"She is very beautiful," he added, "and every man of us would willingly try a hospital cot for the sake of being nursed by her."
Bell thought at once of Marian, but as Mark knew nothing of their private affairs she would not question him, and after a few bantering words concerning Lieutenant Bob and the picture he carried into every battle, buttoned closely over his heart. Mark Ray took his leave, while Bell, softened by thoughts of Cob, ran upstairs to cry, going to her mother's room, as a seamstress was occupying her own. Mrs. Cameron was out that afternoon, and that she had dressed in a hurry was indicated by the unusual confusion of her room. Drawers were left open and various articles scattered about, while on the floor just as it had fallen from a glove box lay a letter which Bell picked up, intending to replace it.
"Miss Helen Lennox," she read in astonishment. "How came Helen Lennox's letter here in mother's room, and from Mark Ray, too," she continued, still more amazed as she took the neatly folded note from the envelope and glanced at the name. "Foul play somewhere. Can it be mother?" she asked, as she read enough to know that she held in her hand Mark's offer of marriage which had in some mysterious manner found its way to her mother's room. "I don't understand it at all," she said, racking her brain for a solution of the mystery. "But the letter at least is safe with me. I'll send it to Helen this very day and to-morrow I'll tell Mark Ray."
Procrastination was not one of Bell Cameron's faults, and for full half an hour before her mother and Juno came home, the stolen letter had been lying in the mail box where Bell herself deposited it, together with a few hurriedly written lines, telling how it came into her hands, but offering no explanation of any kind.
"Mark is home now on a leave of absence which expires day after to-morrow," she wrote, "but I am going around to see him, and if you do not hear from him in person I am greatly mistaken."
Very closely Bell watched her mother when she came from her room, but the letter had not been missed, and in blissful ignorance Mrs. Cameron displayed her purchases and then talked of Wilford, wondering how he was and if it were advisable for any of them to go to him.
The next day a series of hindrances kept Bell from making her call as early as she had intended doing, so that Mrs. Banker and Mark were just rising from dinner when told she was in the parlor.
"I meant to have come before," she said, seating herself by Mark, "but I could not get away. I have brought you some good news. I think—that is—yes, I know there has been some mistake, some wrong somewhere, whether intended or not. Mark Ray," and the impetuous girl faced directly toward him, "if you could have any wish you might name what would it be? Come now, imagine yourself a Cinderella and I the fairy godmother. What will you have?"
Mark knew she was in earnest and her manner puzzled him greatly, but he answered, laughingly: "As a true patriot I should wish for peace on strictly honorable terms."
"Pshaw!"