them to herself. Whatever they may have been, I felt as
sure then, as I do now, that she was a good woman. Her kindly interest
in my little romance was just a bit of honest, human nature. It
pleased me and when I think of her look of innocent, unguarded, womanly
frankness, I can not believe that she had had the least part in the
dark intrigue of her husband.

"I arose and kissed her hand and I remember well the words I spoke:
'Madame,' I said, 'let me not try now to express my thanks. I shall
need time for friendly action and well chosen words. Do you think that
Margaret will fall in with your plans?'

"She answered:

"'How can she help it? She is a woman. Have you not both been waiting
these many years for the chance to marry? I think that I know a
woman's heart.'

"'You know much that I am eager to know,' I said. 'The General has not
told me that he is to meet the British. May I know all the good news?'

"'Of course he will tell you about that,' she assured me. 'He has told
me only a little. It is some negotiation regarding an exchange of
prisoners. I am much more interested in Margaret and the wedding. I
wish you would tell me about her. I have heard that she has become
very beautiful.'

"I showed Mrs. Arnold the miniature portrait which Margaret had given
me the day of our little ride and talk in London and then an orderly
came with a message and that gave me an excuse to put an end to this
untimely babbling for which I had no heart. The message was from
Solomon. He had got word that the British war-ship had come back up
the river and was two miles above Stony Point with a white flag at her
masthead.

"My nerves were as taut as a fiddle string. A cloud of mystery
enveloped the camp and I was unable to see my way. Was the whole great
issue for which so many of us had perished and fought and endured all
manner of hardships, being bartered away in the absence of our beloved
Commander? I have suffered much but never was my spirit so dragged and
torn as when I had my trial in the thorny way of distrust. I have had
my days of conceit when I felt equal to the work of Washington, but
there was no conceit in me then. Face to face with the looming peril,
of which warning had come to me, I felt my own weakness and the need of
his masterful strength.

"I went out-of-doors. Soon I met Merriwether coming into camp. Arnold
had returned. He had ridden at a walk toward the headquarters of the
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