a very courageous act to face the English General.

"I am not going to tell her a word about it," was Ruth's reply.

CHAPTER VIII

BETTY RUNS AWAY

The days now passed very quickly for Ruth and her friends. Every day
Betty Hastings, Winifred, Ruth and Gilbert were in the Merrill's' garden
or stable at work on the costumes for "America Conquers the Foe." Ned
Ferris, a boy not much older than Ruth, had promised Gilbert to play on
his drum, and to march at the head of the "army;" he would not need to
rehearse, so would not come until the day decided on for the play. Ned
had also offered the loan of his brown pony, a much larger animal than
Fluff, for "Washington" to ride; and now Gilbert, Winifred and Ruth were
all sure that the play would be a success. Betty Hastings was not so
confident. She had begun to fear that it would be no easy matter to
borrow the scarlet coat without the owner's knowledge: and she was even
more doubtful in regard to her mother's fine cape and bonnet; but she
said nothing of this to the others.

If she had known that Gilbert had invited her mother, as well as a
number of other friends of Mrs. Merrill's, to what he described as "a
birthday surprise for my mother," Betty would doubtless have given up
her part; but Gilbert had asked each guest to keep the invitation a
secret; and it was probable that a surprise was in store for
"Cornwallis" as well as for Gilbert's mother.

Mrs. Pernell returned home from Germantown on the very morning of Mrs.
Merrill's birthday, and Ruth was so delighted at her arrival that she
nearly forgot to ask her mother to come to the play that afternoon, as
Gilbert had requested. Gilbert had said that he wished Mistress Deborah
Farleigh would come with Ruth's mother, but added: "It isn't any use to
ask her, for Quakers don't believe in plays."

"But this is different; I'm sure she will come," Ruth had responded
eagerly; and had been greatly pleased when Aunt Deborah agreed, saying
that, "'Twas surely a patriotic lesson that she would like well to
see."

Mrs. Pernell also praised Gilbert's cleverness, and promised to be ready
in good season. "Perhaps I had best wear my brown silk to do credit to
Mrs. Merrill's birthday party," she said, and wondered why Ruth became
so silent and looked so sober. For a moment Ruth was tempted to tell her
mother the whole story of her visit to General Howe; but she resisted
the impulse. "It would spoil everything to make Mother