e victorious army enters Philadelphia. I could be
Lady Washington, because I'll be all through being Lord Cornwallis in
the first act," and Betty smiled at her companions as if sure they would
be greatly pleased by her suggestion.

"Why, yes----" began Gilbert, but before he could say more a wail from
Winifred made them all look at her in surprise.

"Betty Hastings shan't be everything! If she's going to be Lady
Washington I won't play. I won't be an army, anyway," she sobbed.

"Oh! I don't care!" said Betty good-humored. "I just happened to think
of it, that's all. I'd just as soon be the army."

It was finally decided that Winifred should be Lady Washington, and wave
from the top of the grain-bin when the triumphant army passed. Lafayette
was to ride on Fluff, and Gilbert said he meant to borrow a horse for
George Washington. Hero was to follow the army. It was dinner-time
before all these important questions were settled; and it was agreed
that they would meet again the next morning for another rehearsal.
Gilbert promised to have speeches ready for Lafayette and Cornwallis.

"The way it is now nobody has anything to say but Washington," Betty had
said, and Gilbert had agreed that Cornwallis should at least say, "Spare
me, noble Washington," while Lafayette could make some response to
Washington's speech, which Betty thought far too long, thanking the
young Frenchman for his aid to America.

"I wish Gilbert would let you make up our speeches, Betty," said Ruth,
looking up at her companion with admiring eyes, as the two girls stopped
for a moment at Ruth's door. "It wasn't any play at all until you told
him what to do."

"It will come out all right," responded Betty. "It's the dressing up
that will be fun. I wish we could get Ned Ferris to play the drum and
march ahead."

Ruth agreed that a drummer would make it seem more like a triumphant
army.

"Do you suppose the English officer at your house will really lend you
his red coat?" questioned Ruth.

Betty laughed. "Of course he will; for he won't know anything about it.
'Tis his best coat, and hangs in a closet in the passage near his room.
He wears it only now and then. I shall just borrow it, and then hang it
back in the closet," declared Betty. "Just as you did your mother's
dress," she added quickly, as if half-afraid of Ruth's disapproval, and
with a "good-bye until to-morrow, Lafayette," she ran quickly down the
street.

Ruth was a little thoughtful