"I'm listening to something else. There's three or four horses coming down the road—"
"Please put that gun down, ma'am. I'll say good-bye and go just as peaceable—"
"And whether they're blue or grey I hope to God they'll take you off my hands! There! They've turned up the lane. They're coming by the house!"
She raised a strong young voice. "Help! Help! Stop, please! O soldiers! Soldiers! Help! Soldiers! There! I've made them hear and waked the baby!"
"Won't you let me go, ma'am? I didn't mean no harm."
"No more did the Indian great-grandmother killed when he broke in the door! You're a coward and a deserter, and the South don't need you! Bye, bye, baby—bye, bye!"
A hand tried the door. "What's the matter here? Open!"
"It's locked, sir. Come round to the window—Bye, baby, bye!"
The dismounted cavalryman—an officer—appeared outside the open window. His eyes rested a moment upon the interior; then he put hands upon the sill and swung himself up and into the room.
"What's all this? Has this soldier annoyed you, madam?"