“So you are in a hurry to get away,” I said.

“I shall be glad to get down there,” she replied, “and I have the habit of getting ready gradually when we move.  It saves worry and fluster when the time comes.”  Her face was very bright.

“That is the longest speech you have made to me in a week,” said I.

She turned and looked full at me; then her expression changed to severity, and she went out.

That night Willis came; before he saw me he had learned that we were to go; he was very blank.

* * * * *

The 6th of March found us in camp in the Doctor’s tents pitched near Newport News.  The weather was mild; the voyage had helped me.  I sat outside in the sunshine, enjoying the south wind.  With the help of the Doctor’s arm or of Lydia’s—­given, I feared, somewhat unwillingly—­I walked a little.  These were happy days; I had nothing to do but to convalesce.  The Southern climate has always helped me.  I was recovering fast.

I liked the Doctor more than ever, if possible.  Every day we talked of everything, but especially of philosophy, interesting to both of us, though of course I could not pretend to keep pace with, his advanced thought.  We talked of the war, its causes, its probable results.

“Jones, it matters not how this war shall end; the Union will be preserved.”

I had never before heard him make just this declaration, though I had had intimations that such was his opinion.  I was glad to hear this speech.  It seemed to place the Doctor in favour of the North, and I felt relieved.

“Continue,” I begged.

“You know that I have said many times that the war is unnecessary; that all war is crime.”

“Yes.”

“Yet you know that I have maintained that slavery also is a crime and must be suppressed.”

“Yes, and I confess that you have seemed inconsistent.”

“I know you think the two positions contradictory; but both these views are sound and true.  War is a crime; slavery is a crime:  these are two truths and they cannot clash.  I will go farther and say that the North is right and the South is right.”

“Doctor, you are astonishing.  You will find it hard to convince me that both of these statements can be true.”

“Well, are you ready to listen?”

“Ready and willing.  But why is it that you say both sections are right?  Why do you not prove that they are both wrong?  You are speaking of crime, not virtue.”

“Of course they are both wrong in the acts of which we are speaking; but in regard to the principles upon which they seem to differ, they are right, and these are what I wish to speak of.”

“Well, I listen, Doctor.”

“Then first let me say that the world is ruled by a higher power than General McClellan or Mr. Jefferson Davis.”

“Agreed.”

“The world is ruled by a power that has far-reaching, even eternal, purpose, and the power is as great as the purpose; the power is infinite.”