“Do you mean to keep your oath?” inquired Elfie.
“Most assuredly I do. Why?”
“Because you needn’t, you know, if you don’t like to—that is all. It is a compulsory oath by your own showing, and compulsory oaths are neither morally nor legally binding; at least they are not held to be so by persons of your way of thinking, Alberta.”
“I hold myself bound by my oath; but it seems that you are mocking me, Elfrida. And whether you yourself are loyal or otherwise, you are no true daughter of the South to mock at a fallen sister,” said Alberta.
“You are down, I see, but blest if I know whether you have ‘fallen’ down, or whether you have crouched down for a fatal spring! By the gleam of your eyes, Alberta, I should say the latter.”
“Elfie! Elfie! your words are cruelly unjust, I do believe. Remember
‘Who by repentance is not satisfied,
Is nor of heaven nor earth,’”
said Erminie, gravely.
“I’ll say no more, except this: If you are in the possession of any state secrets that it would profit the Confederacy to know, do not communicate them to Alberta.”