KERCHIVAL. [Walking left.] I think it ought to be my quarrel.  I’m sure I’m mixed up in it enough.

MADELINE. [Without, calling.] Kerchival!

ELLINGHAM.  Madeline. [Aside, starting, KERCHIVAL looks across at him sharply.

KERCHIVAL. [Aside.] I distinctly saw Bob give a start when he heard Madeline.  Now, what can there be about my sister’s voice to make a man jump like that?

GERTRUDE. [Without.] Brother Robert!

KERCHIVAL.  Gertrude! [Aside, starting, ELLINGHAM looks at him sharply.] How the tones of a woman’s voice thrill through a man’s soul!

Enter MADELINE.

MADELINE.  Oh, Kerchival—­here you are.

Enter GERTRUDE from apartment, in a riding habit, with whip, etc.

GERTRUDE.  Robert, dear! [Coming down to ROBERT, they converse in dumb show.

MADELINE.  Where are your field-glasses?  I’ve been rummaging all through your clothes, and swords, and sashes, and things.  I’ve turned everything in your room upside down.

KERCHIVAL.  Have you?

MADELINE.  I can’t find your glasses anywhere.  I want to look at the forts.  Another rocket went up just now. [Runs and stands on piazza, looking off right.

KERCHIVAL.  A sister has all the privileges of a wife to upset a man’s things, without her legal obligation to put them straight again. [Glances at GERTRUDE.] I wish Bob’s sister had the same privileges in my room that my own has.

GERTRUDE.  Mr. Thornton isn’t going with me, you say?

ELLINGHAM.  He requested me to offer you his apologies.

KERCHIVAL.  May I accompany you? [ELLINGHAM turns to window.

GERTRUDE.  My groom, old Pete, will be with me, of course; there’s no particular need of anyone else.  But you may go along, if you like.  I’ve got my hands full of sugar-plums for Jack.  Dear old Jack—­he always has his share when we have company.  I’m going over to Mrs. Pinckney’s to see if she’s had any more news from General Beauregard; her son is on the General’s staff.

MADELINE. [Looking off right.] There’s another rocket from Fort Johnson; and it is answered from Fort Moultrie.  Ah! [Angrily.] General Beauregard is a bad, wicked man! [Coming down.

GERTRUDE.  Oh!  Madeline!  You are a bad, wicked Northern girl to say such a thing.

MADELINE.  I am a Northern girl.

GERTRUDE.  And I am a Southern girl. [They face each other.

KERCHIVAL.  The war has begun. [Dropping into chair.

ELLINGHAM has turned from window; he strolls across, watching the girls.

GERTRUDE.  General Beauregard is a patriot.

MADELINE.  He is a Rebel.

GERTRUDE.  So am I.

MADELINE.  Gertrude!—­You—­you—­

GERTRUDE.  Madeline!—­You—­