, "we must start now. Wrap up well, girls," he
laughed again, "'tis bitter cold, and the way is long."

"No cold can reach me!" cried Janie, pulling her hood well over her
happy face. "Warm hearts make glowing bodies. To think, lad, he will be
with us to-night!"

The door of the little house was drawn to and locked. All within was
beautiful and ready for the patriot who that night would return full of
honors for the part he had played during the last two years.

"Yes. He will be with us, mother," echoed Andy. He looked at Ruth. He
had learned to understand his mother now, and Ruth had shown him the
way.

"It was no light matter," said the girl, keeping step with Andy over the
crisp snow, "for you--your father to be a patriot. He was not only a
patriot but a deserter from the king's army. In every battle he had to
face that."

"Yes," broke in Janie, "and when he went with Wayne to storm Stony
Point, he was nearly captured, as you will remember. And the British
yelled at him, 'Don't shoot that deserter, lead's too good for him.
We'll try an Indian trick on him!'"

Andy's face grew grave. "He's a brave man," he whispered, and drew
Janie's arm within his own. And so the little party came to Fraunce's
Tavern, and bided near the room in which Washington and his officers
were dining before the General departed for Annapolis, where he was to
lay down his commission, for the war was over, and peace had come to the
young country.

"Andy," said Janie, closing the door of the small room which had been
reserved for them, "'twas great luck that my host's wife and I are
friends. Think of us having this to ourselves, and the great General
right in the next room. Ruth, lass, there is a communicating door, as
true as I live! Andy, draw away the sofa."

"Mother, you would not be an eavesdropper?"

"God forbid! Ruthie, is there a keyhole?"

"No keyhole, but a good generous crack in the panel! Hurry, Andy, with
the sofa, the thing weighs a ton. Push!"

"Ruth! We cannot spy upon the General." Andy tried to look severe.

"I can!" laughed the girl, mounting the sofa, and applying her eye to
the crack. "I'm afraid the Revolution has demoralized me, but I must see
the thing through. Andy, they look--they look magnificent!" Ruth was
quivering on her perch. Janie flung prudence and dignity to the winds,
and climbed to Ruth's side, and, being taller, gained a portion of the
crack above the girl's head.

"I can see no one but the Ge