personal orders, this was nothing more than a mere courtesy.
The parade already swarmed with our men mustering for inspection; I met Lieutenant Boyd, and we conversed for a while, he lamenting the impossibility of making a boating party with the ladies, being on duty until three o’clock. And:
“Who is this new guest of Mrs. Bleecker?” he asked curiously. “I understand that you are acquainted with her. What is her name? A Miss de Contrecoeur?”
I had not been prepared for that, never expecting that Mrs. Bleecker had already started to prepare the way; but I kept my countenance and answered coolly enough that I had the honour of knowing Miss de Contrecoeur.
“She came by batteau from Albany?”