art, and is confident
of ultimate success. I heard him say that no king could stand against
a united people."

"Would that you could have been in Paris with your father when he
pleaded with King Louis and his ministers for aid and recognition! We
might have returned with a better answer than paltry money and a few
thousand stand of arms, which are only promised, after all."

"Would that I were a man instead of being a weak, feeble woman!" she
exclaimed vehemently.

"Ah, but I very much prefer you as you are, Katharine, and 't is not
little that you can do. You can inspire men with your own patriotism,
if you will. There, for instance, is your friend Talbot. If you could
persuade him, with his wealth and position and influence in this
country, to join the army in New Jersey--" As she shook her head, he
continued:

"I am sure if he thought as I do of you, you could persuade him to
anything but treachery or dishonor." His calm smile of superiority
vanished in an expression of dismay at her reply,--

"Talbot! Hilary Talbot! Why, John, do you know that he is--well, they
say that he is in love with me. Everybody expects that we shall marry
some day. Do you see? These old estates join, and--"

"Kate, it is n't true, is it? You don't care for him, do you?" he
interrupted in sudden alarm.

"Care for him? Why, of course I care for him. I have known him ever
since I was a child; but I don't love him. Besides, he stays at home
while others are in the field. Silly boy, would I have let you kiss me
in the summer-house if it were so? No, sir! We are not such fine
ladies as your friends in the city of Philadelphia, perhaps, we
Virginia country girls upon whom your misses look with scorn, but no
man kisses us, and no man kisses me, upon the lips except the one
I--that I must--let me see--is the word 'obey'? Shall you make me obey
you all the time, John?"

"Pshaw, Katharine, you never obey anybody,--so your father says, at
least,--and if you will only love me, that will be sufficient."

"Love you!"--the night had fallen and no one was near--"love you,
John!" She kissed him bravely upon the lips. "Once, that's for me, my
own; twice, that's for my country; there is all my heart. Come, sir,
we must go in. There are lights in the house."

"Ah, Katharine, and there is light in my heart too."

As they came up the steps of the high pillared porch which completely
covered the face of the building, they were