an assault.”
“Well, there is always a calm before a storm,” said the Lieutenant. “It might be some signal, or it might be they are moving their batteries to open on some special point of attack. They are trying every way to break through our defences, you know.”
“It’s very discouraging. We can’t seem to drive them back this time.”
“We’re holding them where they are, though,” said Maxwell proudly. “They’ll never get in unless they do it by some scurvy trick; that’s where the danger lies. We are always looking out for it, and – ”
At this moment Edith Varney reëntered the room. She had left her hat upstairs with the official-looking envelope, and had taken time to glance at a mirror and then to thrust a red rose in her dark hair. The impressionable young Lieutenant thought she looked prettier than ever.
“Lieutenant Maxwell,” she said, extending a folded paper, “here is your receipt – ”
The butler’s words to some one in the hall interrupted her further speech.
“Will you jes’ kin’ly step dis way, suh!” she heard Jonas say, and as Edith turned she found herself face to face with Captain Thorne!
CHAPTER III
ORDERS TO CAPTAIN THORNE
On the sleeves of Captain Thorne’s coat the insignia of a Captain of Confederate Artillery were displayed; his uniform was worn, soiled, and ill-fitting, giving honourable evidence of hard service; his face was pale and thin and showed signs of recent illness, from which he had scarcely recovered. In every particular he was a marked contrast to Lieutenant Maxwell.
“Miss Varney,” he said, bowing low.
“We were expecting you,” answered Edith, giving her hand to Thorne. “Here’s Captain Thorne, mamma!”
Mrs. Varney shook hands with him graciously while her daughter turned once more to the other man, with the acknowledgment of the order, which she handed to him.
“I wasn’t so very long writing it, was I, Lieutenant Maxwell?” she asked.
“I’ve never seen a quicker piece of work, Miss Varney,” returned that young man, putting the note in his belt and smiling as he did so. “When you want a clerkship over at the Government offices, you must surely let me know.”
“You would better not commit yourself,” said Edith jestingly; “I might take you at your word.”
“Nothing would please me more,” was the prompt answer. “All you have got to do is just apply, and refer to me, of course.”
“Lots of the other girls are doing it,” continued Edith half-seriously. “They have to live. Aren’t there a good many where you are?”
“Well, we don’t have so many as they do over at the Treasury. I believe there are more ladies over there than men. And now I must go.”
“A moment,” said Mrs. Varney, coming forward with Thorne. “Do you gentlemen know each other?”
Captain Thorne shook his head and stepped forward, looking intently at the other.
“Let me have the pleasure of making you acquainted, then. Captain Thorne – Lieutenant Maxwell.”
Thorne slowly inclined his head. Maxwell also bowed.
“I have not had the pleasure of meeting Captain Thorne before, although I have heard of him a great many times,” he said courteously.
“Yes?” answered the other, who seemed to be a man of few words.
“In fact, Captain, there is a gentleman in one of our offices who seems mighty anxious to pick a fight with you.”
“Really!” exclaimed Captain Thorne, smiling somewhat sarcastically; “pick a fight with me! To what office do you refer, sir?”
“The War Office, sir,” said Lieutenant Maxwell, rather annoyed, he could not exactly say why.
“Dear, dear!” continued Thorne urbanely; “I didn’t suppose there was anybody in the War Office who wanted to fight!”
“And why not, sir?” asked Lieutenant Maxwell haughtily, while Edith barely stifled a laugh, and her mother even smiled.
“Well, if he wanted to fight, he’d hardly be in an office at a time like this, would he?”
Captain Thorne’s sarcasm seemed to perturb the youngster, but his good breeding got the better of his annoyance.
“I’d better not tell him that, Captain,” he said with a great effort at lightness; “he would certainly insist upon having you out.”
“That would be too bad,” said the Captain. “It might interfere with his office hours and – ”
“He doesn’t believe it, Miss Varney,” said Maxwell, turning to the younger woman, “but it is certainly true. I dare say you know the gentleman – ”
“Please don’t, Lieutenant,” interrupted Edith quickly. “I would rather not talk about it, if you please.”
“Of course,” said Maxwell, “I didn’t know there was anything – ”
“Yes,” said Edith. “Let’s talk about something else. You know there is always the weather to fall back on – ”
“I should say so,” laughed the Lieutenant, “and mighty bad weather for us, too.”
“Yes, isn’t it?”
They turned away, talking and laughing somewhat constrainedly, while Mrs. Varney picked up the note that was still lying on the table.
“From your note, I suppose you are leaving us immediately, Captain Thorne. Your orders have come?”
“Yes, Mrs. Varney,” said the Captain. “I am afraid this must be the last of my pleasant calls.”
“Isn’t it rather sudden? Are you quite well? It seems to me they ought to give you a little more time to recover.”
“I have no doubt that I am, or feel, much better than I look,” said the Captain, “and we have to be ready for anything, you know. I have been idle too long already.”
“Yes, I suppose so,” said Mrs. Varney. “Well, it has been a great pleasure to have you call upon us. When you are away, we shall greatly miss your visits.”
“Thank you; I shall never forget what they have been to me.”
“Lieutenant Maxwell is going, mamma,” said Edith.
“So soon! Please excuse me a moment, Captain. I am very sorry you have to hurry away, Lieutenant; we shall hope for the pleasure of seeing you again, if your duties permit.”
“I shall certainly avail myself of your invitation, if you will allow me.” He saluted Captain Thorne. “Good-evening, sir.”
Thorne, of course, returned the courteous salute of his junior.
“Lieutenant
