She heard Uncle Robert's voice on the porch at the side entrance. Rob was talking in great earnest; but somehow she couldn't have gone out, or trusted the voice still so full of tears.
He came in at length. "You have heard the news, Kitty?"
She rose and went to his arms, hid her face upon his shoulder. "O Uncle Robert!"
"What ought I to do, little one?"
It was such a solemn question that she could not answer it readily, selfishly.
"Rob came very near getting into a row on my behalf. It was rather funny. Poor boy! I believe he would go willingly in my stead."
The story interested Kathie a good deal, and turned the current of her feelings somewhat. Then one or two of the neighbors came in, and they had no more quiet until they gathered round the supper-table. Freddy thought it a great honor to be drafted.
"Is it true that there is a scarcity of substitutes?" asked Rob of his uncle.
"I believe it is. Mr. Langdon put in one about a month ago, and paid a thousand dollars."