"You are not ordered!"
"No; not yet."
"But if you were to go, would you not know it by this time?"
"Not certainly. Some troops will be left here of course, to guard Washington."
I walked with my heart in my mouth. I knew, what he did not say, that orders might be issued suddenly and as suddenly obeyed; with no beforehand warning or after delay. How could I speak anything of what had been in my mind to be said? Yet the very circumstances which made it more difficult made it also imperative, to speak them. I fought myself, while Mr. Thorold sometimes watched me and constantly took care of me, with a thoughtful care in little things which was eloquent.
"Christian" - I began, feeling my voice changed.
"That is to tell me we must turn homeward?" he said gayly.
"No; I want to speak to you. But we must turn homeward too."
"To speak to me? In that voice? Look at me, Daisy. - No, I won't hear it now, and not here. We must have something better. Daisy, go and ride with me to- morrow evening!"
"Oh, I cannot."