she answered in surprise. "Thee knows that I am a Quaker, Robert."
"But not now, Peggy," interposed Betty. "Since thee has become a Whig, and have been read out of meeting thee is an apostate. Sally and I both have learned to languish and glide at the new academy in Third Street.
They are taught there in the politest manner. Thee must attend."
Peggy looked troubled.
"I do not think we should give up everything of our religion because we are led to differ from the Society in the matter of politics," she said.
"At least that is the way mother looks at it, though I should like to learn to dance. Oh, dear! I am getting worldly, I fear. Now, Betty, thee and Robert run along while I stand here and watch you. It hath been long since I saw so bright a scene."
Thus urged, Robert and Betty glided out upon the floor, and Peggy looked about her.
The extravagance of the costumes was beyond anything hitherto seen in the quiet city of Penn, and Peggy"s eyes opened wide at the gorgeous brocades and wide hooped skirts. But most of all did she marvel at the headdresses of the ladies. These, built of feathers, aigrets and ribbands, topped the hair already piled high upon steel frames and powdered excessively. The air was full of powder from wig and head-dress. Happy laughter mingled with the music of the fiddles, and the rustle of brocades. All made up a scene the luxury of which stole over the little maid"s senses and troubled her. Unconsciously she sighed.
"Why not treading a measure, my little maid?" queried General Arnold"s pleasant voice, and Peggy looked up to find him smiling down upon her.
"I am a Quaker," she told him simply.
"Then mayhap we can console each other; although I do not refrain from religious scruples."
"No; thee does it because of thy wound," uttered the girl a glow of such intense admiration coming into her eyes that the general smiled involuntarily. "Does it pain thee much, Friend-I should say-General Arnold?"