Silently ruminating amid the sweet experiences of the day she failed to find any clue, till he at length said, with a sigh.
"I have something to tell you. I thought at first I would keep it to myself, but I'd rather tell you, myself, than have you hear it elsewhere. They've taken poor Nate away. Did you notice, just now——"
"Was that he—with the tall man arm in arm? And was the tall man an officer?"
George nodded to both questions.
"Yes, I'm sorry to say."
"Oh, poor Nate. He will be heart broken. Why couldn't they have left him there? Till after the funeral at least. Oh, my friend, we have been too thoughtless to-day! Our people at home have been suffering."
"And, had you been the sufferer, would you begrudge others a bit of joy?"
"No, no, indeed!"
"Then why be self-reproachful now? We have done what we could for them, and that is all even they could ask. We will not spoil the day with regrets, or self-upbraidings, now."
He spoke in a deep voice, and added hesitantly, after a moment,