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upon us would dream that we were not at home here。 There is Dan
tidying up the garden； Chloe is quite at her ease in the kitchen； and
you and I might pass very well for brother and sister。〃
〃I don't see any likeness between us…not a bit。〃
〃No； there is no personal likeness； but I meant in age and that sort
of thing。 I think； altogether； we have a very homelike look。〃
〃The illusion would be very quickly dispelled if your stranger put
his head inside the door。 Did any one ever see such a bare place？〃
〃Anyhow； it's very comfortable；〃 Vincent said； 〃though I grant that
it would be improved by a little furniture。〃
〃By a great deal of furniture； you mean。 Why； there isn t a chair in
the house； nor a carpet； nor a curtain； nor a cupboard； nor a bed； in
fact all there is is the rough dresser in the kitchen and that plank
table； and your bedstead。 I really think that's all。 Chloe has the
kettle and two cooking…pots； and there is the dish and six plates we
bought。〃
〃You bought； you mean；〃 Vincent interrupted。
〃We bought； sir； this is a joint expedition。 Then； there is the basin
and a pail。 I think that is the total of our belongings。〃
〃Well； you see； it shows how little one can be quite comfortable
upon；〃 Vincent said。 〃I wonder how long it will be before the
doctor gives me leave to move。 It is all very well for me who am
accustomed to campaigning； but it is awfully rough for you。〃
〃Don't you put your impatience down to my account； at any rate
until you begin to hear me grumble。 It is just your own
restlessness； when you are pretending you are comfertable。〃
〃I can assure you that I am not restless； and that I am in no hurry at
all to be off on my own account。 I am perfectly contented with
everything。 I never thought I was lazy before； but I feel as if I
could do with a great deal of this sort of thing。 You will see that
you will become impatient for a move before I do。〃
〃We shall see； sir。 Anyhow； I am glad you have said that； because
now whatever you may feel you will keep your impatience to
yourself。〃
Another four weeks passed by smoothly and pleasantly。 Dan went
into the village once a week to do the shopping； and the doctor had
reduced his visits to the same number。 He would have come
oftener； for his visits to the lonely cottage amused him； but he
feared that his frequent passage in his buggy might attract notice。
So far no one else had broken the solitude of their lives。 If the
doctor's calls had been noticed； the neighbors had not taken the
trouble to see who had settled down in Jenkins' old place。 His
visits were very welcome； for he brought newspapers and books；
the former being also purchased by Dan whenever he went into the
village； and thus they learned the course of events outside。
Since Antietam nothing had been done in Northern Virginia； but
Burnside； who had succeeded McClellan； was preparing another
great army； which was to march to Richmond and crush out the
rebellion。 Lee was standing on the defensive。 Along the whole
line of the frontier； from New Orleans to Tennessee； desultory
fighting was going on； and in these conflicts the Confederates had
generally the worse of things； having there no generals such as
Lee； Jackson； and Longatreet； who had made the army of Virginia
almost invincible。
At the last of these visits the doctor told Vincent that he
considered he was nearly sufficiently restored in health to be able
to start on their journey。
〃It is a much better job than I had expected it would turn out。 I
was almost afraid that your shoulder would never be quite square
again。 However； as you can see for yourself it has come out quite
right； and although I should not advise you to put any great strain
on your left arm； I believe that in a very short time it will be as
strong as the other。〃
〃And now； doctor； what am I in debt to you？ Your kindness cannot
be repaid； but your medical bill I will discharge as soon as I get
home。 We have not more than twenty dollars left between us；
which is little enough for the journey there is before us。 You can
rely that the instant I get to Richmond I will send you the money。
There is no great difficulty in smuggling letters across the
frontier。〃
〃I am very pleased to have been able to be of service to you；〃 the
doctor said。 〃I should not think of accepting payment for aid
rendered to an officer of our army； but it will give me real pleasure
to receive a letter saying you have reached home in safety。 It is a
duty to do all we can for the brave men fighting for our cause。 As
I have told you； I am not a very hot partisan； for I see faults on
both sides。 Still； I believe in the principle of our forefathers； that
each State has its own government and is master of its own army；
joining with the others for such purposes as it may think fit。 If I
had been a fighting man I should certainly have joined the army of
my State； but as it is； I hope I can do more good by staying and
giving such aid and comfort as I can to my countrymen。 You will；
I am sure； excuse my saying that I think you must let me aid you a
little further。 I understand you to say that Miss Kingston will go to
friends in Georgia； and I suppose you will see her safely there。
Then you have a considerable journey to make to Richmond； and
the sum that you possess is utterly inadequate for all this。 It will
give me real pleasure if you will accept the loan of one hundred
dollars； which you can repay when you write to me from
Richmond。 You will need money for the sake of your companions
rather than your own。 When you have once crossed the line you
will then be able to appear in your proper character。〃
〃Thank you greatly； doctor。 I will accept your offer as frankly as it
is made。 I had intended telegraphing for money as soon as I was
among our own people； but there would be delay in receiving it；
and it will be much more pleasant to push on at once。〃
〃By the way； you cannot cross at Florence； for I hear that Hood has
fallen back across the river； the forces advancing against him from
this side being too strong to be resisted。 But I think that this is no
disadvantage to you； for it would have been far more difficult to
pass the Federals and get to Florence than to make for some point
on the river as far as possible from the contending armies。〃
〃We talked that over the last time you were here； doctor； and you
know we agreed it was better to run the risk of falling into the
hands of the Yankee troops than into those of one of those partisan
bands whose exploits are always performed at a distance from the
army。 However； if Hood has retreated across the Tennessee there
is an end of that plan； and we must take some other route。 Which
do you advise？〃
〃The Yankees will be strong all round the great bend of the river to
the west of Florence and along the line to the east； which would； of
course