MRS. HAVERILL.  We leave for the North before noon, but every hour seems a month.  If my husband should learn what happened in my room to-night, he would kill that man.  What encouragement could I have given him?  Innocence is never on its guard—­but, [Drawing up.] the last I remember before I fell unconscious, he was crouching before me like a whipped cur! [Starts as she looks out of the window.] There is Mr. Thornton now—­Ah! [Angrily.] No,—­I must control my own indignation.  I must keep him and Colonel Haverill from meeting before we leave Charleston.  Edward Thornton would shoot my husband down without remorse.  But poor Frank!  I must not forget him, in my own trouble.  I have but little time left to care for his welfare.

Re-enter KERCHIVAL.

KERCHIVAL.  You said I could do you a favour, Mrs. Haverill?

MRS. HAVERILL.  Yes, I wanted to speak with you about General Haverill’s son, Frank.  I should like you to carry a message to Charleston for me, as soon as it is light.  It is a sad errand.  You know too well the great misfortune that has fallen upon my husband in New York.

KERCHIVAL.  His only son has brought disgrace upon his family name, and tarnished the reputation of a proud soldier.  Colonel Haverill’s fellow-officers sympathize with him most deeply.

MRS. HAVERILL.  And poor young Frank!  I could hardly have loved the boy more if he had been my own son.  If he had not himself confessed the crime against the bank, I could not have believed him guilty.  He has escaped from arrest.  He is in the city of Charleston.  I am the only one in all the world he could turn to.  He was only a lad of fourteen when his father and I were married, six years ago; and the boy has loved me from the first.  His father is stern and bitter now in his humiliation.  This note from Frank was handed to me while the company were here last evening.  I want you to find him and arrange for me to meet him, if you can do it with safety.  I shall give you a letter for him.

KERCHIVAL.  I’ll get ready at once; and I will do all I can for the boy. [Turning.

MRS. HAVERILL.  And—­Mr. West!  Gertrude and Madeline have told me that—­that—­I was under obligations to you last evening.

KERCHIVAL.  Don’t mention it.  I merely ran for them, and I—­I’m very glad you didn’t choke—­before they reached you.  I trust you are quite well now?

MRS. HAVERILL.  I am entirely recovered, thank you.  And I will ask another favour of you, for we are old friends.  I desire very much that General Haverill should not know that—­that any accident occurred to me to-night—­or that my health has not been perfect.

KERCHIVAL.  Certainly, madam!

MRS. HAVERILL.  It would render him anxious without cause.

KERCHIVAL [Aside.] It looks as if Robert was right; she doesn’t want the two men to meet.

Enter HAVERILL. A white silk handkerchief is in his hand.