He turned with a jump and encountered Meade’s agonized face thrust across Susan Livingston, who sat between them.

“For God’s sake, Hamilton, come forth and talk,” said Meade, in a hoarse whisper.  “There hasn’t been a word said above a mutter for three-quarters of an hour.  Tilghman gave out long ago.  Unless you come to the rescue we’ll all be moaning in each other’s arms in three minutes.”

Hamilton glanced about the table.  Washington, looking like himself on a monument, was making not a pretence to entertain poor Lady Sterling, who was almost sniffling.  Lord Sterling, having gratified, an hour since, Mrs. Washington’s polite interest in his health, was stifling yawn after yawn, and his chubby little visage was oblong and crimson.  Tilghman, looking guilty and uncomfortable,—­it was his duty to relieve Hamilton at the table,—­was flirting with Miss Boudinot.  Lady Kitty and Baron Steuben always managed to entertain each other.  Laurens and Kitty Livingston were sitting back and staring at each other as they had stared many times before.  The others were gazing at their plates or at Hamilton.  It was, indeed, a Headquarters dinner at the worst.

It has been remarked that Hamilton had a strong sense of duty.  He felt himself unable, even with the most charming girl on the continent beside him, to resist the appeal of all those miserable eyes, and launched forth at once upon the possibilities of Lafayette returning with an army.  Everybody responded, and he had many subjects of common interest to discourse brilliantly upon until the long meal finished.  Even Washington gave him a grateful glance, and the others reattacked their excellent food with a lost relish, now that the awful silence and sense of personal failure were dispelled by their “bright particular star,” as the letters of the day from Morristown and the vicinity cleped our hero.  But with Miss Schuyler he had no further word that night, and he retired with the conviction that there were times when there was no satisfaction whatever in doing one’s duty.

VI

But a few nights later there was a subscription ball in the commissary storehouse, and Hamilton danced with Miss Schuyler no less than ten times, to the merciless amusement of the family.  The ball, the first of any size since the war began, was a fine affair, and had been organized by Tilghman, Meade, and several of the Frenchmen; they were determined upon one gay season, at least.  The walls were covered with flags and holly; the women wore their most gorgeous brocades; feathers and jewels were on becoming white wigs or on the towers of powdered hair.  All the foreigners were in full regimentals, Steuben, in particular, being half covered with gold lace and orders; the music and supper were admirable.  Even Washington looked less careworn than usual, and as he stood apart with Lord Sterling, General Knox, and General Greene, he shed no perceptible chill.