“Did Mr. Hake’s selection please you?” I asked, “Oh, Euan, how can I make you understand!  Everything is too beautiful to be real, and I am certain that a dreadful Cinderella awakening is in store for me.”

“Yes—­ but she wore the slipper in the end.”

Lois gave me a shy, sweet look, then, suddenly animated, turned eagerly once more to discuss her wardrobe with her new friend.

“Your Mr. Hake has excellent taste, Euan,” observed Mrs. Bleecker.  “Or,” she added laughingly, “perhaps your late prayer helped.”  And to Lois she said mischievously:  “You know, my dear, that Mr. Loskiel was accustomed to petition God very earnestly that your wardrobe should please you.”

Lois looked at me, the smile curving her lips into a happy tenderness.

“He is so wonderful,” she said, with no embarrassment.  And I saw Mrs. Bleecker look up at her, then smilingly at me, with the slightest possible nod of approbation.

For two hours and more that pair of women remained happy among the ribbons and laces; and every separate article Lois brought to me naively, for me to share her pleasure.  And once or twice I saw Mrs. Bleecker watching us intently; and when discovered she only laughed, but with such sweetness and good will that it left me happy and reassured.

“We have arranged that Miss de Contrecoeur is to share my room with me at Croghan’s,” said Mrs. Bleecker.  “And, Euan, I think you should send a wagon for her box at once.  The distance is short; we will stroll home together.”

I took my leave of them, contented, and walked back to the fort alone, my heart full of thankfulness for what God had done for her that day.

CHAPTER X

 In garrison

The end of the month was approaching, and as yet we had received no marching orders, although every evening the heavy-laden batteaux continued to arrive from Albany, and every morning the slow wagon train left for the lake, escorted by details from Schott’s irregulars, and Franklin’s Wyoming militia.

But our veteran rifle battalion did not stir, although all the other regular regiments had marched to Otsego; and Colonel Gansevoort’s 3rd N. Y. Regiment of the Line, which was now under orders to remain and guard the Valley, had not yet returned, although early in the week an Oneida runner had come in with letters for Mrs. Bleecker and Mrs. Lansing from their husbands, saying that the regiment was on its way to the fort, and that they, the ladies, should continue at Croghan’s as long as Morgan’s Rifles were remaining there in garrison.

Cooler weather had set in with an occasional day of heavy summer rain; and now our garrison life became exceedingly comfortable, especially agreeable because of the ladies’ hospitality at Croghan’s new house.

Except for Lois and for them my duties on special detail would have become most irksome to me, shut off from the regiment as I was, with only the Mohican to keep an eye on, and nothing else whatever to do except to write at sundown every evening in my daily journal.