"There was no other company. I liked this captain. He gave me to-day's furlough. I'm going to-night; little Jane's promised to fix my traps; she's making me these cookies now, you see. Pshaw! Beltran's up on the Potomac, or else you couldn't have gotten this letter,—don't you know? You made my heart jump into my mouth!"
And resuming his seat, to find his string and jack in cinders, he turned round astride his chair and commenced notching his initials into its back, with cautious glances at his aunt.
"That's for little Jane to cry over after I'm gone," said he.
"Ray—How do you think Beltran will like it?"
"I can't help what Beltran likes. I shall be doing God's work."
"Beltran says God does His own work. He only requires of us our duty."
"That is my duty."
"You feel, Ray, as if you were possessed by the holy ardor of another Sir Galahad!"
"I feel, Vivia, that I shall give what strength I have towards ridding the world of its foulest disease."
"With what a good grace that comes from you!"