“Now, you fully understand what is to be done; are you still willing to go?”
Mildred looked appealingly at her father, but he said not a word.
“What do you say, father?” she again asked.
“I candidly confess,” he replied at last “that I dislike to see my daughter subjected to exposure of this sort. Probably the result may be such as makes me shudder to think about it, and then my gray hairs would be brought in sorrow to my grave. In that case, I never could forgive myself for not having forbidden her to go.”
“Well,” said Gen. A., “I shall not even now insist upon her going. She can still decline if she wish. The danger is just what I have represented it. If,” turning to Mildred, “you shrink from it, you would better decline at once.”
“It is not the danger I dread,” answered Mildred. “I am willing to serve my country in any way I can, even to the extent of shedding my blood, but I dislike to do anything that will cause my father to suffer. But I have already told you I would go, and so I will unless my father sees proper to exercise his parental authority and forbids it.”
“I shall not forbid,” said the Doctor. “I want you to consult your own feelings and judgment and act accordingly.”
“Then General,” said Mildred with firmness, “I shall start in the morning. There is no use of any further discussion.”
“God bless you!” exclaimed General B., who had not taken any part in the conversation. “I thought I could not be mistaken in your character. I knew your religious training had developed those very traits which peculiarly qualify you for this perilous undertaking. May God protect and crown the undertaking with deserved success.”
As the officers were riding away, Gen. B. said: