"No; that is all passed and gone. We came hoping to capture General Johnston, as scouts informed us this was his headquarters for the night. But he is not here, and you will do your cause no harm by telling me all I ask."
"I do not think there are any guards posted," she answered, convinced that I spoke the truth. "I have not been out, but I am sure there are no soldiers about the place, except the officers' servants at the stable with the horses. The general departed before dark, and took his bodyguard with him."
She had no reason to deceive me, and her sincerity was beyond question. This was better than I had dared hope, and instantly a new plan leaped into my mind, the very audacity of which made me gasp. Yet it might work, carried out with sufficient boldness, although only to be resorted to as a last desperate necessity. As I stood there, revolving this new thought swiftly through my mind, the old fear seemed to return to her.
"Did--did you hear--everything?" she asked again.
"I am afraid I did," I confessed humbly, "but I am going to forget."
"No, that is not necessary. I am not sure I am altogether sorry that you overheard."
"But I am--at least, a part of what I overheard struck me rather hard."
"What was that?"
"Your reference to me. Billie, I had been dreaming dreams."
Her eyes dropped, the long lashes shading them.