"Why do you say that?" she asked. "Every day our lot grows worse. The troops perish from misery; they are badly armed; scarcely clothed; they need bread and many of them are without arms. Our lands lie fallow. The education of a generation has been neglected, a loss that can never be repaired. Our youths have been dragged by the thousands from their occupations and harvested by the war; and those who return have lost their vigor or have been mutilated for life." "You are partly right," he mused. "America lost the opportunity for reconciliation immediately after my victory at Saratoga. Since then, as you say, the land has become a waste of widows, beggars and orphans. Then came the French Alliance, a sacrifice of the great interests, as well as the religion of this country to the biased views of a proud, ancient, crafty and priest-ridden nation. I always thought this a defensive war until the French joined in the combination. Now I look with disfavor upon this peril to our dominion, this enemy of our faith." Peggy became interested immediately. She sat straight up in her chair. "You never spoke these thoughts to me before!" she exclaimed. "I feared it. You are a Tory, at least at heart. And I knew that you would only encourage me in my manner of thought. God knows, I am unable to decide between my perplexities." "You know how General Monk decided?" "My God! He was a traitor!" "He restored Charles," insisted Peggy. "And sold his soul." "For the Duchy of Albemarle." "Good God! girl, don't talk thoughts like that, I--I---- He has endured universal execration. It was an act of perfidy." He scowled fiercely. He was in a rage. Peggy smiled. She did not press the subject, but allowed it to drop. "My! How dark it has become!" she exclaimed. She struck a light and touched the wicks of the candles. III Dizzy was the eminence to which General Arnold and his girl bride ascended! On a sudden they found themselves on the highest pinnacle--the one of military fame--with Gates, Lee, Wayne, Greene and many other distinguished generals at their feet, the other of social prestige the observed of all observers! For a time Arnold's caprices had been looked upon as only the flash and outbreak of that fiery mind which had directed his military genius. He attacked religion; yet in religious circles his name was mentioned with fondness. He lampooned Congress; yet he was condoned by the Whigs.