“Oh, Robert, thee must be the aide of whom he spoke,” cried Peggy receiving her card excitedly. “See, girls! ’tis for tea on Fifth Day week. How delightsome! May we go, mother? How exciting town life is! I had forgot ’twas so gay.” “Too gay, I fear me,” said her mother looking at the invitation dubiously. “Yes; we will go, Peggy, because ’tis right that we should pay respect to General Arnold. He hath no small task to restore the city to order, but I do not wish to be drawn into a round of frivolity.” “But thee must let Peggy frivol a little,” protested Sally. “It hath been long since she hath been with us, Mistress Owen.” Mrs. Owen laughed. “A little, Sally, I am willing for. But I wish not that nothing else should be thought about. It seems as though the city hath gone wild with merrymaking. I like it not.” “Of a truth there is too much tea drinking and feasting, madam,” spoke Robert Dale soberly. “There are many who are dissatisfied with the state of things while the army is ill-fed and ill-clothed. I for one would far rather be yonder in the field, even in misery, than here dancing attendance upon routs, and the whims of females.” “Oh, Robert!” came in a reproachful chorus from the girls. “Thee is unmannerly.” “Your pardon,” said the youth sweeping them a profound curtsey to hide his confusion. “I meant no offense to any present, but spoke of the sex in general.” “Thee does not deserve forgiveness; does he, Peggy?” pouted Sally. “If ’twere for aught else than the army, I should say no,” answered Peggy laughing. “But because he would rather be in the field for the country we shall have to forgive him, Sally.” “Thank you, Peggy,” said the lad gratefully. “I will try to make amends for my untoward speech at another time. Now I must attend my general. Shall I bear your acceptance of his invitation, Mrs. Owen?” “If thee will, Robert,” answered she with a smile. “Thee is routed, Robert,” cried Sally saucily as he left them. CHAPTER III—AN OLD TIME ADVERTISEMENT “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.” —“The Task,” Cowper. It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order. Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes. Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh. “There is no help for it, my daughter. Thee must have a new frock. I see not how thou art to go to General Arnold’s tea otherwise.” “Oh!” breathed Peggy a look of pleasure irradiating her face. Then as a thought came to her: “But are not goods very high, mother? How can we afford it?”