Virgie raised her eyes in swift reproach.
"I don't like to be called a monkey. It—it isn't respectful."
The Union soldier laughed.
"O-ho! I see." He touched his hat and made her a sweeping bow. "A thousand pardons, Mademoiselle." He shot his sword into its scabbard, and laughed again. "Might I inquire as to what you are called by your—er—justly respectful relatives and friends?"
"Virgie," she answered simply.
"Ah," he approved, "and a very pretty name! Virgie what?"
"My whole name is Miss Virginia Houston Gary."
The soldier started, glanced at his troopers, then back to the child again:
"Is Herbert Cary your father?"
He waited for her answer, and got it, straight from a baby's shoulder: