ROSE. [_From the window_.] Why, there's Harry--father, Kate--Harry is dismounting at the door. ELSWORTH. Bless me! Is it possible? [_All gather around the window_. KATE. It is, I declare--and how splendid he looks. Harry! Harry! [_All salute him, and shake their handkerchiefs._ METCALF. [_Aside to_ ROSE.] Hist! Miss Elsworth! ROSE. Eh! METCALF. Walter is near--a note-- ROSE. [_Seizing it, and reading hurriedly._] Will be with you to-day-- KATE. [_Looking towards right, at the window_.] Doesn't he look fine? There's his step in the hall. [_They all go towards door_. ROSE _conceals_ WALTER'S _note_. HARRY. [_Within_.] Rose, Kate, father! _Enter_ LIEUTENANT HARRY ELSWORTH. _All gather around him with exclamations of welcome._ METCALF. [_Aside_.] I'll take occasion to steal down-stairs, and plague Bridget into a kiss or two. Delicious Bridget! [_Exit_ METCALF. ELSWORTH. Harry! My brave lad! ROSE. Dear brother! HARRY. Dear sister! Father! ELSWORTH. Stand aside, girls. Let me have a look at him. Harry! Harry! You are a splendid-looking fellow, you are. Ha, ha, ha! Your hand, my boy. You look like a soldier, sir. HARRY. I have good news for you. I have just rode on before to acquaint you that Major Cleveland will honour your roof to-day. ELSWORTH. He shall be welcome--open doors and open hands. HARRY. He will remain until to-morrow. Now, girls, some of us young fellows are dying for a dance--can't we extemporize a ball? ROSE. Good gracious, Harry! You will have to pit coat against coat--where are your ladies? HARRY. Oh, we'd drum them up. There are a dozen families within as many miles. ROSE. A mad idea. HARRY. A wild one, I confess. ELSWORTH. It would be a suitable festivity in honour of our Long Island victory. Come girls, you have my consent. _Enter_ SERVANT, _announcing_ CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG. _Enter_ CAPTAIN WALTER ARMSTRONG. ALL [_but_ ROSE]. Captain Armstrong! ARMSTRONG. Captain Armstrong! ALL [_but_ ROSE]. In the Continental service? ARMSTRONG. In the Continental service! ELSWORTH. I am somewhat surprised, sir, at this visit. When you were a loyal gentleman my doors were always open to you--now, in that dress, I cannot consent to receive your visits. In happier moments you were a companion of my daughters--a friend of my son--you have selected a course which must terminate that connection with my family. ARMSTRONG. You will pardon me, sir, I trust, for this intrusion. I have reached this place with some danger, for these parts abound with a set of fellows who have a fancy for wishing everybody else's skin the colour of their own coats. Mr. Elsworth, my sense of duty has compelled me to pursue a path which has estranged me from your friendship. Let me ask frankly, sir, if it must separate me from one who has honoured me with her consideration and affection? ELSWORTH. You allude to my daughter--to Rose-- ARMSTRONG. I do, sir.