Cardigan

k-house, where Mr. Duncan, the lieutenant commanding the guard, received m

ent come in," said he. "Sir William is aware

, as it flashed into my mind that Mistress Molly had sent an express to Sir William as so

, I looked up to find M

William is pleased to approve your

sked, quickly, my hear

illiam has left something for you with me, a present,

ughing officer shook his head, retiring into t

eeth, looked on with respectful grins. Clearly, even they appear

artly vexed, away below in the village the

t?" I asked,

nd banging of gun-stocks on the stone floor, my question perhaps was not heard by Mr. Duncan, for he stood silent,

to the right and front; the sergeant, at a carry,

Trail arms! File by the left flank! March!" And with drawn

se gate, far away in the village I heard the r

ceased. And now I could hear the tramp, tramp

" cried Mr. Du

front of us, taking the shape of a long column, which passed with the flicker

uncan rendered the officer's salute as a dark stand of colou

the black ocean of the night, with soldiers half asleep on top, and t

xen passed, draggi

ort arms! Trail arms! 'Bout face!

ummer bearing his drum flat on his hip, the trump

ard, wrapped his plaid around his throat, and strol

those, sir?" I a

en, noticing my puzzled face, he added, "There is to be a big

nt to admit that I had not sh

er," said

n for a mile across the uplands. On a hill in the north a signal fire sent long streamers of flame straight up into the sky; oth

ering," said Mr. Duncan. "W

for?"

. Duncan, gravely. "Goo

ughtfully; then cried after hi

wered, and passed o

countered Esk and Peter, well bibbed, cleanin

d Esk, tapping upon his bowl and

" added Peter. "The Onondaga f

," corre

eter, smearing his face

ilver Heels

ntry, keys jingling at her girdle, and took P

Betty. If Sir William does not return, you will dine with Felicity alone; and I expe

olly," said

ard, left lamenting and asserting that they

fresh-flowered cambric, passed them on the stairs coming down, pau

Molly, "will you conduct

that innocent, affected lisp which I k

she heard the nursery door close, then flung both l

d. "To-morrow all the officers will be here, and I am to wear my hair cur

relled; and she chattered on, smoothing her bib-apron with those silky hands of h

ot promise me a comfit; so I ran away before my cap was tied on. Micky, go and

all my finery, meaning to lord it in the

ere was my lady Silver Heels parading before the pier-glas

reat hall, Mr. Butler having hurriedly ridden to his home, and

dingly small, sitting in the big chair at the other end of

per, and those not of the best, for they

" said I, sternly, to the gillie-a raw y

d oaf gap

ee it is dark

eck for sae big a room, sir," sai

x candles and light them, idiot, in a seemly row! Also fetch Sir W

tented at being obeyed without questions had I not perceived him, through the buttery

and left, I bade the gillie leave us, mistrusting he might bear tales to Sir William touching

gone?" said I

the blessing's said? Sir William gave us a grand disco

er Heels, the candle-light sparkling under her hal

ce before meat, then

ut aa never sleep the nicht without

said I, "or I'll let this

laughed heartily until she spilled her wi

ell upon me. I peered up at the stags' shaggy heads, set around the wall; their dark glazed eyes reflected t

swinging, clip-clap! She shrugged her shoulders and tossed her chin, pretending to trifle with a dish of cakes, vowing she had no appeti

s from the plate and pouched them to eat at my plea

her cheeks full the while. Too, she drank of both sherry and Madeira, which was forbidden by Sir William,

pper, when we sat together on the stairs, she harped ever on the same string, reproaching me for playing the high a

from the third stair as well as yours;" and she st

"why do they harness you to the back-boa

madde

f Paddington's make, which befit my station and rank! You shall see me in padusoy and ribbons and a hat of

in your silly flummery." And I drew a

Silver Heels; "give

ldiers had come. Surely not because of danger to us at the Hall, for we had our Mohawks, our militia, and yeoman tenantry at beck an

hat there are men in Boston who h

id I, "they'll a

civilly, and without a trace of that mockery whic

hat my father had died for his King,

lined to listen; but black Betty came down-stairs, her double ear

and stretching. I could not help noticin

, with her mechanical curtsey

what with the excitement of the morning, the arrival of the Cayuga, and, later, th

