A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia

								

"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 is your little girl, madam; she has done no harm, I assure you.
She did but make a friendly call on General Howe, who sent me to bring
her safely home," said the young officer, hat in hand, and making his
best bow.
"I thank thee for bringing the child home, sir," responded Aunt Deborah,
drawing Ruth firmly over the threshold and closing the door before Major
André could say another word. The young officer hurried back to the
General's dinner-table, a little vexed that he had made so much needless
trouble for himself by introducing the queer little girl to General
Howe.
"Slip off thy mother's dress at once, before you do it further harm,"
said Aunt Deborah; and Ruth, not daring to look up, hastened to obey, as
she stood in the dimly-lit hall.
"I--I--only went to look for Hero," Ruth tried to explain, after a
moment's silence.
"So thee had to put on thy mother's very best gown; one that she does
not wear herself save on great occasions," responded Aunt Deborah,
taking up the silk dress out of which Ruth had just stepped. "It is
probably ruined. Go straight to bed. Thou art a willful and unruly
child," she continued, as Ruth started toward the stairway.
Aunt Deborah followed her, the dress over her arm, but she said no more
until they reached Ruth's chamber.
"I believed thee safe in thy room. When thee did not come to supper I
thought thee ashamed and sorry, because of the manner in which thou
spoke to me; so I did not open the door. But no; thee was playing at
being some one beside thy rightful self; and going to the house of an
enemy against whom thy father is fighting. I know not what to say to
thee, Ruth, nor how to make thee realize that thee has brought shame
upon us," said Aunt Deborah.
Ruth was crying bitterly, and could make no response. Aunt Deborah took
the candle and left the room, leaving Ruth to find her way into bed in
the dark. She wished with all her heart that she had not worn her
mother's silk gown and pretty bonnet. If they really were ruined she
knew it would be a long time before her mother could replace them; for
there was no extra money in the little household while America was
fighting for her rightful liberties.
"None of them, not even General Howe, believed that I was really grown
up. They were just laughing at me," she thought. "It would have been
just as well if I had waited, and had asked Aunt Deborah if I might not
go. Oh, dear! And now I have spoiled Mother's dress."
Ruth was so unhappy that she had quite forgotten that Hero might soon be
restored to her.

CHAPTER V
RUTH DECIDES

Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with