Royal had explained that in
a few minutes all that he had come for could be said to Mr. Archdale.
Although after thinking the matter over carefully he had decided that it
was Elizabeth, filled with the spirit of her warning, who should herself
give her message to Archdale yet he spoke to Pepperell as if she had
accompanied him. And when the General said that he had already sent for
the young man, Mr. Royal told him that his daughter had that in her
pocket for him which, if he knew, it would lend wings to his feet.
"A letter from our charming Mistress Katie," pronounced Pepperell,
smiling at Elizabeth.
"Yes," she said, and after a little repeated her question of their
returning that evening.
"Yes, I know," said the General. He waited a moment, and then added.
"But if you come among soldiers, you will feel the exactions of war.
There are those dispatches, you remember, not even read yet" and he
touched the breast of his coat, "because I was in such haste to pay my
respects to you. Now, I should like to send an answer to these, and I am
afraid I shall not have it ready before to-morrow morning; the Commodore
will probably write me to-night and I want to include whatever news he
may have.
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