Her arms tightened and his responded. His hand touched her hair and he said slowly:
"If dark hours come to us, my sister, we are children again roaming the fields hand in hand. We'll just remember that."
She kissed him tenderly.
"And success or failure, dear Annie," he continued, "shall be in God's hands—not ours. I go to lead a forlorn hope perhaps. But I must share the miseries of my people."
He slipped from her arms and silently embraced his daughter, and again her mother.
"Say goodbye to the other children for me when you see them, dear."
Blair took his extended hand.
"I know what you feel, Colonel Lee," he said solemnly. "I'm only sorry I could not hold you."
"Thank you, my friend. My people believe, and I believe that we have rights to defend. And we must do our best—even if we perish."
He strode quickly to the door, and paused. A sudden pain caught his heart as he crossed its threshold for the last time. He looked back, lifted his head as in prayer and passed out.