"One would think that I did not make a good Quakeress, Peggy, to hear you talk. Now confess," pinching Peggy's cheek playfully, "you did not dream that I was aught other than Truelove Davis; did you?" "N-no; and yet thee puzzled me," said Peggy. "Oh, Harriet, thee should turn play actress." "Well, there are times when I think of it, cousin mine. 'Tis rare sport to make others believe that I am that which I am not." "But why did thee do it, Harriet? And to be here alone on the highway!" "I wanted to see Clifford, Peggy. Neither father nor I had heard aught from him since the misfortune at Yorktown, save that he was at Lancaster. We knew not whether he was ill or in health, or whether he was meeting with kindness or not. As your Congress permits supplies to be sent to the captured British it occurred to me that I might come along with them and find out about my brother. Of course, as the Most Honorable Council of Pennsylvania had banished me from the state, I dared not come openly, so I slipped in by the back door, as it were. "Father would not hear of my coming at first. Then I dressed up in this garb, and went in to where he sat talking with the new commander, Sir Guy Carleton, who hath come to take Sir Henry Clinton's place, and neither one of them knew me. Sir Guy declared that there would be no danger, as a Quakeress would meet with respectful treatment anywhere. He gave me a pass which would further insure my well being, and so, when a boat load of stores was shipped to Head of Elk the first of this week, I came with it. Everything hath gone off well until this breakdown, and I do not regret that, since it hath brought us together. So you see, Peggy, the matter is very simple after all." "Yes," said Peggy. "Harriet, thy brother was at our house in Third Month." "He was?" exclaimed Harriet. "Tell me about it, Peggy." And Peggy told her all that had happened on that memorable first of March, with its consequences. "So the Council hauled you and Sally up before it, did it?" cried Harriet. "Oh, dear, Peggy! you are always getting into trouble over us, aren't you? And Sally, and Robert, and Fairfax, all helped you in the affair. That makes me feel sorry about Fairfax Johnson. Do you know, Peggy, that matter hath created quite a stir in New York? There were many who wanted Sir Henry to turn over Captain Lippencott to the rebel general, but the court-martial found that he was acting under verbal orders from the Honorable Board of Associated Loyalists, and so should not be punished for obedience. Sir Guy is not altogether satisfied with the finding." "It was very sad, Harriet," said Peggy, the tears coming to her eyes. "Fairfax was only doing his duty in defending the state from invasion, and 'twas most inhuman to execute him in such a lawless manner. Our people are not satisfied to let the matter rest, because 'twas a crime committed in open defiance of the laws of war."