CHAPTER III--A GLIMPSE OF CLIFFORD
"They rose in dark and evil days To right their native land; They kindled here a living blaze That nothing shall withstand.
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"Then here's their memory--may it be For us a guiding light, To cheer our strife for liberty, And teach us to unite."
--John Kells Ingram.
When at length the two maidens started forth in the early afternoon theyfound that the news of the victory at the Cowpens was upon every tongue.The streets were filled with an eager, joyous crowd of people, alldiscussing the intelligence with mingled emotions of incredulity anddelight. Slumbering patriotism awoke to new ardor, and despairing heartsthrilled anew with hope. From the depths of discouragement the pendulumswung to the other extreme, and all sorts of brilliant achievements wereprophesied for the army in the South under Greene.
"How soberly they take the news," observed Harriet as they passed agroup of men who were quietly discussing the event. "See how gravely,almost sadly, those men are talking. In London we make a great ado whenour soldiers win a victory."
"But those are Friends, Harriet. See, thee can tell by their drabclothes and low, broad-brimmed beavers. And being such are thereforeneutral. Neutrals do not rejoice at a Continental victory any morethan--than some other people," she added with roguish insinuation. "Thosewho are not of the sect are hilarious enough. Of a truth it doth seem asthough their gladness verged on the unseemly."
"That's just it," said the other accusingly. "You, and I doubt not manyothers in this city of Penn, think the least bit of exuberance a sin."
"It hath not been so of late, Harriet. Indeed it doth seem as though,since thy people held the city, that we would never regain our oldpeacefulness."
"I liked New York better than this," went on the English girl peevishly."There was so much more gayety."
"But we are considered the more intellectual," spoke Peggy quickly, whocould not bear to hear the least aspersion against her beloved city."'Tis often commented upon by those who come among us. Shall we turninto High Street, Harriet? Or does thee prefer to keep down Chestnut?"
"High Street by all means, Peggy. I think it would be the finest streetin the world if it were not for the markets in the middle of it."
"Does thee?" cried Peggy much pleased. "Why, I thought thee didn't likePhiladelphia?"
"I do like the city. The streets are so broad and regular, and thesefootways are like those we have in London. 'Tis the people that are notto my liking." The girl sighed.
For a moment Peggy could not answer for indignation; then, choking backa crushing retort, she replied sagely:
"The people are well enough, Harriet. 'Tis thy feeling which is notright. Thee certainly has the megrims to-day."
"Is not that Mr. Morris's house?" asked Harriet as they reached thesoutheast corner of High and Front Streets.
"Yes," replied Peggy gazing mournfully at the mansion indicated. "'Twasthere also that General Arnold lived when he had charge of the city. Iwent there to one of his teas, Harriet. The city rang with his prowessat that time. Next to General Washington I liked him best of any of ourgenerals, though I like not to speak of him now. Thy general, SirWilliam Howe, lived there when thy people held Philadelphia."
"Ah!" said Harriet surveying the residence more intently. "So that iswhere he lived, is it? 'Tis a fine dwelling."
"Mr. Morris hath made many improvements since he bought it, though ithath always been considered one of the best in the city," Peggy informedher.
"He is very rich, isn't he, Peggy?"
"He is said to be, Harriet, and is, I doubt not. He hath such greatskill in financial matters that 'tis no wonder. The Congress hath puthim in charge of the nation's finances, I hear, and many hope that hewill put our money upon a firm basis. He hath already been of greatservice to the patriots in advancing money, and he hath advised many ofour people concerning investments. 'Tis owing to him that mother hathprospered of late," concluded the girl warmly. "See the vessels,Harriet."
They had turned now into Front Street, and stopped to look at the broadriver filled with ice-floes. Out of the long length of the street upwardof two hundred quays opened, forming so many views terminated by vesselsof different sizes. There were three hundred at the time in the harbordisputing possession with the huge cakes of floating ice.
"And when the British left in '78 they left us not one bark," went onPeggy after they had stood for a moment in silence.
