To sit on Douw Fonda's porch with her knitting was one thing, and the sap-pan gallants had little opportunity to turn the head of this inexperienced girl; but Albany was a very different matter; and this maid, who said that she liked men, alone there with only an aged man to stand between her and idle, fashionable youth, might very easily be led into indiscretions. The mere thought of which caused me so lively a vexation that I was surprised at myself. And now I perceived the carriage, with horses harnessed, and Colas in a red waistcoat and a red and green cockade on his beaver. We walked together to the Summer House. Lady Johnson came out on the veranda, and Claudia followed her. When they saw Major Fonda, they bowed to him very coolly, and he made them both a stately salute, shrugged his epaulettes, and took snuff. Lady Johnson said to Penelope: "Are you decided on abandoning two lonely women to their own devices, Penelope?" "Do you really mean to leave me, who could love you very dearly?" demanded Claudia, coming down and taking the girl by both hands. "If you wish it, I am now at liberty to remain with you till Mr. Fonda sends for me," replied Penelope. "But I have no clothes." Claudia embraced her with rapture. "Come to my room, darling!" she cried, "and you shall divide with me every stitch I own! And then we shall dress each other's hair! Shall we not? And we shall be very fine to drink a dish of tea with our friends, the enemy, yonder!" She flung her arm around Penelope. Going, the girl looked around at me. "Thank you for great kindness, my lord," she called back softly. Lady Johnson said in a cold voice to Major Fonda: "If our misfortunes have not made us contemptible to you, sir, we are at home to receive any enemy officer who, like yourself, Major, chances to be also a gentleman." "Damnation, Polly!" says he with a short laugh, "don't treat an old beau to such stiff-neck language! You know cursed well I'd go down on both knees and kiss your shoes, though I'd kick the King's shins if I met him!" He passed his arm through mine; we both bowed very low, then went away together, arm in arm, the Major fuming under his breath. "Silly baggage," he muttered, "to treat an old friend so high and mighty. Dash it, what's come over these Johnstown gentlemen and ladies. Can't we fight one another politely but they must affect to treat us as dirt beneath their feet, who once were welcome at their tables?" At the well I called to my men, who got up from the grass and greeted Major Fonda with unmilitary familiarity. "Major," said I, "we're off to scout the Sacandaga trail and learn what we can. It's cold sniffing, now, on Sir John's heels, but there was Iroquois smoke on old Maxon this morning, and I should like at least to poke the dead ashes of that same fire before moonrise." "Certainly," said the Major, gravely; and we shook hands. "Now, Nick," said I briskly. "Ready," said he; and "Ready!" repeated every man.