He recalled long the plainly furnished room into which Mrs. Herndon
ushered him to await the girl's appearance--the formal look of the
old-fashioned hair-cloth furniture, the prim striped paper on the
walls, the green shades at the windows, the clean rag carpet on the
floor. The very stiffness chilled him, left him ill at ease. To calm
his spirit he walked to a window, and stood staring out into the warm
sunlight. Then he heard the rustle of Naida's skirt and turned to meet
her. She was pale from her weeks of nursing, and agitated for fear of
what this unexpected call might portend. Yet to his thought she
appeared calm, her manner restrained. Nor could anything be kinder
than her first greeting, the frankly extended hand, the words
expressive of welcome.
"Mr. Wynkoop informed me a few minutes ago that you had at last
received your orders for the north," she said, her lips slightly
trembling. "I wondered if you would leave without a word of farewell."
He bowed low. "I do not understand how you could doubt, for I have
shown my deep interest in you even from the first. If I have lately
seemed to avoid you, it has only been because I believed you wished it
so."
A slight flush tinged the pallor of her cheeks, while the long lashes
drooped over the eyes, concealing their secrets.
"Life is not always as easy to live aright as it appears upon the
surface," she confessed. "I am learning that I cannot always do just
as I should like, but must content myself with the performance of duty.
Shall we not be seated?"
There was an embarrassing pause, as though neither knew how to get
through the interview.
"No doubt you are rejoiced to be sent on active service again," she
said, at last.
"Yes, both as a soldier and as a man, Miss Naida. I am glad to get
into the field again with my regiment, to do my duty under the flag,
and I am equally rejoiced to have something occur which will tend to
divert my thoughts. I had not intended to say anything of this kind,
but now that I am with you I simply cannot restrain the words. This
past month has been, I believe, the hardest I have ever been compelled
to live through. You simply mystify me, so that I alternately hope and
despair. Your methods are cruel."
"Mine?" and she gazed at him with parted lips. "Lieutenant Brant, what
can you mean? What is it I have done?"