"I wonder," spoke Harriet musingly, "I wonder why England doth not senda great fleet over here to ravage this entire seaboard? If all theselarge towns could be so attacked at one time the revolted colonies wouldbe conquered at once, and an end put to the rebellion."
"It would not conquer us," declared Peggy stoutly. "I have heard somesay that with General Washington at their head they would retire beyondthe mountains, and fight from there. Thee can never conquer us,Harriet."
Harriet made no reply, and they resumed the walk toward Poole's Bridge.A throng of promenaders, skaters and sliders filled the banks and glidedover the smooth ice of Pegg's Run, as the extensive marsh which laybeyond the high table-land north of Callowhill Street was called.
This high waste ground had some occasional slopes down which somehundreds of boys were coasting. The whole area was a great ice pond onwhich it seemed as though all the skating population of Philadelphia hadcongregated. The city had long been preeminent in the sport. At thistime her skaters were considered the most expert and graceful in theworld, and the girls soon became absorbed in watching them as theymingled together and darted about, here and there.
"Are there none but boys and men?" questioned Harriet presently.
"'Tis not esteemed delicate for females to skate," Peggy informed her."Though," she added lowering her voice instinctively, "we girls of theSocial Select Circle used to slip off where none could see, and practiceit. Sally Evans got so skilled that she excelled in the 'High Dutch,'and I could cut my name on the ice, but alas for Betty Williams. Shecould hardly stand on her skates, and we were always having to help herup from a tumble."
"Is thee talking about me, Peggy?" demanded a voice, and Peggy gave alittle cry of welcome as she turned to find Betty Williams standingbehind her. "Hasn't thee anything better to do than to tell of thyfriends' failings? And what is this I hear? That the express from theCowpens is staying at thy house? Is he friend of thine? What luck theehas, Peggy."
"Thou shalt come and meet him for thyself, Betty. Yes; he is an oldfriend, Lieutenant John Drayton. Surely thee remembers hearing me speakof him?"
"A lieutenant? Charmante! I dote on army men," cried Betty rapturously."I remember now about him. Does thee know him also, Harriet?"
"Yes," answered Harriet curling her lip. "He is a pretty fellow enough,and will never swing for the lack of a tongue. Lieutenant Drayton is nofavorite of mine, though Peggy and her mother are fond of him."
"Yes; mother and I are fond of him," spoke Peggy with some sharpness,quick to resent a slur against one of her friends. "Perhaps he isdeficient in the court manners to which my cousin hath been accustomed,but he treats even an enemy with courtesy, and thee has had no cause tocomplain of him, Harriet. Would that he could say as much for thee."
"Where was his courtesy when I asked him to return that shirt?" demandedHarriet. "A true courtier would not have kept it after I had expressed awish for its return."
"Thee should not have presented it if thee did not wish him to keep it."
"What ever are you girls talking about?" demanded Betty with eagerinquisitiveness. "Tell me all anent the matter. What shirt? Tell me thisminute else I will perish with curiosity. That is, if 'tis no secret.
"Oh!" she cried merrily as with some laughter and many details bothHarriet and Peggy unfolded the matter of the shirt. "Oh, Harri
et! what arout! I blame thee not for not liking him. How he discomfited thee! I'mso anxious to meet him. Does thee know Robert Dale, Harriet? We girlshave always esteemed him the very nicest boy in the world. By the way,Peggy, father wrote that Robert hath been put in General Lafayette'sdivision. The Select Corps 'tis called. 'Tis monstrous distinction."
"How?" asked Harriet. "I know him not though it seems as though Ishould, I have heard so much anent him. How is the Select Corpsdistinctive?"
"As though thee did not know," cried Betty incredulously. "Had I spentas much time with both armies as thee and Peggy have there would benaught about anything military that I did not know. But, for fear thatthe Select Corps is the one thing lacking in thy knowledge of camp, Iwill tell thee that its members are taken from the whole army for theactive part of a campaign. The Select Corps is always in advance of themain army, and has the right to make the first attack on the enemy. 'Tisof vast distinction to be of it, and Robert must have proved himselfvalorous else he would not have been honored by being placed in it."
