the
British occupation, for their father's house was often the rendezvous of
the titled celebrities of the day.

"And was your Captain there, too?" continued Marjorie, referring, of
course, to Captain Monstresor, the engineer of the undertaking, an
erstwhile admirer of Mistress Peggy.

"You must know, my dear, that he arranged the spectacle. I saw little of
him until the dance. In truth, he seemed more popular than General Howe
himself."

Marjorie sat up.

"Tell me! Did the tournament begin the program?"

"No!" replied Peggy. "The military procession of boats and barges with
Lords Howe and Rawdon, General Howe and General Clinton, opened the
event in the late morning, sailing up the river to the Wharton House,
the scene of the tournament."

Marjorie nodded.

"The noise of the guns was deafening. When the flotilla arrived at
Walnut Grove, which was lined with troops and bedecked brilliantly with
flags and bunting, the pageant opened."

"Where were you in the meantime?" asked Marjorie, careful to lose no
detail.

"We were seated in the pavilions,--seven ladies in each,--clothed in
Turkish garments, each wearing in her turban the favor to be bestowed on
her victorious knight."

"And who was your knight?"

"The Honorable Captain Cathcart," quickly replied Peggy, her eyes
beaming with a smile of evident satisfaction and proud joy.

"Lord Cathcart, whom I met here?"

"The same," answered Peggy. "He was the leader of the 'Knights of the
Blended Rose.'"

"What an odd name!" she exclaimed.

"I know it. They were named after their device. They were dressed in
white and red silk, mounted on gray horses and attended by esquires.
They were preceded by a herald who bore their device, two roses
intertwined above the motto, 'We droop when separated.' My knight rode
at the head, attended by two British Officers, and his two esquires, the
one bearing his lance, the other his shield emblazoned with his
device--Cupid astride a lion--over the motto, Surrounded by love.'"

"You little Tory," interrupted Marjorie. "I shall tell General
Washington that you are disloyal and have lent your sympathy to a
British Officer."

"I care little. The Yankees are without refinement----"

"Don't you dare say that," snapped Marjorie, her whole being animated
with sudden anger. "It is untrue and you know it. They are patriots
and----"

"Forgive me, dear," murmured Peggy, laying her hand on the arm of her
irate friend. "I said tha