l out very soon."

"And you may be assured, too, that he will have an able adjutant in
Peggy. She is his counterpart in every particular."

He looked at her as she spoke, and was amazed by the excitement in her
face. She talked excitedly; her eyes, those large vivacious brown eyes
that looked out of her pretty oval face, were alight, and her face had
gone pale.

"I was interested in them last evening and with the apparent zeal
displayed by Peggy's mother in favor of the match. I would not be
surprised to hear of an announcement from that source at any time."

"Has it reached that stage?"

"Most assuredly! I decided that they already are on terms of intimacy
where secrets now obtain a common value."

"You think that?"

"Well.... I do.... Yes. I know, for instance that he had a letter in his
possession which was addressed to her, which letter had its origin in
New York."

"How came he by it?"

"She must have given it to him. I have it now."

"You have it?"

He sat up very much surprised.

"Where did you get it?"

"I found it."

"Did you read it?"

"No."

She smiled at him, and at his great perplexity over the apparent
mystery.

And then she told him of the little party; of herself and Mr. Anderson,
and their intrusion upon General Arnold and Peggy; of their conversation
and the falling of the note; of her subsequent return for it together
with the placing of it within her bodice and the state of temporary
oblivion into which the incident finally had lapsed.

"You have that letter now?" he asked with no attempt to conceal his
anxiety.

"Yes. Upstairs."

"May I see it? Really I would not ask this did I not think it quite
important."

"Very well."

She left to fetch it.

"Who is this man, Anderson?" Stephen asked upon her return. "Do you know
him?"

"No. But he is very engaging. He was my partner during the evening."

She did not deem it wise to tell him everything, at least not at this
time.

"How long have you known him?" he inquired impatiently.

She smiled sweetly at him.

"Since last night," was the brief response.

"Where did he come from?"

"I scarce know. You yourself mentioned his name for the first time to
me. I was greatly surprised when presented to him last night."

"Did he come with General Arnold's party, or is he a friend of Peggy's?"

"I don't think Peggy knew him before, although she may have met him
with some of the officers before last evening. I should ima