ommon, for Schmidt had said it was all of it
unwise and meddlesome, nor was the mother better pleased than he when
she came to hear of Offley's visit. "I am but half a Friend," she
confessed to Schmidt, not liking altogether even the gentler inquiries
of John Pemberton.

When on the next Sunday Madame de Courval was about to set out for the
Swedes' church, Mrs. Swanwick said, "It is time to go to meeting, my
child."

"I am not going, mother."

"But thou didst not go last First Day."

"No. I cannot, mother. May I go with madame?"

"Why not?" said Schmidt, looking up from his book. And so the Pearl went
to Gloria Dei.

"They have lost a good Quaker by their impertinence," said Schmidt to
himself. "She will never again go to meeting." And, despite much gentle
urging and much persuasive kindness, this came at last to be her custom,
although she still wore unchanged her simple Quaker garb. Madame at
least was pleased, but also at times thoughtful of the future when the
young vicomte would walk between them down Swanson Street to church.

There was, of course, as yet no news of the _Marie_, and many bets on
the result of the bold venture were made in the coffee-houses, for now,
in March of the year '93, the story of the king's death and of war
between France and England began further to embitter party strife and
alarm the owners of ships. If the vicomtesse was anxious, she said no
word of what she felt. Outside of the quiet home where she sat over her
embroidery there was an increase of political excitement, with much
abuse, and in the gazettes wild articles over classic signatures. With
Jacobin France for exemplars, the half-crazed Republicans wore tricolor
cockades, and the _bonnet rouge_ passed from head to head at noisy
feasts when "Ca Ira" and the "Marseillaise" were sung. Many persons were
for war with England, but the wiser of both parties were for the
declaration of neutrality, proclaimed of late amid the fury of extreme
party sentiment. The new French minister eagerly looked for by the
republicans was soon to come and to add to the embarrassment of the
Government whatever of mischief insolent folly could devise.

Meanwhile the hearts of two women were on the sea, and the ship-owners
were increasingly worried; for now goods for French ports would be
seized on the ocean and sailors claimed as English at the will of any
British captain.

Amid all this rancor of party and increase of anxiety as to whether
Ame