ELLINGHAM.  That the cause must have been a serious one.

KERCHIVAL.  Yes!  So I thought.  It must have been a mouse.

ELLINGHAM.  Mr. Edward Thornton has occupied the next room to that of
Mrs. Haverill to-night.

KERCHIVAL. [Crosses quickly.] What do you mean?

ELLINGHAM.  During the past month or more he has been pressing, not to say insolent, in his attentions to Mrs. Haverill.

KERCHIVAL.  I’ve noticed that myself.

ELLINGHAM.  And he is an utterly unscrupulous man; it is no fault of mine that he was asked to be a guest at this house to-night.  He came to Charleston, some years ago, from the North, but if there are any vices and passions peculiarly strong in the South, he has carried them all to the extreme.  In one of the many scandals connected with Edward Thornton’s name, it was more than whispered that he entered a lady’s room unexpectedly at night.  But, as he killed the lady’s husband in a duel a few days afterwards, the scandal dropped.

KERCHIVAL.  Of course; the gentleman received ample satisfaction as an outraged husband, and Mr. Thornton apologized, I suppose, to his widow.

ELLINGHAM.  He has repeated the adventure.

KERCHIVAL.  Do—­you—­think—­that?

ELLINGHAM.  I was smoking on the lawn, and glanced up at the window; my eyes may have deceived me, and I must move cautiously in the matter; but it couldn’t have been imagination; the shadow of Edward Thornton’s face and head appeared upon the curtain.

KERCHIVAL.  Whew!  The devil!

ELLINGHAM.  Just at that moment I, too, heard the stifled scream.

Enter EDWARD THORNTON.

THORNTON.  Gentlemen!

ELLINGHAM.  Your name was just on my tongue, Mr. Thornton.

THORNTON.  I thought I heard it, but you are welcome to it.  Miss Gertrude has asked me to ride over to Mrs. Pinckney’s with her, to learn if there is any further news from the batteries.  I am very glad the time to attack Fort Sumter has come at last!

ELLINGHAM.  I do not share your pleasure.

THORNTON.  You are a Southern gentleman.

ELLINGHAM.  And you are a Northern “gentleman.”

THORNTON.  A Southerner by choice; I shall join the cause.

ELLINGHAM.  We native Southerners will defend our own rights, sir; you may leave them in our keeping.  It is my wish, Mr. Thornton, that you do not accompany my sister.

THORNTON.  Indeed!

ELLINGHAM.  Her groom, alone, will be sufficient.

THORNTON.  As you please, sir.  Kindly offer my excuses to Miss Gertrude.  You and I can chat over the subject later in the day, when we are alone. [Moving up stage.

ELLINGHAM.  By all means, and another subject, also, perhaps.

THORNTON.  I shall be entirely at your service.

[Exit and down on veranda.

ELLINGHAM.  Kerchival, I shall learn the whole truth, if possible, to-day.  If it is what I suspect—­what I almost know—­I will settle with him myself.  He has insulted our Colonel’s wife and outraged the hospitality of my friends. [Walking right.