great battle at Lexington, but all was
stir and ferment and activity. For six weeks Andrew had not seen the
town. Now on nearly every corner was a group in eager discussion. There
had been Patrick Henry's incendiary speech, there was Mr. Adams from
Massachusetts, and Benjamin Franklin, so lately returned from England,
and many another one from whom the world was to hear before the struggle
ended.

Madam Wetherill was out, but would surely be in at dinner time, and
though society functions were sometimes as late as two, the ordinary
dinner was in the middle of the day. He would have almost an hour to
wait, but he had sold very rapidly this morning and made good bargains.

"It is thy cousin," said Mistress Kent. "I have no time to spare, and if
thou art not needed at lessons----"

"Oh, let me go to him!" cried Primrose, her face alight with joyous
eagerness. "It is so long since I have seen him. I can study this
afternoon, as there are no more dancing lessons."

"Well, run along, child. Don't be too forward in thy behavior."

Patty had gone out with her mistress to do a little trading, since she
was excellent authority and had many gossiping friends who were much
interested in the latest fashions. And now, in the disturbed state of
imports, it would not be so easy to have orders filled abroad.

Primrose danced down the stairs and through the hall. "Oh, Andrew!" she
cried, as she was clasped in the fond arms.

Then he held her off a bit. No, Faith could not compare with her. Yet
Faith had blue eyes, a fair skin, and light hair, straight and rather
stringy and cut short in her neck. But these eyes were like a glint of
heaven on a most radiant day, these curving red lips were full of smiles
and sweetness, and this lovely hair, this becoming and graceful
attire----

"Oh, why do you sigh!" in a pretty, imperious fashion. "Are you not glad
to see me? I thought you had forgotten me. It is such a long, long
while."

"Did I sigh? I was surprised. Thou art like a sweet, blossomy rose with
the morning dew upon it."

"Prim Rose." She drew her face down a little, drooped her eyes, and let
her arms hang at her side in a demure fashion, and though Andrew's
vocabulary had few descriptive adjectives in it, he felt she was
distractingly pretty. He wanted to kiss her again and again, but
refrained with Quaker self-restraint.

She laughed softly. "Madam Shippen was here one day with big Miss Peggy,
who can laugh and be gay lik