d the barrister's
pipe lit, and Patty and her mother had got their sewing, he would talk
by the hour on the legality of our resistance to the King, and discuss
the march of affairs in England and the other colonies. He found me a
ready listener, and took pains to teach me clearly the right and wrong
of the situation. 'Twas his religion, even as loyalty to the King was my
grandfather's, and he did not think it wrong to spread it. He likewise
instilled into me in that way more of history than Mr. Allen had ever
taught me, using it to throw light upon this point or that. But I never
knew his true power and eloquence until I followed him to the Stadt
House.

Patty was grown a girl of fifteen then, glowing with health, and had
ample good looks of her own. 'Tis odd enough that I did not fall in
love with her when Dolly began to use me so outrageously. But a lad of
eighteen is scarce a rational creature. I went and sat before my
oracle upon the vine-covered porch under the eaves, and poured out my
complaint. She laid down her needlework and laughed.

"You silly boy," said she, "can't you see that she herself has
prescribed for you? She was right when she told you to show attention
to Jenny. And if you dangle about Miss Dolly now, you are in danger of
losing her. She knows it better than you."

I had Jenny to ride the very next day. Result: my lady smiled on me more
sweetly than ever when I went to Prince George Street, and vowed Jenny
had never looked prettier than when she went past the house. This left
my victory in such considerable doubt that I climbed the back wall
forthwith in my new top-boots.

"So you looked for her to be angry?" said Patty.

"Most certainly," said I.

"Unreasoning vanity!" she cried, for she knew how to speak plain. "By
your confession to me you have done this to please her, for she warned
you at the beginning it would please her. And now you complain of it. I
believe I know your Dorothy better than you."

And so I got but little comfort out of Patty that time.

CHAPTER IX. UNDER FALSE COLOURS

And now I come to a circumstance in my life I would rather pass over
quickly. Had I steered the straight course of my impulse I need never
have deceived that dear gentleman whom I loved and honoured above any in
this world, and with whom I had always lived and dealt openly. After my
grandfather was pronounced to be mending, I went back to Mr. Allen until
such time as we should be able to go to