ours, Margaret, and, by God, they shall not deprive
you of it. No! We will not sell our house. This is yours for life, and
our children's."

"Well, we can rent it for the present. For, if you go, I am going, too."

"Very well. We shall see what the future holds out for us. Give me that
stool."

He pointed to the small chair over against her. She arose at once and
set it before him. He placed his foot upon it.

"When I think of what I have done for them and then compare their
gratitude. Congress must owe me at least six or seven thousand pounds,
not to mention my life's blood which never can be replaced. I have been
a fool, a fool who does not know his own mind."

"Didn't I predict what the outcome would be? I felt this from the moment
Anderson left. And what were you charged with? A technical violation of
the code of war. There was no actual guilt nor any evidence in support
of the charge. Were the least shadow of a fault in evidence, you may be
assured that it would have been readily found. You were innocent of the
charge. But you were technically guilty that they might plead excuse for
their hate."

"I know it, girl ... I know it ... I see it all now. I tried hard to
disbelieve it." He seemed sad, as he muttered his reply and slowly shook
his head.

He was still for a moment and then sat suddenly upright.

"But by the living God!" It was surprising how quickly he could pass
from mood to mood. Now the old-time fire gleamed in his eyes. Now the
unrestrained, impetuous, passionate General, the intrepid, fearless
leader of Quebec, Ridgefield, Saratoga, revealed himself with all his
old-time energy and determination of purpose.

"By the living God!" he repeated with his hand high in the air, his fist
clenched, "They shall pay me double for every humiliation, for every
calumny, for every insult I have had to endure. They sought cause
against me; they shall find it."

"Hush! My dear," cautioned Peggy, "not so loud. The servants will
overhear you."

"The world shall overhear me before another month. Revenge knows no
limit and is a sweet consolation to a brave man. I shall shame this
profligate Congress, and overwhelm my enemies with no mean
accomplishment, but with an achievement worthy of my dignity and power.
They shall pay me. Ha! they shall; by God! They shall."

Peggy arose at his violent outbreak, fearing lest she might antagonize
him the more. It was useless to talk further, for he was enraged to a
poin