A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia Page 4

  CHAPTER III

  RUTH VISITS GENERAL HOWE

  Aunt Deborah was unusually quiet in her manner toward her little niecewhen Ruth came home with the cardboard ready to be covered. She did notask Ruth to set the table for supper, but began to spread the clothherself.

  "I will do that, Aunt Deborah. You know I always do," Ruth said, layingdown the parts for the dolls' chair, and coming toward the table.

  "I will do it. Thou mayst go to thy room, Ruth; I will call thee whensupper is ready," Aunt Deborah replied, without a glance at the littlegirl.

  Ruth felt her face flush uncomfortably as she suddenly recalled the wayin which she had spoken to Aunt Deborah after her aunt had led her awayfrom the porch where the English soldiers were sitting, and where Ruthwas sure Hero was hidden. She went up the stairs very slowly to her ownchamber, a small room opening from the large front room where AuntDeborah slept. She sat down near the window, feeling not only ashamedbut very unhappy.

  "If my mother were only here I shouldn't be sent off up-stairs. I don'tlike Aunt Deborah," she exclaimed, and looked up to see her auntstanding in the doorway.

  For a moment the two looked at each other, and Ruth could see that AuntDeborah was trying very hard to keep back the tears. Then the doorclosed, very softly, and Ruth was again alone.

  "Oh, dear," she whispered, "and I promised my mother to do everything Icould to help Aunt Deborah, and now she heard me say that I don't likeher," and Ruth leaned her head against the arm of the big chair in whichshe had curled up and began to cry, quite sure that no little girl inall Philadelphia had as much reason for unhappiness as herself.

  After a little she wiped her eyes, and began to think over hermisfortunes: First of all, Hero was lost. Then came all the troublesthat, it seemed to Ruth, Aunt Deborah was to blame for. As she said themover to herself they appeared sufficient reasons for her dislike: "Sheis always fussing. Always telling me to brush my hair, or wash myhands, or not to soil my dress. And I do believe she is glad that Herois lost, and does not wish me to find him because he brings dirt intothe house."

  As Ruth finished a sudden resolve came into her mind. She would not waitfor the next day before going to General Howe to tell her story ofHero's disappearance, and of being sure that he had been taken by anEnglish soldier. She would go at once. If she waited perhaps AuntDeborah would find some way of preventing the carrying out of the plan.

  "Perhaps if General Howe thought I was a grown-up lady, or nearly grownup, he would pay more attention than to what a little girl might ask,"thought Ruth. And then a great idea flashed into her mind: she wouldpretend to be grown up.

  "I'll wear Mother's best dress, and do up my hair and wear her bonnet,"she decided; and opening her chamber door she ran through Aunt Deborah'sroom to the deep closet where her mother's best dress, a pretty gown ofrusset-colored silk, was hanging. Ruth pulled it down, slipped it onover her dress of stout brown gingham, and began to fasten it.

  "I didn't know my mother was so big," she thought regretfully, as shemanaged to turn back the long sleeves, and glanced down at the fullbreadths of the skirt which lay in a big waving circle about her feet."I'll have to hold it up as high as I can to walk at all."

  In a few minutes the dress was fastened, and she managed to pin up herhair; and now she drew out the bandbox containing her mother's bestbonnet. It was made of a pretty shade of brown velvet, with a wreath ofdelicate green leaves, and strings of pale green ribbon.

  Ruth tied the strings firmly under her chin. The bonnet came well downover her face, nearly hiding her ears, but the little girl thought thiswas very fortunate, as it would prevent any one discovering who she was,if she should happen to meet any friend or acquaintance.

  She began to feel hurried and a little afraid that Aunt Deborah mightcall her to supper before she could escape from the house. Holding upthe brown silk skirt, and stepping very carefully, she made her way downthe stairs, opened the front door, and with a long breath of relief,found herself standing on the front porch.

  The late afternoon was already growing shadowy with the approach oftwilight; and there was no one to be seen on the quiet street as Ruth,holding her skirt up in front while the sides and back trailed about heron the dirty pavement, walked hurriedly along toward High Street.

  "I'll walk more like a grown-up lady when I get near the General'shouse," she resolved. "Won't Winifred be surprised when she knows thatthe English General thought I really was grown up?" and Ruth gave alittle laugh of delight at the thought of her friend's astonishment,quite forgetting all the troubles that had seemed so overpowering anhour before.

