“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Martha,” she called to the old woman, who paused at the door on her way to the stairs, “can’t you get something to eat and drink for this gentleman?”
“Well, the pantry ain’t obahflowin’, as you know, Mrs. Varney. But Ah reckon Ah might fin’ a glass o’ milk ef Ah jes’ had to.”
“All our wine has gone long ago,” said Mrs. Varney to the soldier, “but if a glass of milk——”
“I haven’t seen a glass of milk for three years, ma’am,” answered the man, smiling; “it would taste like nectar.”
“Martha will set it for you in the dining-room while you are waiting. What hospital did you come from, by the way?”
“The Winder, ma’am.”
“And is it full?”
“They are laying them on blankets on the floor. You can hardly step for wounded men.”
“I suppose you need everything?”