more magnificent dress than she
was accustomed to wear. Indeed, she wished to do every honour to her
guest, and to make the entertainment--which, in reality, was a sad
one to her--as pleasant as might be for her company. The General's new
aide-de-camp was the first to arrive. The widow received him in the
covered gallery before the house. He dismounted at the steps, and
his servants led away his horses to the well-known quarters. No young
gentleman in the colony was better mounted or a better horseman than Mr.
Washington.

For a while ere the Major retired to divest himself of his riding-boots,
he and his hostess paced the gallery in talk. She had much to say to
him; she had to hear from him a confirmation of his own appointment as
aide-de-camp to General Braddock, and to speak of her son's approaching
departure. The negro servants bearing the dishes for the approaching
feast were passing perpetually as they talked. They descended the steps
down to the rough lawn in front of the house, and paced a while in the
shade. Mr. Washington announced his Excellency's speedy approach, with
Mr. Franklin of Pennsylvania in his coach.

This Mr. Franklin had been a common printer's boy, Mrs. Esmond had
heard; a pretty pass things were coming to when such persons rode in the
coach of the Commander-in-Chief! Mr. Washington said, a more shrewd and
sensible gentleman never rode in coach or walked on foot. Mrs. Esmond
thought the Major was too liberally disposed towards this gentleman; but
Mr. Washington stoutly maintained against the widow that the printer was
a most ingenious, useful, and meritorious man.

"I am glad, at least, that, as my boy is going to make the campaign, he
will not be with tradesmen, but with gentlemen, with gentlemen of honour
and fashion," says Madam Esmond, in her most stately manner.

Mr. Washington had seen the gentlemen of honour and fashion over their
cups, and perhaps thought that all their sayings and doings were not
precisely such as would tend to instruct or edify a young man on his
entrance into life; but he wisely chose to tell no tales out of school,
and said that Harry and George, now they were coming into the world,
must take their share of good and bad, and hear what both sorts had to
say.

"To be with a veteran officer of the finest army in the world," faltered
the widow; "with gentlemen who have been bred in the midst of the Court;
with friends of his Royal Highness, the Duke----"

The wido