troop. We have many powerful friends in both houses of Parliament, and the American cause is seen throughout England as the cause of Liberty."

"Oh, that can't be true!" exclaimed Maria. "Grandfather tells a different story. If England is for us, why does the war continue? Whose fault is that?"

"It is King George's fault; the most stupid of men, with an indomitable will. He is determined to ruin himself and the nation. He is cruel and immovable. It is _The King's War_, and only the King's friends, sycophants, and clergy defend it."

"What about those Englishmen who wouldn't fight against us but will fight our allies?"

"They are preparing with joyful enthusiasm to fight their old enemies. It was heartening to hear how they were eager to arms at the thought of a French and Spanish fleet in the English Channel."

"You are partly an Englishman, Mr. Deane," said Maria.

"No," he replied warmly, "I am thoroughly an American! But brave and free men sympathize with each other's rights and wrongs, even across oceans. The roots of my being are in England; I can't detach myself from them, nor do I wish to. This feeling defies logic, but it guides me."

"I thought you would talk only about Washington, but you hardly mentioned him. Is he as great as they say? Does he have faults like the rest of us?"

"Miss Semple, Washington is so great that I forget if he has any faults. He is the leader who guides us towards immortality. I have seen the army shaken, confused, hopeless, but Washington never wavers; he leads unwaveringly to the end. He is the Moses of America, the hope of our people, the idol of our youth, the staff and sword of our old men."

As the conversation ended, Maria left with conflicting emotions towards Agnes and Harry Deane, reflecting on her own feelings and misgivings. She revisited her grandmother, who informed her of an invitation to the Bayards, urging her to go and mentioning the unexpected presence of Mrs. Gordon."She is so anxious to be friends with you; can't you forgive her, grandmother? It is a long time since." "Maria Semple, no one is mair willing than I am, to let byganes be byganes. But mind this, there are folks simply unlucky to you, and not intending it; and Adelaide Gordon and Janet Semple are best apart. She is one o' them women who bring happenings and events, and I notice they are not pleasant or 

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