and the tears came dripping from under Connie's veil and Victorine's and Miranda's and presently her own, she was glad of the failure.
As they were driving homeward across Canal Street, she noted, out beyond the Free Market, a steamboat softly picking its way in to the levee. Some coal-barges were there, she remembered, lading with pitch-pine and destined as fire-ships, by that naval lieutenant of the despatch-boat whom we know, against the Federal fleet lying at the head of the passes.
The coachman named the steamer to Constance: "Yass, 'm, de ole Genl al Quitman; dass her."
"From Vicksburg and the Bends!" cried the inquirer. "Why, who knows but Charlie Val--?"
With both hands she clutched Miranda and Victorine, and brightened upon Anna.
"And Flora not with us!" was the common lament.