y is
everywhere," as gaily as she had sung it when dancing around Betty's
throne.

In a little while she was back in the sitting-room, all ready for her
visit. In the pretty blue dress, and wearing a white hat with a blue
ribbon around the crown, and with her white stockings and low shoes with
shining silver buckles, Ruth was indeed a little girl of whom any
mother might be proud.

Winifred was soon ready to accompany her, and the two friends started on
their walk to see Betty Hastings.

As they came in sight of the Hastings house they both exclaimed in
surprise. For on the steps was Betty, wearing her best hat, and the tall
English officer, whose red coat Betty had borrowed for Gilbert's play,
stood beside her.

"Do you suppose Betty is a prisoner?" whispered Winnie, a little
fearfully.

"Of course she isn't, all dressed up in her best," replied Ruth, and at
that moment Betty saw her two friends and waved her hand to them as she
came down the steps beside the English officer.

"Oh, Winifred! Ruth! I am so glad you came. Now you can go with us to
Walnut Grove and see the English officers practising for their
tournament. Captain Harlow says you may go," she exclaimed, running
forward to meet them.

Before Ruth or Winifred could reply the tall officer was beside Betty,
and she now introduced him to her friends. Ruth and Winnie curtsied,
with rather sober faces, and the Englishman bowed politely, and said
that he should be happy to have Ruth and Winifred accompany them.

The young Englishman had lodged with Mrs. Hastings ever since the
September day when the English army entered Philadelphia. He had been
unfailingly kind to all the family, and when he offered to take Betty to
Walnut Grove to see the preparations already well under way for the
"Mischianza," as the soldiers named their famous entertainment to be
given in honor of General Howe, Mrs. Hastings was quite willing for
Betty to go.

"We shall be home in good season. I am sure your mothers would be
willing," urged Betty, "and 'twill be a fine sight to-day, since the
soldiers are to rehearse, as we did for Gilbert's play."

"Let's go, Ruth," Winifred whispered eagerly, and Ruth agreed, but with
a vague feeling that she ought not to wish to be entertained by the
amusements of America's enemies.

As they walked on toward Knight's Wharf, at the water edge of Green
Street, where a boat was waiting to take Captain Harlow and his guests
down the river to Mr