"Poor Bob! how much he must have suffered," she whispered, and kneeling down beside him, she hid her face in her hands, weeping bitter tears for her armless hero.
The motion awakened Robert, who gazed for a moment in surprise at the kneeling, sobbing maiden; then, when sure it was she, he raised himself in bed, and ere Bell could look up, two arms, one quite as strong as the other, were wound around her neck, and her head was pillowed upon the breast, which heaved with strong emotions as the soldier said:
"My darling Bell, my promised wife, you don't know how much good this meeting does me!"
He kissed her many times, and Bell did not prevent it, but gave him kiss after kiss, then, still doubting the evidence of her eyes, she unclasped his clinging arms, and holding both his poor hands in hers, gave vent to a second gush of tears as she said:
"I am so glad—oh, so glad!"
Then, as it occurred to her that he might perhaps misjudge her, and put a wrong construction upon her joy, she added:
"I did not care for myself, Robert. Don't think I cared for myself, or was ever sorry a bit on my own account."
Bob looked a little bewildered as he replied: "Never were sorry and never cared! I can scarcely credit that, for surely your tears and present emotions belie your words."
Bell knew he had not understood her, and she said:
"Your arm, Robert, your arm. We heard it was cut off, and that you were otherwise mutilated."