, nor an ass, nor anything that has ears. Those curls of Mr.
Washington's are prettily powdered."

The militia colonel, who had been offended by the first part of the
talk, and very much puzzled by the last, had taken a modest draught from
the great china bowl of apple-toddy which stood to welcome the guests
in this as in all Virginian houses, and was further cooling himself by
pacing the balcony in a very stately manner.

Again almost reconciled with the elder, the appeased mother stood giving
a hand to each of her sons. George put his disengaged hand on Harry's
shoulder. "I say one thing, George," says he with a flushing face.

"Say twenty things, Don Enrico," cries the other.

"If you are not fond of sporting and that, and don't care for killing
game and hunting, being cleverer than me, why shouldst thou not stop
at home and be quiet, and let me go out with Colonel George and Mr.
Braddock?--that's what I say," says Harry, delivering himself of his
speech.

The widow looked eagerly from the dark-haired to the fair-haired boy.
She knew not from which she would like to part.

"One of our family must go because honneur oblige, and my name being
number one, number one must go first," says George.

"Told you so," said poor Harry.

"One must stay, or who is to look after mother at home? We cannot afford
to be both scalped by Indians or fricasseed by French."

"Fricasseed by French!" cries Harry; "the best troops of the world!
Englishmen! I should like to see them fricasseed by the French!--What a
mortal thrashing you will give them!" and the brave lad sighed to think
he should not be present at the battue.

George sate down to the harpsichord and played and sang "Malbrouk s'en
va-t-en guerre, Mironton, mironton, mirontaine," at the sound of which
music the gentleman from the balcony entered. "I am playing 'God save
the King,' Colonel, in compliment to the new expedition."

"I never know whether thou art laughing or in earnest," said the simple
gentleman, "but surely methinks that is not the air."

George performed ever so many trills and quavers upon his harpsichord,
and their guest watched him, wondering, perhaps, that a gentleman of
George's condition could set himself to such an effeminate business.
Then the Colonel took out his watch, saying that his Excellency's coach
would be here almost immediately, and asking leave to retire to his
apartment, and put himself in a fit condition to appear before her
lady