“I would not, I would not,” she told him earnestly, amazed and bewildered at the thing that had befallen her. “I would do naught that would injure the cause. And thee—— Why, sir, I would rather die than act of mine should bring thee harm.”
“I believe you,” he said. “Your past actions show you have the best interests of your country at heart. But you are shielding some one,” he said leaning toward her suddenly. “Who is it? Were it not for the fact that your cousin discovered so much zeal in warning Governor Livingston and the garrison at Elizabethtown I should say that ’twas she. But were she guilty she would not have warned the governor, and would have tried to prevent you from doing so.” He looked straight into her eyes as the girl with difficulty repressed an exclamation. “Who is it?” he asked again.
But Peggy could only stare at him unable to speak. In that moment the truth had come to her, and she saw the explanation of everything. Harriet had deceived her and all of them, from the beginning. A blaze of anger swept her from head to foot. Was the daughter, like the father, only seeking to work them harm?
“Who is it?” repeated General Washington, watching her intently, and seeing that she was shaken by some emotion.
“It was——” she began, and paused. She had promised only that morning that she would not tell that Harriet had given her the note. Could she break her word? Had she not been taught once a word was passed ’twas a sacred thing, and not to be lightly broken? She looked at him in anguish. “I want to tell thee,” she burst forth, “but I have promised. I have promised.”
“But you thought the contents of this note were different, did you not? You did not know that it contained a hint of a plan for my capture?”
“Then you were tricked,” he declared. “By shielding this person, or persons, you expose the entire camp to other plots which may prove more successful than these last have been. Do you still consider your word binding under the circumstances?”
“I have been taught,” she said, her eyes full of trouble, “that having once passed my word it must be kept. Friends do not take oath as others do, but affirm only. Therefore, we are taught, that once given one’s word must be abided by so that it will be as stable and as much to be relied upon as an oath.”