Patsy hung her head, with a submissive mumble.
Sweet William, now nestling against his mother’s knee, put a caressing hand on her cheek to demand attention.
“Mother, is Virginia the United States, too?� he inquired.
“Virginia the United States?� repeated his mother.
“Virginians used to be accused of thinking so, son,� said Mr. Osborne, laughing. “It is the general opinion that our State is a part of the Union; it’s so on the map.�
“Then if Virginia is in the United States, we are, too; aren’t we, father?�
“We certainly are, son; we are whatever Virginia is,� declared Mr. Osborne.
“Then we are in this war.� Sweet William imparted the information solemnly, as his own special discovery. “Virginia’s the United States, and we are Virginia; and so we are in the war!�
“It sounds reasonable, son,� remarked his father, with a dry chuckle, “but you are the first of us who has thought of it.�
While they were laughing over Sweet William’s great discovery, two men, one leading a horse, turned from The Back Way into The Street and came toward the Osborne home.