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we have puzzled ourselves in vain as to why you should have made
your way there。 The girls guess that you have gone there to deliver
in person some message from one of your late fellow…prisoners to
his family。 I am not good at guessing； and am content to wait until
you return home。 We hope that you will leave as soon as you get
the remittance。 We shall count the hours until we see you。 Of
course we learned from a Yankee paper smuggled through the
lines that you had escaped from prison； and have been terribly
anxious about you ever since。 We are longing to hear your
adventures。〃
A few hours after the receipt of this letter Vincent was on his way
home。 It was a long journey。 The distance was considerable； and
the train service greatly disordered and unpunctual。 When within a
few hours of Richmond he telegraphed； giving the approximate
time at which he might be expected to arrive。 The train； however；
did not reach Richmond until some hours later。 The carriage was
waiting at the station； and the negro coachman shouted with
pleasure at the sight of his young master。
〃Missis and the young ladies come； sah； but de station…master he
say do train no arrive for a long time； so dey wait for you at de
town house； sah。〃
Dan jumped up beside the coachman and Vincent leaped into the
carriage； and a few minutes later he was locked in the arms of his
mother and sisters。
〃You grow bigger and bigger； Vincent；〃 his mother said after the
first greeting was over。 〃I thought you must have done when you
went away last； but you are two or three inches taller and ever so
much wider。〃
〃I think I have nearly done now； mother…anyhow as to height。 I am
about six feet one。〃
〃You are a dreadful trouble to us； Vincent；〃 Annie said。 〃We have
awful anxiety whenever we hear of a battle being fought； and it
was almost a relief to us when we heard that you were in a Yankee
prison。 We thought at least you were out of danger for some time；
but since the news came of your escape it has been worse than
ever； and as week passed after week without our hearing any' thing
of you we began to fear that something terrible had happened to
you。〃
〃Nothing terrible has happened at all； Annie。 The only mishap I
had was getting a pistol bullet in my shoulder which laid me up for
about six weeks。 There was nothing very dreadful about it；〃 he
continued； as exclamations of alarm and pity broke from his
mother and sister。 〃I was well looked after and nursed。 And now I
will tell you my most important piece of news； and then I will give
you a full account of my adventures from the time when Dan got
me out of prison； for it is entirely to him that I owe my liberty。〃
〃Well； what is the piece of news？〃 Annie asked。
〃Guess！〃 Vincent replied smiling。
〃You have got promoted？〃 his mother said。 He shook his head。
〃Is it about a lady？〃 Annie asked。
Vincent smiled。
〃Oh； Vincent； you are not engaged to be married！ That would be
too ridiculous！〃 Vincent laughed and nodded。
〃Annie is right； mother； I am engaged to be married。〃 Mrs。
Wingfield looked grave； Rosie laughed； and Annie threw her arms
round his neck and kissed him。
〃You dear； silly old boy：〃 she said。 〃I am glad； though it seems so
ridiculous。 Who is she； and what is she like？〃
〃We needn't ask where she lives；〃 Rosie said。 〃Of course it is in
Antioch； though bow in the world you managed it all in the two or
three days you were there I can't make out。〃
Mrs。 Wingfield's brow cleared。 〃At any rate； in that case； Vincent；
she is a Southerner。 I was afraid at first it was some Yankee
woman who had perhaps sheltered you on your way。〃
〃Is she older than you； Vincent？ Annie asked suddenly。 〃I shouldn't
like her to be older than you are。〃
〃She is between sixteen and seventeen；〃 Vincent replied； 〃and she
is a Southern girl； mother； and I am sure you will love her； for she
saved my life at the risk of her own； besides nursing me all the
time I was ill。〃
〃I have no doubt I shall love her； Vincent； for I think； my boy； that
you would not make a rash choice。 I think you are young； much
too young； to be engaged； still； that is a secondary matter。 Now
tell us all about it。 We expected your story to be exciting； but did
not dream that love…making had any share in it。〃
Vincent accordingly told them the whole story of his adventures
from the time of his first meeting Dan in prison。 When he related
the episode of Lucy's refusal to say whether he would return；
although threatened with instant death unless she did so； his
narrative was broken by the exclamations of his hearers。
〃You need not say another word in praise of her；〃 his mother said。
〃She is indeed a noble girl； and I shall be proud of such a
daughter。〃
〃She must be a darling！〃 Annie exclaimed。 〃Oh； Vincent； how
brave she must be！ I don't think I ever could have done that； with a
pistol pointing straight at you； and all those dreadful men round；
and no hope of a rescue； it's awful even to think of。〃
〃It was an awful moment； as you may imagine；〃 Vincent replied。
〃I shall never forget the scene； or Lucy's steadfast face as she faced
that man； and you see at that time I was a perfect stranger to her…
only a fugitive Confederate officer whom she shielded from his
pursuers。〃
Go on； Vincent； please go on； Annie said。 〃 Tell us what happened
next。〃
Vincent continued his narrative to the end； with； however； many
interruptions and questions on the part of the girls。 His mother
said little； but sat holding his hand in hers。
〃It has been a wonderful escape； Vincent；〃 she said when he had
finished。 〃Bring your Lucy here when you like； and I shall be
ready to receive her as my daughter； and to love her for her own
sake as well as yours。 She must be not only a brave but a noble
girl； and you did perfectly right to lose not a single day after you
had taken her safely home in asking her to be your wife。 I am glad
to think that some day the Orangery will have so worthy a
mistress。。 I will write to her at once。 You have not yet told us what
she is like； Vincent。〃
〃I am not good at descriptions； but you shall see her photograph
when I get it。〃
〃What； haven't you got one now？〃
〃She had not one to give me。 You see； when the troubles began
she was little more than a child； and since that time she has
scarcely left home； but she promised to have one taken at once and
send it me； and then； if it is a good likeness； you will know all
about it。〃
〃Mother； when you write to…night；〃 Rosie said； 〃please send her
your photograph and ours； and say we all want one of our new
relative that is to be。〃
〃I think； my dear； you can leave that until we have exchanged a
letter or two。 You will see Vincent's copy； and can then wait
patiently for your own。〃
〃And now； mother； I have told you all of my news； let us hear