He was musing in this manner when he heard the hoof beats of a horse, heavily ridden, gaining upon him in the rear. He drew up and half turned instinctively at the strange yet familiar sound. Suddenly there hove into view at the bend of the road an officer of the Continental Army, in full uniform, booted and spurred, whose appearance caused him to turn full about to await him. It was not long before he recognized the familiar figure of the aide, Major Franks, and he lifted his arm to salute. "Captain Meagher, I have orders for your arrest." "Sir?" answered Stephen in alarm. "On charges preferred by Colonel Forrest. You are to come with me at once." An embarrassing silence ensued. Stephen then saluted, and handed over his side arms. He wheeled his horse and set off in the direction indicated, his thoughts in a turmoil. The Major fell in at the rear. CHAPTER VII I "For still my mem'ry lingers on the scenes And pleasures of the days beyond recall." Peggy's voice, timid, soft though pretty, died away into an enraptured silence which seemed to endure for the longest while before the room burst into a generous measure of applause. She was very well accompanied on the clavichord by Miss Rutteledge and on the harp by Monsieur Ottow, Secretary to the French Minister. The evening had been delightful; the assembly brilliant in quality, and unaffectedly congenial and diverting. The music had contributed much to the pleasures of the function, for the Shippens' was one of the few homes in the city where such a resource was at all possible. "Major! Major Franks! What do you think of my little girl? Do you think 'twould be well for her to cultivate such a voice?" Mrs. Shippen turned sideways. There was gratification, genuine, complacent gratification, visible in every line of her smiling face. "Splendid! Splendid! Of course. Madame, she sings very prettily," replied the Major, gathering himself from the state of partial repose into which he had fallen. He sat up. "And do you know, Major," went on the fond mother, "she never had a tutor, except some of our dear friends who made this their home during the winter." "You mean the British?" "Of course they did not make so free with everybody in the city, with only a few, you know. It was for General Howe himself that Margaret first made bold enough to sing." "She does very well, I am sure," was the reply. The little group again lapsed into silence as Peggy responded with an encore, this selection being a patriotic air of a lighter vein. The Major again lapsed into an easy attitude, but Mrs. Shippen was visibly intent upon every motion of the singer and followed her every syllable. "How much does music contribute to one's pleasure!" she remarked when the conversation began to stir. "It is charming," Mr. Anderson observed. "And do you know that we inherited that clavichord? It is one of the oldest in the country."