A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia | Page 8

in spite of the clumsy skirt,
the bonnet which kept nodding over her face, and the long sleeves that

had slipped down over her hands, she managed to make a not
ungraceful curtsy.
There was a little murmur of applause, and Major André smiled kindly
upon her, and taking her hand led her toward the head of the table with
as much grace and courtesy as if he were handing Miss Peggy Ship pen
herself, one of the beauties of the town, to a seat at General Howe's
dinner 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 young officer Major André had planned the whole affair for his
amusement.
"If you please, sir, I want my dog," said Ruth falteringly.
CHAPTER IV
AUNT DEBORAH IS SURPRISED
Years after, when Ruth was really "grown up," she often recalled the
wonderful night when she sat at General Howe's dinner-table. For
Major André had lifted her to a seat beside the General; with a friendly
word he untied the bonnet-strings and put the bonnet on a side table;
and Ruth began to think that it was all a dream from which she would
soon awaken to find herself safely at home. She wondered if it really
were Ruth Pernell who was answering the General's questions about the
missing Hero.
"I can do no less than try to find your dog, little maid," he said, "for
when my own dog wandered away to General Washington's camp, in
the Germantown fray, the General sent him back to me under the
protection of a flag of truce; so, as you tell me your father is with
Washington, I must see to it that Hero is found. That is, if one of my
soldiers has so far forgotten orders as to have taken him," for the
English General took every care that his soldiers should do no harm to

the residents of the city.
Ruth was sure that she knew the very house where she had heard Hero's
bark; and now that General Howe had promised that a search should be
made she was eager to go home, and slid out of the chair just as a
servant set a plate before her.
"I must go home. I--I--ran away," she said a little falteringly, looking
up at the tall General. "Will you please find Hero the first thing
to-morrow?"
"Here, André! the young lady wishes to return home," said the General,
"and see to it that you take her there safely, and that you find the lost
Hero. And find a better plot for your next comedy," the General added,
as the young officer came forward.
Ruth wondered what "comedy" meant. She did not know that Major
André, whose gay good humor and charming manner made him a
favorite with all, was depended upon to furnish amusement for his
brother officers; or that they had at first believed that Ruth, stumbling
into the dining-room dressed as a woman, was the first act of some
amusing play of André's contriving.
Now that it proved she was only a runaway little girl looking for a lost
dog they found it amusing that the young officer should have the
trouble of taking her home.
Ruth could never quite remember the manner in which the General
bade her good-bye, or if she make her curtsy, or even thanked him for
promising that Hero should be found.
Major André tied on her bonnet, and opening a door that led to a side
entrance, led her to the street.
"Now tell me the way, and I'll have you home in a jiffy," he said
pleasantly.
But it was no easy matter for Ruth to walk as rapidly as her companion;

she stumbled over the skirt; the strings of her bonnet had slipped so that
it kept bobbing over her eyes and had to be pushed back; and she was
now so frightened at the thought of what Aunt Deborah would say that
she hardly knew in what direction they were going until the young
officer stopped at her own door and lifted the knocker whose rap was
sure to bring Aunt Deborah hastening to answer it.
"You will not forget about Hero?" Ruth said as they stood on the steps.
"Indeed, I shall not. Be very sure I will do my best to find your dog. I
will go to the house on Second Street early to-morrow," responded
André, and the door swung open and Aunt Deborah, holding a candle
in one hand, stood looking at them.
"Here