"I heard through one of my men of your arrest. He brought word of it to the farm," the farmer said at length.
"Miss Herbert knows—of course you told her—"
"Yes, North; yes, she knows!" her father replied. "She knows and she urged me to come!"
He saw North's face light up with a sudden look of joy.
"She urged you to come?" repeated North.
"Yes—I think she would have come herself if I had not been willing."
"I am glad she did not!" said North quickly.
"Of course! I told her it would only distress you."
"It would only distress her—which is all that is worth considering," rejoined North.
"That's so!" said the general, approaching the young man and resting a brown and muscular hand on his shoulder.