“Yet—he—that man has not invited you to return?”
“No, but then I left of my own accord, and now that I am able to travel, it is my duty to go back, though uninvited. I must not wait to be asked to return to my post,” said the young wife.
The General was silent and thoughtful for a moment and then he said, firmly:
“My child, you must think no more of this.”
She looked at him; but hesitated to oppose him, and when she did answer she spoke gravely and gently:
“Dear sir, it is right for me to go.”
“Drusilla, think no more of this, I say,” he repeated, and this time with an air of assured authority.
“Dear uncle, why do you say so?”
“I might answer, it would be too painful to me to part with you and your boy.”
“Thanks for saying that, sir. I too, feel that to leave this safe, sweet old home, and these loving friends, will be very painful; duty often is so; but not for that must we fail in it.”