"I must see my mother!"
"You'll see her soon, sissy."
"My sister-in-law is sick and my brother is away." Emmeline forgot for an instant that this was an enemy of her country. "We haven't heard from him for weeks. He's in the reserves; he—" Remembering the character of her audience, Emmeline paused. Then she added, "I must go home!"
The tall soldier changed the subject.
"I've got a leetle gal like you; Bessie is her name—Bessie Christy. I haven't seen her for two years."
"Why not?" asked Emmeline, curious in spite of herself.
"On account of war. Now, Emmyline, 'tisn't every leetle gal can watch the sappers at work before a battle. They're the folks that build the breastworks. Look at them up there! You might see great things if you watched, 'stead of crying. You might see General Lee ride by."
"I hate him!"
"Now, sissy!"