  As she turned into High Street she found herself facing the amused stareof two young ladies who were hurrying home from an afternoon walk.

  "I suppose they were laughing because I was holding up my skirt,"thought Ruth, quite unconscious of her absurd appearance, "but I'll haveto, for I couldn't walk a step if I didn't," she decided.

  "'TIS A LADY COMING TO CALL"]

  Two English soldiers were on guard at the entrance of the fine mansionthat the English General had taken from its rightful owner for his ownuse; and as Ruth, now half afraid to go up the steps, stood looking upat them a little fearfully, one of them noticed the queer little figure,and, quite forgetting his dignity, chuckled with amusement.

  "Look, Dick! Here is a lady admiring our fine uniforms," he said,calling his companion's attention to Ruth, whose gown now trailed abouther, and whose bonnet had slipped to one side.

  "'Tis a lady coming to call on the General," responded "Dick," with awink at the first speaker.

  "Did you wish to see General Howe, madam?" he continued, looking down atRuth, while his companion chuckled with delight.

  "Yes, if you please," Ruth managed to reply, beginning to feel a littleafraid, and wishing that she had waited until the next day when Winifredmight have come with her.

  "Kindly walk up the steps, madam, and I will announce you to theGeneral," continued the young soldier, welcoming the hope of a littleamusement to break the monotony of his daily duties.

  Ruth obeyed, stumbling a little as she reached the top.

  "And what name shall I say?" Dick asked, bowing very low.

  "Mistress Ruth Dilling ham Pernell, if you please, sir," Ruth replied,gaining a little courage, and trying to stand as tall as possible,hardly sure if the young soldier was really laughing at her, or if hebelieved her dress to be a proof of at least twenty years of experience.

  "'Twill be good sport for the General and his friends. They are justsitting down to dinner," "Dick" whispered to the other guard, as heswung open the big door and ushered Ruth into the hall, and then led theway toward the dining-room.

  "What nonsense is this, Dick? We are not rehearsing any play just now,"called a gay voice; and Ruth and the young soldier were confronted by atall officer whom Ruth instantly recognized as the same who had calledher a "rebel" that very afternoon on Second Street.

  She became really frightened. Suppose he should remember her, and tellGeneral Howe what she had said about Washington driving the English fromthe city? It might be that, just as Winifred had said, and they wouldput her in prison. She wished she were safely at home with AuntDeborah. But "Dick" was speaking to the handsome young officer.

  "Ah, now, Major Andre, 'twill be as good as any comedy you have seen inSouth Street," he declared, "and the General will be well pleased. Noharm shall come to the child."

  "Well, I'll not interfere. This is a dull town at best," responded theyoung officer laughingly, and without another glance at Ruth, he enteredthe dining-room, with a word to the soldier who stood at the door. Thebig door was now swung wide open by two servants in the livery of theEnglish General. Just beyond them stood Major Andre, who bowed very lowas Ruth entered, and said:

  "General Howe, a lady who greatly desires to ask a favor of you," andRuth found herself on the threshold of the beautiful room whose paneledwalls were brilliantly lighted by many wax candles in silver sconces.The table was handsomely sp
read with fine china, glass and silver; andabout it were seated a number of English officers.

  "More comedy, Andre!" called a pleasant voice; "kindly bring the ladythis way," and General Howe rose from his seat at the head of thetable, and instantly all his guests were on their feet.

  Major Andre held out his hand to Ruth. She well knew that this was theproper moment to make her best curtsy, and in spite of the clumsy skirt,the bonnet which kept nodding over her face, and the long sleeves thathad slipped down over her hands, she managed to make a not ungracefulcurtsy.

  There was a little murmur of applause, and Major Andre smiled kindlyupon her, and taking her hand led her toward the head of the table withas much grace and courtesy as if he were handing Miss Peggy Ship penherself, one of the beauties of the town, to a seat at General Howe'sdinner table.

  "You are a most welcome guest," declared the English General smilingly,as Ruth stood before him. "I understand you have a favor to ask of me.Whatever it is you may be very sure I will be most happy to grant it,"and he smiled down at the queer little figure, quite sure that his youngofficer Major Andre had planned the whole affair for his amusement.

  "If you please, sir, I want my dog," said Ruth falteringly.