A moment's deathly silence. And the cry of pain from a woman's white lips. Mary caught her mother in her arms and held her firmly. The cry wrung her young heart.
"Oh, dear God, have mercy on us—and give us strength to bear it—"
Stuart hurried to her side and tried to break the blow with cheerful words.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Lee. The South is right."
Lee had not spoken. His brilliant eyes had the look of a man who walks in his sleep. They were in the world but not of it. The deep things of eternity were in their brooding. He waked at last and turned to Stuart sadly.
"God save our country, my boy."
He paused and looked out the doorway on the beautiful green of the lawn. The perfume from the rose garden stole in on the fresh breeze that stirred from the river.
"A frightful blow," he went on dreamily, "this news you bring."
Stuart's young body stiffened.
"You're the foremost citizen of Virginia, sir. Others may doubt and waver and be confused. I think I know what you're going to do, in the end—"