He wore a sword, of course, and a dark blue uniform coat relieved with red facings, with a single epaulet on his shoulder which denoted his official rank; his blond hair was lightly touched with powder, and tied, after the fashion of active service, in a queue with a black ribbon.
"Now, Seymour, since you two truants have come at last, will you do me the honor to hand Miss Wilton to the dining-room ?" remarked the colonel, straightening up.
With a low bow, Seymour approached the object of his adoration, who, after a sweeping courtesy, gave him her hand.

With much state and ceremony, preceded by one of the servants, who had been waiting in attention in the hall, and followed by the colonel, and lastly by the colonel's man, a stiff old campaigner who had been with him many years, they entered the dining-room, which opened from the rear of the hall.
The table was a mass of splendid plate, which sparkled under the soft light of the wax candles in candelabra about the room or on the table, and the simple meal was served with all the elegance and precision which were habitual with the gentleman of as fine a school as Colonel Wilton.
At the table, instead of the light and airy talk which might have been expected in the situation, the conversation assumed that grave and serious tone which denoted the imminence of the emergency.
The American troops had been severely defeated at Long Island in the summer, and since that time had suffered a series of reverses, being forced steadily back out of New York, after losing Fort Washington, and down through the Jerseys, relentlessly pursued by Howe and Cornwallis.
Washington was now making his way slowly to the west bank of the Delaware.

He was losing men at every step, some by desertion, more by the expiration of the terms of their enlistment.

The news which Colonel Wilton had brought threw a frail hope over the situation, but ruin stared them in the face, and unless something decisive was soon accomplished, the game would be lost.
"Did you have a pleasant ride up the river, Katharine ?" asked her father.
"Very, sir," she answered, blushing violently and looking involuntarily at Seymour, who matched her blush with his own.
There was a painful pause, which Seymour broke, coming to the rescue with a counter question.
"Did you notice that small sloop creeping up under the west bank of the river, colonel, this evening?
I should think she must be opposite the house now, if the wind has held." "Why, when did you see her, Mr.Seymour?
I thought you were looking at--at--" She broke off in confusion, under her father's searching gaze.

He smiled, and said,-- "Ah, Katharine, trained eyes see all things unusual about them, although they are apparently bent persistently upon one spot.