quested his sanction to my addresses. Consult your own happiness,
and, if incompatible, forget there is so unhappy a wretch. May I
perish before I would give you one moment's inquietude to procure the
greatest possible felicity to myself! Whatever my fate may be, my most
ardent wish is for your happiness, and my latest breath will be to
implore the blessing of Heaven on the idol and only wish of my soul."
And yet the writer of these fine sentiments presently sells her
peace and happiness and his own honor for a sum of money almost too
pitifully small to be named! They were married in April, 1779. By this
union with the daughter of a loyalist, however professing neutrality,
Arnold must have been thrown much into the society of the enemies of
his country's cause--men whose principles were entirely at variance
with his own--and doubtless his defection may be indirectly laid to
the subtle influence of Tory companionship: certainly, his reckless
intimacy with well-known if not openly-avowed foes of American
independence caused his military superiors to look askance at his
movements, and more than justified the caution of a Congress jealous
of the least shadow that menaced the struggling cause of liberty.

[Footnote 4: See _Letters and Papers relating to the Provincial
History of Pennsylvania_, by Mr. Thomas Balch.]

The newly-wedded pair set up their household in the old Penn mansion
(long since torn down) on a scale of magnificence in no way warranted
by Arnold's means. Their great coach-and-four was seen thundering back
and forth through the streets of the quiet little town, and a motley
throng of guests, Whig and Tory, were entertained at a table where
nothing was thought too choice and costly for their delectation.
Matters were carried with such extravagance that debt soon pressed
upon the thoughtless pair, and prudent people began to inquire
curiously into Arnold's administration of public affairs. Whispers
soon grew into loud complaints, and a court-martial was presently
convened to investigate certain charges brought against him by the
Executive Council, comprising peculation, misappropriation of public
funds, etc. During the tedious deliberation of this body of his
fellow-officers, and in the almost certain event of the day going
against him, Arnold laid his plan for the grand coup, which, if
successful, would at once gratify his deep longing for revenge and
place him, as he fondly hoped, at the very summit of his a