Miss Ivory emitted a lady-like little snort of contempt and Cora turned to her.
“Oh, I know how intolerant you are, Imogene!” she said, with a touch of anger in her voice. “But I can’t afford to be selfish. I have a daughter to provide for. For her sake I must curb my pride and take help where I can find it.”
Saying which she again rose and, giving every one the impression that she had been deeply injured, quitted the house, followed by Corinne, who took her cue from her mother.
“I am glad that a wise providence put it out of my power to marry a woman like that,” Miss Imogene said softly. “I do not quite understand how Charles Stewart has permitted her to live this long.”
“Don’t bother about her,” Hal interjected. “She’ll do as she pleases anyway, and no amount of advice will move her. And you can remember, too, that she isn’t the only one in the South who has been ‘looking ahead,’ as she calls it. There are thousands who are trying to prepare a place in the other camp, in case worst comes to worst.”
“Yes,” April, who up to that moment had scarcely said a word, now cried bitterly. “There are too many carrying water on both shoulders, and that is why people are beginning to talk about our losing. I did not expect it of you, Hal,” she ended, with a straight look at her brother.
“I can only see what the plain facts are, sis,” he answered. “Sherman has a hundred thousand men and we have less than fifty thousand. What are we going to do against such odds?”
“Do!” cried April in a ringing voice. “We’re going to fight till they’re beaten. There’s nothing else we can do!” At the words the young girl seemed transfigured. “A victory! A victory!” she cried, and running to the piano she started singing “Dixie.”
But for once she failed to carry her audience with her. “What is the matter with you-all?” she demanded, standing up pale but defiant beside the piano. “Are we to be beaten by talk? If we all grow glum when everything is not going right how can we expect to win? We wouldn’t deserve to win. The Yankees have twice as many men as we have, you say. Well, we have Johnston! He’ll stop Sherman if he only had quarter what he has. We shall win in spite of all the croaking and croakers!”
She was half beside herself for the moment, almost hysterical, and realizing it, or perhaps fearing that she would break down and cry, she quitted the room in haste.