"And they're proud of their country and their General, too—maybe you wouldn't believe it—but every regiment in Lee's army has reënlisted for the war."
She seized Billy's hand.
"Come with me—I want you to see the President and tell him what your regiment has done. It'll help him."
As they approached the White House a long, piercing scream came through the open windows.
"What on earth?" Jennie exclaimed.
"An accident of some kind," the boy answered, seizing her arm and hurrying forward. Every window and door of the big lonely house set apart on its hill swung wide open, the lights streaming through them, the wind blowing the curtains through the windows. The lights blazed even in the third story.
Mrs. Burton Harrison, the wife of the President's Secretary, met them at the door, her eyes red with weeping.
She pressed Jennie's hand.
"Little Joe has been killed—"
"Mrs. Davis' beautiful boy—impossible!"