plained
by some common English ancestry in an untraceable past. He had been to a
bad school in France as minister, and perhaps had by this time forgotten
the day when he desired his agent in London to find for him a coat of
arms.

Presently, after a talk with Mrs. Swanwick, Jefferson, ill-pleased to
meet Hamilton, was of a mind to go. Quite aware that he meant to leave a
little sting, he said: "I must be gone. Good-by"; and to Hamilton: "You
have heard, no doubt, the good news from France--Citizen?"

"I have heard of needless murder and of a weak, ill-served, kindly king
insulted by a mob of ruffians."

Jefferson's thin face grew yet more somber; but what reply the secretary
might have made was put aside by the cheerful coming of a man in plain,
but not Quaker clothes, a republican Jacobin of the maddest, as was seen
by his interchange of "Citizen" with Jefferson, and the warm welcome he
received. Thus reinforced, Jefferson lingered where Mrs. Swanwick and
Margaret were busy with the hot chocolate, which Hamilton, from youthful
habit, liked. At a word from their hostess, De Courval took a basket,
and presently brought from the garden slope peaches such as any back
yard among us grew in my childhood--yellow clingstones and open hearts.
The widow ministered to the other statesman, who liked peaches and was
not to be neglected even for her favorite Hamilton, now busily
discussing with Schmidt the news sent by Gouverneur Morris.

The new-comer had paid no least attention to his hostess, but sat down
at the table and fingered the jumbles, apees, and cake known as
"lovers'-knots" of Nanny's make, until he discovered one to his fancy.
Mrs. Swanwick gave no obvious sign of annoyance, but smilingly stirred
the chocolate, while Margaret quietly removed the dish of cakes and gave
the guest a slice of sweetened bread known as "Dutch loaf."

"There are fewer currants in the cake than there were last week,"
remarked the astronomer, for, as Schmidt said in an aside to De Courval
and Hamilton, as they watched the great eat like lesser folk: "This is
the famous astronomer, David Rittenhouse. He divides his thoughts
between the heavens and his diet; and what else there is of him is
Jacobin."

"I wish," said Hamilton, "that heaven equally engaged the rest of his
party. May not I have my chocolate, Mrs. Swanwick?"

"Certainly; and might I be noticed a little?" said Mrs. Swanwick to
Rittenhouse. The absent-minded philosopher looked