"I go home to-day about four o'clock."
"If I ride over at five may I see you?"
"Yes, if you wish. I must go now—I am late. Is it true that we won the battle yesterday? Tell me—"
"We do not know the details yet. It seems that only Ewell's division was engaged. Trimble's brigade suffered heavily, but it was largely an artillery battle. I saw a copy of General Jackson's characteristic telegram to Richmond. 'God gave us the victory to-day at Cross Keys.'—Frémont has drawn off to Harrisonburg. There is a rumour of a battle to-day with Shields."
He thought that afternoon, as he passed through the road gates and into the drive between the oaks, that he had never seen the Greenwood place look so fair. The sun was low and there were shadows, but where the light rays touched, all lay mellow and warm, golden and gay and sweet. On the porch he found Unity, sitting with her guitar, singing to a ragged grey youth, thin and pale, with big hollow eyes. She smiled and put out her hand. "Judith said you were coming. She will be down in a moment. Major Stafford—Captain Howard—Go on singing? Very well,—
| "Soft o'er the fountain, lingering falls the southern moon—" |
"Why is it that convalescent soldiers want the very most sentimental ditties that can be sung?
| Far o'er the mountain, breaks the day too soon!" |
"I know that string is going to snap presently! Then where would I buy guitar strings in a land without a port?