The family was a small one, and consisted of Gulian Verplanck and his wife, his grandmother, Mrs. Effingham, a lovely old Quakeress, and Peter, who, having lost both parents at an early age, had remained in Albany with his other guardian, Mr. Abram Lansing, until some six months before, when it was decided that he should go to New York and be under the Verplanck eye; and although Peter had rebelled much against the plan in the first place, he found himself much happier under Clarissa’s gentle rule, and positively adored her in consequence.  The only lion in Peter’s path at present was the strong Tory proclivity of the head of the house; and although he had been warned by his Albany friends to be prudent and respectful, the boy had inherited a sturdy patriotism which burned all the more hotly for its repression.

On this cold December afternoon Peter stood, books in hand, and surveyed that aggravating knocker from his stand on the sidewalk.  He was painfully conscious that his feet were muddy, and his chubby fingers certainly needed soap and water; it was Friday, and Pompey, one of the black servants, had evidently been scrubbing the front steps.  Therefore Peter debated whether it would be wiser to skirt around the mansion and gain entrance by the area steps, where no doubt he would encounter Dinah, the cook (who objected to invasions of unclean shoes), or boldly ascend the front steps, struggle with that balefully glittering knocker, and trust to Pompey’s somewhat dim eyes to escape remonstrance before he could gain his own room and make himself presentable.  The chances of a scolding seemed pretty equally balanced to Peter, and he heaved a deep sigh and put his foot on the first immaculate step before him as a hand fell on his shoulder and a merry voice said behind him:—­

“What in the world are you pondering, Peter?  I have watched you since I turned the corner of Broadway, and truly for once have seen you stand absolutely still.  In some scrape with the Vly boys, I’ll warrant; do you wish me to come in and plead for you?” and Kitty Cruger tripped lightly up the steps as she beckoned Peter to follow.

“Now you have done it—­not I!” said Peter, with a mischievous chuckle, as he tore up after her.

“Done what?” asked mystified Kitty.  She and Peter were fast friends.

“Muddied the clean steps,” quoth Peter with gleeful brevity.

“Have I?” glancing down carelessly until she saw each dainty footprint plainly depicted on the white marble, side by side with Peter’s heavier tracks.  “Oh, what a shame,” reaching up successfully to the brass knocker; “but I am sure Pompey will forgive me, and you can”—­stopping short as the door opened and Pompey himself stood bowing low in the hall.

“Good-day, missy,” said he, for Kitty Cruger was a frequent and welcome visitor at the Verplancks’.  “Miss Clarissa is pretty well to-day, thank you, and ole madam is in the drawing-room—­Law!” catching sight of Peter, who was skillfully slipping down the hall in Kitty’s wake.  “Dat you, Massa Peter?  Reckon you better hurry, for it’s mos’ time for dinner, sah.”