"Why, brother?"
"Because I have called there twice, and have not seen him yet."
"Twice!"
"Yes."
"You know it is but a very few days since he arrived here, brother Ruez, and he must be very busy."
"Probably," answered Ruez, stealing a glance towards his sister.
"His present duty must engage a large portion of his time, I suppose."
"O, yes," said the boy, laughing, "just about one quarter as much of his time as was demanded of him when he was a lieutenant in General Harero's division."
"By-the-by, Ruez, they say the general is very ill of some chance wounds."
"The general deserves all he got, beyond a doubt, and there is little fear but that he will recover fast enough. He's not one of the sort that die easily. Fortune spares such as he is to try people's temper, and annoy humanity."