"Ha! ha!" laughed Vaughan. "You have him there, Mistress Royal. He's always in the hottest places himself; he likes them best."
"Somebody else likes them, too; somebody else who can capture Royal Battery with thirteen men," said Elizabeth. "I knew long ago that you were a genuine war-horse, Colonel Vaughan. Give me credit for my discernment."
"Yes, yes, I remember," assented the other with the embarrassment of courage at finding itself commended. "But, really, against such a cowardly crew as those fellows were, there's no credit at all to be gained."
She made him a bright reply, and Archdale listened in silence as they talked. But she noticed his gloomy face, and secretly wondered if it was anxiety about Edmonson that troubled him, or if possibly, he was displeased with Katie. But she put away for the second time the latter suggestion. The girl had never looked prettier or been more affectionate than when she had said good-by to her and given her the letter for "poor, brave Stephen," as she had tearfully called him. Archdale could not help listening to Elizabeth; there seemed to be a witchery about her whenever she opened her lips. It was probable that Edmonson felt it, he thought. And he began to wonder how things would all end. Perhaps they should all be shot and the affair wind up like some old tragedy where the board is swept clean for the next players. For his part, too much had gone from his life to make the rest of it of interest. Elizabeth turned to him.
"Are you busy?" she asked. "I mean are you on duty?"
"No," he answered, wondering what was coming, and noticing that her tall, slight figure seemed all the more elegant for the simplicity of her dress. "Can I do anything for you?" he added.
"Yes, thank you," she answered, "You can, if you are willing. I am going to get some medicine that the doctors have asked me to keep, because it is very powerful, and they were afraid lest some of the men would be careless with it. Nancy is bringing the bandages. Here she is now. Thank you," as the girl put a phial into her hand. "There is extra work to be done to-day," she went on, turning again to Archdale, "and we are short of hands. If you don't mind, and will come, we shall be glad of your help."
Captain Archdale playing at nurse with private soldiers! The young man did not fancy the idea at all; he would much rather have led a forlorn hope.
But no forlorn hope offered, and this did. Of course he would do anything for Mistress Royal, but this was not for her at all. He had half a mind to excuse himself. As the suggestion came to him, he looked into the steady eyes that were watching him fathoming his reluctance, ready for approval or for scorning as the answer might be. His look took in her whole appearance, and set him wondering if the privates, some of whom had been even his neighbors and his boyish playfellows, could offend his dignity more than hers? He began to wonder how her eyes would change if they looked at him approvingly.
"I will go with pleasure, if you'll put up with an awkward fellow," he answered. And Colonel Vaughan who was looking on was not aware that he had hesitated.