the greatest difficulty and dislike at first
that he learned to drink. He has certainly overcome his difficulty with
uncommon resolution."

"What, I wonder, can you talk of for so many hours?" asked the lady.

"I don't think I can tell you all we talk of, madam, and I must not
tell tales out of school. We talked about the war, and of the force Mr.
Contrecoeur has, and how we are to get at him. The General is for making
the campaign in his coach, and makes light of it and the enemy. That we
shall beat them, if we meet them, I trust there is no doubt."

"How can there be?" says the lady, whose father had served under
Marlborough.

"Mr. Franklin, though he is only from New England," continued the
gentleman, "spoke great good sense, and would have spoken more if the
English gentlemen would let him; but they reply invariably that we are
only raw provincials, and don't know what disciplined British troops can
do. Had they not best hasten forwards and make turnpike roads and
have comfortable inns ready for his Excellency at the end of the day's
march?--'There's some sort of inns, I suppose,' says Mr. Danvers, 'not
so comfortable as we have in England: we can't expect that.'--'No,
you can't expect that,' says Mr. Franklin, who seems a very shrewd
and facetious person. He drinks his water, and seems to laugh at the
Englishmen, though I doubt whether it is fair for a water-drinker to sit
by and spy out the weaknesses of gentlemen over their wine."

"And my boys? I hope they are prudent?" said the widow, laying her hand
on her guest's arm. "Harry promised me, and when he gives his word, I
can trust him for anything. George is always moderate. Why do you look
so grave?"

"Indeed, to be frank with you, I do not know what has come over George
in these last days," says Mr. Washington. "He has some grievance against
me which I do not understand, and of which I don't care to ask the
reason. He spoke to me before the gentlemen in a way which scarcely
became him. We are going the campaign together, and 'tis a pity we begin
such ill friends."

"He has been ill. He is always wild and wayward, and hard to understand.
But he has the most affectionate heart in the world. You will bear with
him, you will protect him--promise me you will."

"Dear lady, I will do so with my life," Mr. Washington said with great
fervour. "You know I would lay it down cheerfully for you or any you
love."

"And my father's blessing and mine go with you,