This was said good-naturedly, but quite innocently; eliciting smiles, blushes, and meaning glances in return.  Evert Beekman, however, looked grave before he made his reply.

“To own the truth, Mr. Woods,” he said, “things are getting to be very serious.  Boston is surrounded by thousands of our people; and we hope, not only to keep the king’s forces in the Peninsula, but, in the end, to drive them out of the colony.”

“This is a bold measure, Mr. Beekman!—­a very bold step to take against Caesar!”

“Woods preached about the rights of Caesar, no later than yesterday, you ought to know, Beekman,” put in the laughing captain; “and I am afraid he will be publicly praying for the success of the British arms, before long.”

“I did pray for the Royal Family,” said the chaplain, with spirit, “and hope I shall ever continue to do so.”

“My dear fellow, I do not object to that.  Pray for all conditions of men, enemies and friends alike; and, particularly, pray for our princes; but pray also to turn the hearts of their advisers.”

Beekman seemed uneasy.  He belonged to a decidedly whig family, and was himself, at the very moment, spoken of as the colonel of one of the regiments about to be raised in the colony of New York.  He held that rank in the militia, as it was; and no one doubted his disposition to resist the British forces, at the proper moment.  He had even stolen away from what he conceived to be very imperative duties, to secure the woman of his heart before he went into the field.  His answer, in accordance, partook essentially of the bias of his mind.

“I do not know, sir, that it is quite wise to pray so very willingly for the Royal Family,” he said.  “We may wish them worldly happiness, and spiritual consolation, as part of the human race; but political and specific prayers, in times like these, are to be used with caution.  Men attach more than the common religious notion, just now, to prayers for the king, which some interpret into direct petitions against the United Colonies.”

“Well,” rejoined the captain, “I cannot agree to this, myself.  If there were a prayer to confound parliament and its counsels, I should be very apt to join in it cordially; but I am not yet ready to throw aside king, queen, princes and princesses, all in a lump, on account of a few taxes, and a tittle tea.”

“I am sorry to hear this from you, sir,” answered Evert.  “When your opinions were canvassed lately at Albany, I gave a sort of pledge that you were certainly more with us than against us.”

“Well then, I think, Beekman, you drew me in my true outlines.  In the main, I think the colonies right, though I am still willing to pray for the king.”

“I am one of those, captain Willoughby, who look forward to the most serious times.  The feeling throughout the colonies is tremendous, and the disposition on the part of the royal officers is to meet the crisis with force.”