The laughter was gone from her eyes, and a solemn light came into them. "Kyrle Southorn, I love you--I do love you!" They now heard voices and steps outside the door, and Dorothy sprang to her feet, while Captain Southorn arose hastily from the chair and set it back in place. It was John Devereux who entered, followed by a soldier. "Well, good people," he said cheerily, giving the young Britisher a glance of swift scrutiny, and then looking smilingly at Dorothy, "there is a supper waiting for this small sister of mine; and, Dot, you must come with me--and that speedily, as I am famishing." He advanced and drew her hand within his arm; then turning with more dignity of manner to the Englishman, he added, "After we have supped, Captain Southorn, I will look for you in your room, as General Washington will then be ready to receive us." Southorn bowed gravely. Then, with a sudden boyish impulsiveness, he extended his hand. "May I not first hear from your own lips," he asked earnestly, "that you wish me well?" Jack clasped the hand as frankly as it had been offered, and Dorothy's heart beat happily, as she saw the two dearest on earth to her looking with friendly eyes upon one another. CHAPTER XXXIII An hour later the three stood before the door of Washington's private office; and in response to John Devereux's knock, the voice that was now so familiar to Dorothy bade them enter. As they came into the room, Washington advanced toward Dorothy with his hand held out in greeting, and his eyes were filled with kindness as they looked into the charming face regarding him half fearfully. "Welcome," he said,--"welcome, little Mistress Southorn." At the sound of that name, heard now for the first time, a rush of color suffused Dorothy's cheeks, while the two younger men smiled, albeit each with a different meaning. The one was triumphantly happy, but Jack's smile was touched with bitterness, and a sudden contraction, almost painful, caught his throat for a second. "I trust that my orders were properly carried out for your comfort," continued Washington, still addressing Dorothy, as he motioned them all to be seated. She courtesied, and managed to make a fitting reply. But she felt quite uncomfortable, and somewhat alarmed, to find her small self an object of so much consideration. The Commander-in-Chief now seated himself, and turned a graver face to the young Englishman. "May I ask, Captain Southorn, if the plans of which you told Lieutenant Devereux and myself are to be carried out?" The young man bowed respectfully. "I am most happy, sir, to assure you that they are, and at the speediest possible moment after I return to Boston." Washington was silent a moment, and his eyes turned to Lieutenant Devereux, who, seemingly regardless of all else, was watching his sister. "And you, Lieutenant, do you give your consent to all this?" "Yes, sir." But the young man sighed.