"Hiram Arnold."
"You are going to faint, Miss Irene! Drink some of this cordial."
"No. Tell Andrew to go after the carriage as quick as possible, and have it brought here immediately; and ask Uncle Eric to come to my room at once."
Irene went to her own apartment, which adjoined Electra's, put on her bonnet and veil, and, though the night was warm, wrapped a shawl about her.
Mr. Mitchell entered soon after, and started at sight of his niece's face.
"Irene, what does this mean? Where are you going at this hour?"
"To the battlefield!—to Malvern Hill. Colonel Aubrey is mortally wounded, and I must see him. Will you go with me? Oh, Uncle Eric! if you have any mercy in your soul ask me no questions now! only go with me."
"Of course, my dear child, I will go with you, if it is possible to procure a carriage of any kind. I will see——"
"I have had one engaged for three days. Martha, stay with Electra till I come back; leave her on no account. If you notice any change, send for Dr. Whitmore. Here is my watch; count her pulse carefully, and as long as it is over one hundred, give her, every two hours, a spoonful of the medicine in that square vial on the table. I trust to you, Martha, to take care of her. If she should be rational, and ask for me, tell her nothing about the battles, and say I have gone to see a sick man, and will be back soon. Come, Uncle Eric."
They entered the close carriage which she had ordered reserved for her, and she called Cyrus to the door.