"But 'tis a position of danger as well as honor, Betty," remarked Peggy.
"If Mr. Washington does no more fighting than he hath done for the pastfew years your Robert Dale will be in no danger," observed Harriet, whowas certainly in a bad mood for the day.
"Oh, as to that," retorted Betty airily, "we manage to get in a victoryoften enough to keep up our spirits. Really, Harriet, I do wish theecould meet Robert."
"And I wish that you both could meet my brother, Clifford," criedHarriet. "Why, none of the youths in the rebel camp at Middlebrook couldcompare with him in looks. He is so handsome, and noble, and brave. Oh,I do wish that I could see him!" she ended, a pathetic quaver cominginto her voice.
"Thee has not seen him since thee came to America, has thee?" askedBetty. Peggy, whose gentle heart was touched by the feeling her cousinexhibited, forgot how trying she had been, and pressed her handtenderly.
"No, Betty. He left home soon after father came to join General Gage inBoston. When we were in New York City father had Sir Henry Clinton to goover the rosters of the different regiments to see if we could locatehim, but we could find no trace of him. I did not mind so much untilsince I have been ill, but now I want to see him so much."
"Does he look like Cousin William, Harriet?" asked Peggy.
"No; he is more like your father than mine. Father says that CousinDavid is like my grandfather, and Clifford is the living representativeof the picture of grandfather."
"If he is like father he must be all that thee claims for him," spokePeggy warmly. "I should dearly like to see him, Harriet, and perhapsthee will hear of him soon. If he is in this country anywhere with theBritish army thee will surely hear of him in time. Don't grieve."
"If thee does find him I hope that he will come to Philadelphia,"laughed Betty, who had put up her hair and adopted young lady airs. "Ilike nice boys, be they English or American."
"Or French," put in Peggy slyly. "I've heard that thee takes a lessoneach morning from one of the aides of Monsieur de la Luzerne, the Frenchminister. Thee needs to be dealt with, Betty."
"Peggy Owen, Sally hath been telling thee tales out of school," criedBetty, her face flushing. "When did thee see her?"
"A hit! A hit!" laughed Peggy. "How thee mantles, Betty. Know then thatI stayed with Sallie last night, and thereby increased my knowledge asto several matters. She said----"
"I must be going," uttered Betty hastily. "Good-bye, girls. Come and seeme, Harriet, but leave thy cousin at home."
She darted away before Peggy could call out the merry retort that roseto her lips. Then the maiden turned to Harriet.
"And 'twould be wise for us to go too, Harriet," she said. "The airbegins to grow chill, and thee must not take cold. See! many of theskaters and promenaders are leaving, and soon there will be none left. Idid not know that 'twas so late. Is thee tired?"
"No; I believe that the walk hath done me good," answered Harriet, whodid look better. "Still I feel a little cold. Let us walk fast, Peggy."
Recrossing the bridge they left the gay throng and started briskly downthe narrow footway of Front Street. Suddenly the clatter of hoofs washeard, and the maidens turned to see a party of American horseapproaching from the direction of Frankford. They were riding at speed,and the girls drew close to the curb of the walk to see them pass. Asthe dragoons drew near they saw that they were escorting a number ofBritish prisoners.
"Hath there been another battle?" asked Harriet, growing pale.
"I think not," answered Peggy. "There is always an express to tell ofit, if there hath been, before the prisoners come. These are not fromthe Cowpens, Harriet. They could not be, and come from that direction."
"True," said Harriet. "I wonder if the main army hath engaged with ourtroops? Oh, I like not to see our men made prisoners!"
Peggy made no reply, and in silence the two watched the troopers. Asthey came opposite to the place where the maidens stood one of theprisoners, a young fellow, leaned over and said something to the troopernext him. Then, with a light laugh he turned his face full upon them,and lifted his hat with jaunty grace.
As he did so Harriet sprang forward with an amazed cry:
"Clifford! Clifford! Clifford!"