land will honour your roof to-day.

ELSWORTH. He shall be welcome--open doors and open hands.

HARRY. He will remain until to-morrow. Now, girls, some of us young
fellows are dying for a dance--can't we extemporize a ball?

ROSE. Good gracious, Harry! You will have to pit coat against
coat--where are your ladies?

HARRY. Oh, we'd drum them up. There are a dozen families within as
many miles.

ROSE. A mad idea.

HARRY. A wild one, I confess.

ELSWORTH. It would be a suitable festivity in honour of our Long
Island victory. Come girls, you have my consent.

_Enter_ SERVANT, _announcing_ CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG.

_Enter_ CAPTAIN WALTER ARMSTRONG.

ALL [_but_ ROSE]. Captain Armstrong!

ARMSTRONG. Captain Armstrong!

ALL [_but_ ROSE]. In the Continental service?

ARMSTRONG. In the Continental service!

ELSWORTH. I am somewhat surprised, sir, at this visit. When you were a
loyal gentleman my doors were always open to you--now, in that dress,
I cannot consent to receive your visits. In happier moments you were
a companion of my daughters--a friend of my son--you have selected a
course which must terminate that connection with my family.

ARMSTRONG. You will pardon me, sir, I trust, for this intrusion. I
have reached this place with some danger, for these parts abound with
a set of fellows who have a fancy for wishing everybody else's skin
the colour of their own coats. Mr. Elsworth, my sense of duty has
compelled me to pursue a path which has estranged me from your
friendship. Let me ask frankly, sir, if it must separate me from one
who has honoured me with her consideration and affection?

ELSWORTH. You allude to my daughter--to Rose--

ARMSTRONG. I do, sir.

ELSWORTH. _Mister_ Armstrong--for I acknowledge no title bestowed by
an unlawful authority--I would rather wed my daughter to a Turk than
to one who had so forgotten his duty to his country.

[_Goes up_.--ARMSTRONG _bows_.

HARRY. Walter, we were friends once, but, as His Majesty's servant,
I can offer no compromise to a rebel. _Now_ you must not think of a
union with our family. [_Goes up_.

ROSE. This is nothing but blind prejudice. It has neither sense nor
justice. Hear me. That for which you discard him places him higher
in my esteem--shows me how worthy he is of the respect and honour of
every true woman. My greatest pride is that he to whom I have pledged
my hand wears those colours.

ARMSTRONG. Generous girl!

ELSWORTH. Rose, you pain me in