e. The house was in a mild uproar since Marjorie
announced the coming distinction on her return from the ball. From the
kitchen chimney went up a pillar of smoke. Mrs. Allison and two of her
neighbors who were proud to lend assistance on such an important
occasion could be seen passing in and out continually. A large roast lay
simmering and burnished in the pan diffusing savory and provoking fumes
throughout the house. And it was with distinct pride that Mrs. Allison
announced to the company that they might take their places about the
festive board.

The discourse bore on various matters, prominence being given to
politics and the affairs of the army. Mr. Allison took care to ask no
question that might give rise to embarrassment on the part of Stephen.
The complaints of the tradesmen, the charges of the Whigs, the
murmurings of the Tories and the annoying articles in the morning
_Gazette_, all, were touched upon in the course of the meal. Stephen
volunteered the information that Conway and Gates were in hiding and
that Clinton was driven to New York where Washington was watching his
every move, like a hawk, from the heights of Morristown.

"General Washington holds General Arnold in the highest esteem,"
remarked Mr. Allison.

"As the bravest general in the Continental Army," quietly replied
Stephen.

"He would make a poor statesman," went on the host.

"He is a soldier first and last."

"Should a soldier be wanting in tact and diplomacy?"

"A good soldier should possess both."

"Then General Arnold is not a good soldier," declared Mr. Allison.

"A criticism he hardly deserves," was the simple reply.

"You saw the _Gazette_?"

"Yes. I read that article to which you undoubtedly refer."

"And you agree with it?"

"No. I do not."

"I am sorry about it all. Yet I am inclined to hold the Governor
responsible to a great extent. He would be an aristocrat, and it is the
society of such that he covets."

"Perhaps jealousy might inspire criticism. Envy, you know, is the
antagonist of the fortunate."

"But it is not his deeds alone that cause the unrest among our citizens.
It is not what he does but what he says. It helps matters not in the
least to express dissatisfaction with the manner of conducting the war,
neither by criticizing the enactments of the Congress, nor vehemently
opposing the new foreign alliance. This does not sound well from the
lips of one of our foremost leaders and we do not like it."

"