rowding around my pillow; visions of Mr

see the watchful eyes of Indian fires glimmering from hill and hollow

ickets had ceased, and the stars grew paler, and that silence which is the dawn's true herald war

ure on my walls ere I waked to hear the bugle playing at the

dub-dub! Dub! du

e I, all shivers, dashed cold water over me fro

anding in the sunshine by the stables, wound his hunting-ho

l the young year, and saw Silver Heels's head at the next w

e her good-morning so civilly that she

; "dreams di

d sherry," she obser

. Which proves," she added, "that we are both too young to dine and wine

ring of her dreams, how, in her sleep, she saw me mammocked by savages, among t

d tied it; then put on my buckskin vest wit

fish?" asked Silve

esent from Castle Cumberland last night. I doub

atient to find Mr. Duncan and have my present; nay, so fast and blindly did I speed

xclaimed, testily. "Is there no go

from Castle Cumberland!" I st

ughing, half angry. "What the devil have I to do with your presen

not to," sai

his eyes. "So I did, lad; so I did! Well, p

Duncan and get it now

e it," argued Sir William, who did ever

and he pretended to go with

r. Duncan rendered Sir William the offi

edge hereabouts of a certain present s

plied Mr. Duncan, gravely, "I do d

hool-book?" inqu

can, dubiously; "belike it hid a d

with rising excitement.

to me, "remember, sir, that you forget not your manners wh

h connected with the guard-room. But I saw no parcels anywhere; in fact, there wa

ou," he said

t I had stripped the lid back. Buff and gold and scarlet swam the colours of the clothing b

lifting a pair of dress boots from behind a curtain. "Her

!" I

drawing from his breast a parchment with seal and tape. "Mr. Ca

s kind, warm hand outstretched, nor could I decipher the commiss

d with head pinched in my fingers, str

, vest, leggings, shoon, flew from me. I pulled on the buff breeches, and laced them tight, drew on the

my sword belt, hung the sword with one glove in the hilt, and so, walking on air, I pa

t my wits were at work and I stopped short at three

sting his ivory cane on the grass, he stepped forward with arms

those who themselves have known the longing it is needless to describe my happiness and pride, my gratitude to those who had honoured me, my impetuous thirst for service,

me a long while with kindly, steady eyes. His countenance was serene and benign when he spoke in that clear voice whose harmony a

eep faith with all men; keep faith with thyself.

s Molly, Major Wilkes of the battalion which arrived the night before, Captains Priestly, Borrow

y their respects to the Baronet, and I, red as a Dutch pippin,

discharged my duties with what composure I could command; but Mi

We are very proud, Sir William and I. B

r forget those sweet, grave words of love, spoken

ver Heels, all my vanity, conc

nd fascinated, and she wished me happiness in a

turned to Sir William, who presented m

gan, gentlemen; Captai

f the Royal Americans, greeted me most kindly, some claiming acquaintance

toast, all touching glasses with me, and Sir W

n New York and Massachusetts, concerning the importation of tea by the East India Company. The discussion soon became a monologue, for the subject was on

lty and love to my King; but this I know and dare maintain here or at St. James: that his Majesty whom I serv

word or inflection; Mistress Molly poured the roundly abused tea,

l are aware that since last December the Atlant

ed, as well it might be, considering the insolence of the

his mind was made up. "This is the true history of that trouble, gentlemen. Judge for you

on pill in its gullet, found itself owing the government fourteen hundred

ir tea to America, free of duty, and so put it in the power of the company to sell tea here cheaper than in England. And no

Gaspee!-when they gathered at Griffin's wharf and made tea enough for the world to drink!-when

ebels and traitors are not the counterfeit Indians of Griffin's wharf, not the men who fired the Gaspee aflame from sprit to topmast, not that m

orward, his heavy chin set on his fists, his eyes l

his great Irishman who had been the sole architect of his own greatness; thi

itish realm, a member of the King's Council, a major-general of milit

e Indians, a man whose influence was enormous; a man who was as simple as a maid,

an, but a

ncan spoke in a low tone with the or

rer is at the block-

x and left. Only Sir William, Mistress Molly, S

at Mistress Molly, and a s

s by the hand and qu

remain silent concerning what this belt-bearer h

r," said I, un

behind me opened and the