it was Mrs. Newville calling her to meet other
guests, and Miss Newville turned regretfully away, for it was a
pleasure to talk with Mr. Walden, and she hoped he would drop a word
which would enable her to make sure it was he who had befriended her.

Robert, with Berinthia and the ladies whose acquaintance he had made,
sauntered along the garden walks. The midsummer flowers were gone, but
those of autumn were in bloom,--marigolds, asters, and sunflowers.
Picturesque the scene: ladies in paduasoys, taffetas, and brocades,
gentlemen in purple, russet, and crimson coats, white satin
waistcoats, buff breeches, and silk stockings. Officers of the king's
regiments in scarlet with silver-starred epaulets, clergymen in suits
of black, lawyers and doctors in white wigs, loitering along the
paths, gathered in groups beneath the trees, young ladies serving them
with syllabubs. From the vine-clad arbor the music of the orchestra
floated upon the air.

Robert saw a gentleman and lady shaking hands with Mr. and Mrs.
Newville.

"That is John Adams, one of the smartest lawyers in town," said
Berinthia. "That is his wife Abigail; she is the daughter of Reverend
Mr. Smith, the minister of Braintree. She knows Latin and Greek, and
is one of the nicest women in town. She writes beautiful letters, and
knows--oh, so much! I'll introduce you to them. I know you will be
charmed with her."

Mr. Adams courteously greeted Robert, and very gracious was the
recognition by Mrs. Adams. She asked him if he had ever been in Boston
before; who was the minister in Rumford; if he had many books to read.
So pleasant and agreeable was her conversation, she seemed to Robert
to be an old friend.

Robert was pleased to meet Doctor Warren, and received a cordial
greeting.

"And are you acquainted?" Miss Newville inquired wonderingly.

"I am happy to claim Mr. Walden as my friend. I have long known his
father," the doctor replied.

[Illustration: ABIGAIL SMITH ADAMS]

Robert was pleased, also, to meet Mr. Knox, the bookseller, who was
polite and affable to all, particularly to Miss Flucker.

When Berinthia and Robert were by themselves she informed him that Mr.
Knox was attentive to Miss Flucker; that her parents opposed the
match, Mr. Knox being a Whig and her father a Tory. Berinthia was sure
that the more her father opposed the bookseller, the better Miss Lucy
liked him.

[Illustration: Mr. Hancock's House.]

Mr. John Hancock, though living b