We'll have a merry winter of it,
young gentlemen! Sure 'twill be like a glimpse of London."
"And there'll be much opportunity for vain ladies to have their heads
turned!" quoth Tom, half in jest, half in disapproval.
"I know nothing of that," says she, "but I do know whose sister will
be the toast of the British Army before a month is past!"
If the king's troops acquired a toast upon entering New York, the
rebels had gained a volunteer upon leaving it. One day, just before
Washington's army fled, Tom Faringfield came to me with a face all
amusement.
"Who do you think is the latest patriot recruit?" cried he. It was our
custom to give the rebels ironically their own denomination of
patriots.
"Not you nor I, at any rate," said I.
"But one of the family, nevertheless."
"Why, surely--your father has not--"
"Oh, no; only my father's eldest."
"Ned?"
"Nobody else. Fancy Ned taking the losing side! Oh, 'fore God, it's
true! He came home in a kind of uniform to-day, and told father what
he had done; the two had a long talk together in private after that;
and though father never shows his thoughts, I believe he really has
some hopes of Ned now. The rebels made a lieutenant of him, on
father's account. I wonder what his game is."
"I make no doubt, to curry favour with his father."
"Maybe. But perhaps to get an excuse for leaving town, and a way of
doing so.
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