“I wore your socks at the battles of Savage’s Station, Glendale and White Oak Swamp, Miss Ashford,” said he; “and I shall keep them for future service of the same kind. If I am killed in battle, I shall be found with those socks on my feet.”
“Oh, I hope you won’t be killed!” exclaimed she with a shudder.
“Well, I hope not; but, as soon as I am able, I shall return to my duty.”
“What a brave fellow you are! I shouldn’t think you would dare to stand up before the cannons, and the muskets, and the bayonets.”
“When I feel like running away, I always think of my socks,” said Somers.
But the carriage had come for him, and Alick stood at the door waiting for his appearance. He took the little soft white hand in his own, and readily promised, when she invited him, to call again soon and see her grandmother, who was out of town that day. Of course, Somers was deeply interested in that venerable lady, and actually looked forward with intense pleasure to the anticipated visit.
He was driven to the railroad station, and reached Pinchbrook at “high twelve,” when the Pinchbrookers were just going to their dinners. Captain Barney, as usual, was at the depot, and gave him a seaman’s welcome home. He insisted upon being driven to the cottage before dinner; and the old shipmaster, finding that Captain Somers carried too many guns for him, gracefully yielded the point.
“Bless my stars, if there ain’t Thomas!” cried Mrs. Somers as she jumped up from the dinner-table, and actually upset the teapot in the operation.
“How do you do, mother? How do you do, father?” exclaimed the young captain as he shook hands with his father and Gran’ther Green, kissed his mother, and hugged his sister.
“How pale you look, Thomas!” said his mother. “I declare, you are as thin as a hatchet! How is your arm?”