introduced her to General Howe on the
night when she had gone to demand the return of Hero.

Captain Harlow led the little girls to a bench on the further side of
Mr. Wharton's beautiful lawn. "Stay here until I come after you," he
said and hurried away.

The girls looked about admiringly. Just across the lawn from where they
were sitting men were at work on a pavilion, in which the guests would
be seated to view the "Mischianza." Soldiers on horseback were riding
back and forth, and a trumpet call sent them all trotting away, to
return immediately with long lances and shields on their left arms.
Forming in two divisions they galloped forward and back, turning so
quickly that Ruth and Betty both exclaimed, fearful that the riders
would be thrown.

In a little while Captain Harlow came and took his guests to visit the
ballroom. From the garden they ascended a short flight of steps, and
entered a spacious hall, lined with mirrors. Never had the little girls
seen anything so wonderful. Wherever they looked they saw Betty, Ruth,
and Winifred all smiling with delight. Captain Harlow called a servant,
and in a few moments the man returned with a silver tray on which were
plates of candied fruits, cakes, and glasses of lemonade for his little
guests.

"It's more wonderful than the May-day party," whispered Winifred.

But Ruth did not hear her. For at that moment two officers had entered
the room.

"Sir Henry Clinton will arrive to-morrow, and General Howe will soon be
on his way to England," she heard one of them say.

"'Tis a pity he cannot capture young Lafayette and take him back to
England with him. King George would give him a royal welcome," responded
the other.

"There is some such plan afoot," declared the first speaker.

"'Capture Lafayette!'" Ruth whispered the dreadful words over to herself
and all her delight and pleasure vanished. These men, even the kind
Captain Harlow, whom the Hastings liked so well, would try their best to
capture the young French Republican, America's best friend, and take him
to England a prisoner. Ruth could think of nothing else. She wondered if
perhaps there was not already some plan by which Lafayette would be
captured. She was very silent all the remainder of the afternoon, and
Betty decided that Ruth must be tired.

But they all thanked the captain very politely for their pleasant visit,
as he helped them from the boat and walked with them to Mrs. Hastings'
door. Ruth was