[Illustration: [P. 147 “‘NEVER DRAW IT IN AN UNWORTHY CAUSE’”] A VIRGINIA CAVALIER BY MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL ILLUSTRATED [Illustration] NEW YORK AND LONDON HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS 1903 Copyright, 1896, by HARPER & BROTHERS. _All rights reserved._ “_Nature made Washington great--but he made himself virtuous_” ILLUSTRATIONS “‘NEVER DRAW IT IN AN UNWORTHY CAUSE’” _Frontispiece_ “‘THIS IS MY SON, MR. WASHINGTON’” _Facing p._ 18 GEORGE BIDS BETTY GOOD-BYE “ 54 SKETCHING THE DEFENCES ON THE SCHELDT “ 72 “‘IS MARSE GEORGE WASHINGTON HERE, SUH?’” “ 100 THE DAILY LESSON IN ARMS “ 122 THE FIGHT IN THE KITCHEN PASSAGE “ 136 “SHE WAS THE STATELIEST BEAUTY OF A SHIP HE HAD EVER SEEN” “ 168 “‘MY SON, MY BEST-LOVED CHILD’” “ 192 “THEY STRUCK NOW INTO THE WILDERNESS” “ 218 “BY DAYLIGHT GEORGE WAS IN THE SADDLE” “ 236 “‘NEVER WILL YOU BE HALF SO BEAUTIFUL AS OUR MOTHER’” “ 246 THE GOVERNOR’S LEVEE “ 260 “GEORGE HAD THE SAVAGE BY THE THROAT” “ 296 “WITH DRUMS BEATING AND COLORS FLYING” “ 314 “GEORGE DID ALL THAT MORTAL MAN COULD DO” “ 342 A VIRGINIA CAVALIER CHAPTER I “_Nature made Washington great; but he made himself virtuous._” The sun shines not upon a lovelier land than midland Virginia. Great rivers roll seaward through rich woodlands and laughing corn-fields and fair meadow lands. Afar off, the misty lines of blue hills shine faintly against the deeper blue of the sky. The atmosphere is singularly clear, and the air wholesome and refreshing. Never was it more beautiful than on an afternoon in late October of 1746. The Indian summer was at hand--that golden time when Nature utters a solemn “Hush!” to the season, and calls back the summer-time for a little while. The scene was full of peace--the broad and placid Rappahannock shimmering in the sun, its bosom unvexed except by the sails of an occasional grain-laden vessel, making its way quietly and slowly down the blue river. The quiet homesteads lay basking in the fervid sun, while woods and streams and fields were full of those soft, harmonious country sounds which make a kind of musical silence. A mile or two back from the river ran the King’s highway--a good road for those days, and showing signs of much travel. It passed at one point through a natural clearing, on the top of which grew a few melancholy pines. The road came out of the dense woods on one side of this open space, and disappeared in the woods on the other side.