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 Stay," he smiled kindly, "best refresh yourself first with the dinner I see your mother is preparing for us."

Mistress Nancy's clear voice, as she conversed vivaciously with the other young officers who crowded around her eagerly, faltered a moment. Her back, turned toward John, looked haughty, however, and as he saluted his general he turned sadly away.

Mehitable, who had been watching Mistress Nancy in amazement, at once joined her brother.

"What be the matter with you, John?" she whispered.

"Nay, little sister, nothing is the matter save that I am stiff from my ride. He looked down at her humorously.

"I be so ancient, ye know."

"Yes, 'tis true, you are old," agreed Mehitable soberly.

John laughed. "Why, Hitty, twenty-three be not so old!" he protested.

"It seems pretty old," answered Mehitable. Twenty-three ever seems old to fifteen! And thirty! Oh dear!"

As they were eating the excellent meal Mistress Condit and Nancy had prepared, miraculously, it would seem, out of nothing, Amos entered to inform his mistress that Squire Condit had been called away. Soon afterward, John Condit left for Newark. Oddly enough, with his departure, Mistress Nancy's bright gayety vanished and she fell thoughtful. Then, while she fed Charity her dinner, she gazed often into the fire. General Washington, watching her as she sat oblivious to his presence near by, spoke at last.

"Such daydreams," he said, "can mean but one thing!"