With her hand on the rail, she made as if to rise. Clarence was perforce mollified.
"Don't go, Jinny," he said beseechingly. "I didn't mean to make you angry—"
"I can't see why you should always be dragging in this Mr. Brice," she said, almost tearfully. (It will not do to pause now and inquire into Virginia's logic.) "I came out to hear what you had to tell me."
"Jinny, I have been made second lieutenant of Company A."
"Oh, Max, I am so glad! I am so proud of you!"
"I suppose that you have heard the result of the October elections,
Jinny."
"Pa said something about them to-night," she answered; why?"
"It looks now as if there were a chance of the Republicans winning," he answered. But it was elation that caught his voice, not gloom.
"You mean that this white trash Lincoln may be President?" she exclaimed, seizing his arm.
"Never!" he cried. "The South will not submit to that until every man who can bear arms is shot down." He paused. The strains of a waltz mingled with talk and laughter floated out of the open window. His voice dropped to a low intensity. "We are getting ready in Company A," he said; "the traitors will be dropped. We are getting ready to fight for Missouri and for the South."