“Jack was telling his, mamma, and that is still more serious than to hear one’s own,” Vincent said, grinning at the moralist.

“But, to be serious a moment, I have written to my old friend General Robert Lee, of Arlington, about Miss Perley.  I know that he will grant her permission to take Richard home with her, and the question now is whether it is safe to let them go together alone?” Mrs. Atterbury addressed the question to Olympia, making no account of Jack.

“Oh, let us leave the decision until you get General Lee’s answer.  If they get the message in Acredale that Dick is safe and sound, I don’t see why they need go back before we do.  I shall be able to travel in a few weeks.  If the roads were not so rickety I wouldn’t be afraid to set out now,” Jack answered.

“Impossible!  You can’t leave for a month yet, if then,” Vincent proclaimed, authoritatively.  “I know what gunshot wounds are:  you think they are healed, and begin fooling about, when you find yourself laid up worse than ever.  There’s no hurry.  The campaign can’t begin before October.  I’m as anxious to be back as you are, but I don’t mean to stir before October.  Perhaps you think it will be dull here?  Just wait until you are strong enough to knock about a bit; we shall have royal rides.  We’ll go to Williamsburg and see the oldest college in the country.  We’ll go down the James, and you shall see some of the richest lands in the world.  We’ll get a lot of fellows out from Richmond and have our regular barbecue in September.  We wind up the season here every year with a grand dance, and Olympia shall lead the Queen Anne minuet with mamma’s kinsman, General Lee, who is the President’s chief of staff.”

“This doesn’t sound much like soldiering,” Jack said, dreamily.

“No.  When in the field, let us fight; when at home, let us be merry.”

“A very proper sentiment, young men.  We want you to be very merry, for you must remember the time comes when we can’t be anything but sad—­when you are away and the night of doubt settles upon our weak women’s hearts.”  It was Mrs. Atterbury who spoke, and the sentence seemed to bring silence upon the group.

Meanwhile, all the inquiries set on foot through the agency of the Atterburys failed to bring any tidings of Barney Moore.  It suddenly occurred to Jack that the poor fellow was masquerading as a rebel in the bosom of some eager patriot like Mrs. Raines and he reluctantly consented to let Dick go to Richmond to investigate.  Perhaps Mrs. Raines might know where the wounded men were taken that had come with him.  Some of the stragglers could at least be found.  The advertisement asking information concerning a wounded man arriving in Richmond with himself was kept in all the journals.  But Merry wouldn’t consent to let Dick go on the dangerous quest without her.  She would never dare face her sisters if any mishap came to the lad, and though Vincent put him under the care of an experienced overseer, and ordered the town-house to be opened for his entertainment, the timorous aunt was immovable.