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 turn to flush. The young officer moved away, only looking back over his shoulder to say to Mehitable, "I was going to ask ye to come wi' me and meet my betrothed's best friend, Mistress Kitty Livingston, the daughter o' the Governor; but I must defer that pleasure until ye are less engrossed! However, mayhap ye know her also."

Half ready to weep, Mehitable looked desperately at the youth blocking her path. "I would thank ye for the buckle, sir," she said angrily, holding out her hand once more.

The other looked from her trembling, outstretched hand into her blazing eyes, and his own became steely. "I would first talk wi' ye alone," he conditioned.

But Mehitable shook her head violently. "I will hold no talk with you, sir! Give me my buckle or I will call my brother!"

Simpson looked at her scornfully. "What could he do?" he asked her.

"He could dub ye spy and—and—run ye out o' the tavern here!"

"So?" The young man's tone was amused. "Wait ye a moment, mistress!" And he was gone. It was scarcely more than a moment, however, before he was back before the girl, with Colonel Hamilton in tow.

As they reached her, Alexander Hamilton looked down into Mehitable's crimsoned face with toler-