Lee raised his eyes as if in prayer and drew a deep breath.
"There's but one thing for me to decide, Annie—my duty."
His sister clasped her hands nervously and glanced about the room. Her eyes rested on the portraits of Washington, and his wife and she turned quickly.
"Your wife is the grand-daughter of Martha Washington. Can you look on that portrait of the father of this country, handed down to the mother of your children, and dare draw your sword to destroy his work?"
"I've tried to put him in my place and ask what he would do—"
He stopped suddenly.
"What would Washington do if he stood in my place to-day?"
"My dear brother!"
"Remember now that you are appealing to me as my sister. Did Washington allow the ties of blood to swerve him from his duty? His own mother was a loyal subject of the King of Great Britain and died so—"
"Washington led an army of patriots in a sacred cause," she interrupted.