Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/168

152 “Was Washington ever entertained here?” asked Nora, demurely.

“Yes,” replied Amy.

“And Lafayette, too?”

“Why, yes.”

“I thought so. I ’ve been in historic towns before, and Washington and Lafayette have always been entertained in the handsomest houses.”

“Well, Colonel Lee was naturally honored by Washington, because he had been so devoted to the American cause. You see, ever so many of the Marblehead merchants were Loyalists. Why, Colonel Lee himself had a brother-in-law, Benjamin Marston,—that is his house  up there at the top of the hill,—who was exiled to  Nova Scotia because he was on the King’s side. Another brother-in-law. King Hooper, as he was called on account of his great wealth, had a large banquet-hall in the top  of his house, and my mother says that she can remember,  not so very long ago, a coat-of-arms there over the door. This part of Washington Street, especially up here on the hill, seems to have been the Court End of the town,—at least, all the handsomest houses are here,” said Amy.

“Is every old house standing that ever was built in Marblehead?” asked Brenda.

“Well I’m not going to point them all out to you, so don’t be worried,” answered Amy, good-naturedly.

“Show us one that has some romantic story connected with it.”

“I’m afraid that there are not so very many. The