“Sweetheart, sweetheart,” he said, “you will not refuse to bear me now?  I have resigned the army, I have left England forever (unless you yourself will some day accompany me there to meet my people), I have thrown in my fortunes with the United States, and doubt not I will prove as faithful a servant to your Commonwealth as I ever was to King George,” and kissing her hand, he, laid in it the faded knot of rose-colored ribbon.

“But, Geoffrey” she faltered, “my father”—­

“Did not General Wolcott himself bid me fetch you here?  Ah.  Betty, the conditions are all fulfilled, and you are still unwilling.”

She looked at him for a moment in silence, and then her most mischievous smile dawned in Betty’s eyes as she hid Geoffery’s little knot of ribbon in her gown.

“My heart but not my will, consents,” she said, “Dare you take such a naughty, perverse rebel in hand for life?”

“I dare all for love of Betty Wolcott,” cried the triumphant lover, while from the door a small person In mobcap surveyed the pair with very round and most enraptured eyes.

“It’s just like a fairy tale,” quoth Miss Moppet, “and I’m in it!”