Page:The youth of Washington (1910).djvu/227

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XXXI

As I talked, Lord Fairfax, who had seen greater armies, heard me in silence, and indeed, when I ceased, remained for a time without making any comment. Then he reined up his horse, and, handing me two letters, said: "I have kept these for your private reading, George; I have them through the kindness of one of Admiral Keppel's officers." I read them as we rode on, well in the rear, to avoid the annoyance caused by the marching of the Forty-eighth Foot, which beat up a great dust. He said: "Read them again at your leisure." I did as was desired, and, as they happened to be left in my buckskin-coat pocket and forgot, they were the only papers I chanced to save in the battle. They are now before me, and I read them anew with interest. Not for many years have I seen them.


My dear Lord: I take this occasion to write you. London is very gay, and the clubs and