"Oh, Harry! Harry! How can you come here in that uniform?" she returned.
"Let us speak of that later, Aunt Alice. Allow me to introduce you to my superior, Colonel Stanton."
Mrs. Ruthven looked at the colonel steadily, and he bowed gravely. Each saw that the other was of good blood and breeding. The lady of the plantation dropped her eyes.
"Colonel Stanton, courtesy bids me say you are welcome, but—I beg you to consider that I am a Southern woman," she faltered.
"I hope, Mrs. Ruthven, you will not look upon me as an enemy."
"Are you not in arms against my country?"
"Against your section, yes, but not against your country, madam. I fight under the flag which belongs alike to the South and the North."
At this Mrs. Ruthven shook her head sadly.
"I cannot agree with you, sir. But let that drop. May I ask the news? Have our troops been hopelessly defeated?"
"I cannot answer you, Mrs. Ruthven. Our side has won a battle and the Confederate troops have taken to the mountain side. They may engage us again before long."