Meanwhile  there  was  great  ado  and  great  run-
ning to  and  fro  in  the  amphitheatre,  where  tables
were  already  set  out  and  decked  for  a  sumptuous
repast;  on  the  outer  circle  those  of  the  officers
under  tent-cloth  stretched  on  poles ;  in  the  centre
those  of  the  guests  and  ofl&cers  of  higher  rank,  with
marquees,  to  protect  them  from  the  sun,  but  all
forming  one  vast  in  closure.-'  Here  Washington,
with  Greene  and  Lafayette  and  Stirling,  were  al-
ready in  waiting,  Lafayette  conspicuous  by  his
white  scarf  Here  too  the  ladies  who  had  shared
the  hard  winter  encampment,  were  collected.
Mrs.  Washington,  Mrs.  Greene,  Lady  Stirling  and
her  daughter  Lady  Kitty,  whom  Greene  mentions
so  pleasantly  in  letters  to  his  wife.  And  towards
this  spot  the  officers  now  turned  their  steps,
marching  in  columns,  thirteen  abreast,  witli  arms
closely  linked,  in  emblem  of  the  union  of  the  thir-
teen States.  On  none  was  attention  more  fixed
than  on  the  foreign  officers,  who  represented  the
new  ally  in  the  popular  mind,  and  were  eagerly
greeted  by  all  as  the  subjects  of  America's  best
friend.  Never  before  had  men  seen  Washington's
face  so  radiant.  Pleasant  words  passed  round ;  the
wine  circled  merrily  in  toasts  to  the  king  of  Prance,
and  the  friendly  powers,  and  the  Congress,  and  the
States;  the  band  playing  all  the  while  patriotic

1  According  to  De  Kalb,  fifteen  the  most  distinguished  people  of  the
hundred  persons  sat  together  at  the  neighborhood."  —  Kapp's  De  Kalb,
tables,  "ofBcers  with  their  wives  and    p.  145.
