“‘I confess that such a scene does push me back into my girlhood,’ said Lady Hare.  ‘Alas!  I feel the old thrill.’

“Franklin came and stood before us with his hands Upon our shoulders, his face shining with happiness. “’Margaret, a woman needs something to hold on to in this slippery world,’ said he.  ’Here is a man that stands as firm as an oak tree.’

“He kissed us as did Lady Hare, also, and then we all sat down together and laughed.  I would not forget, if I could, that we had to wipe our eyes.  No, my life has not been all blood and iron.

“Would you not call it a wonder that we had kept the sacred fire which had been kindled in our hearts, so long before, and our faith in each other?  It is because we were both of a steadfast breed of folk—­the English—­trained to cling to the things that are worth while.  Once they think they are right how hard it is to turn them aside!  Let us never forget that some of the best of our traits have come from England.

“Suddenly Solomon arrived.  Of course where Solomon is one would expect solecisms.  They were not wanting.  I had not tried to prepare him for the ordeal.  Solomon is bound to be himself wherever he is, am why not?  There is no better man living.

“‘You’re as purty as a golden robin,’ he said to Margaret, shaking her hand in his big one.

“He was not so much put out as I thought he would be.  I never saw a gentler man with women.  As hard as iron in a fight there has always been a curious veil of chivalry in the old scout.  He stood and joked with the girl, in his odd fashion, and set us all laughing.  Margaret and her mother enjoyed his talk and spoke of it, often, after that.

“‘Wal, Mis Hare,’ he said to Her Ladyship, ’if ye graft this ’ere sprout on yer fam’ly tree I’ll bet ye a pint o’ powder an’ a fish hook ye won’t never be sorry fer it.’

“It did not seem to occur to him that there were those to whom a pint of powder and a fish hook would be no great temptation.”

2

“I dressed and went to dine with the Hares that evening.  They lived in a large house on a fashionable ‘road’ as certain, of the streets were called.  It was a typical upper class, English home.  There were many fine old things in it but no bright colors, nothing to dazzle or astonish; you like the wooden Indian in war-paint and feathers and the stuffed bear and high colored rugs in the parlor of Mr. Gosport in Philadelphia.  Every piece of furniture was like the quiet, still footed servants who came and went making the smallest possible demand upon your attention.

“I was shown into the library where Sir Benjamin’ sat alone reading a newspaper.  He greeted me politely.

“‘The news is disquieting,’ he said presently.  ’What have you to tell us of the situation in America?’

“‘It is critical,’ I answered.  ’It can be mended, however, if the government will act promptly.’