KERCHIVAL.  I’ll meet you there, with a friend, at once.

THORNTON.  It will be light enough to see the sights of our weapons in about one hour. [They bow to each other, and THORNTON goes out.

KERCHIVAL.  I’ve got ahead of Bob.

GERTRUDE. [Without.] Whoa!  Jack!  Old boy!  Steady, now—­that’s a good fellow.

KERCHIVAL.  She has returned.  I must know whether Gertrude Ellingham loves me—­before Thornton and I meet.  He is a good shot.

GERTRUDE. [Without, calling.] O-h!  Pete!  You may take Jack to the stable.  Ha—­ha—­ha! [Appears at window.  To KERCHIVAL.] Old Pete, on the bay horse, has been doing his best to keep up with us; but Jack and I have led him such a race!  Ha—­ha—­ha—­ha! [Disappearing beyond the window.

KERCHIVAL.  Does she love me?

GERTRUDE. [Entering and coming down.] I have the very latest news from the headquarters of the Confederate Army in South Carolina.  At twenty minutes after three this morning General Beauregard sent this message to Major Anderson in Fort Sumter:  “I shall open fire in one hour!” The time is up!—­and he will keep his word! [Turning and looking out of the window. KERCHIVAL moves across to her.

KERCHIVAL.  Gertrude!  I must speak to you; we may never meet again; but I must know the truth.  I love you. [Seizing her hand.] Do you love me? [She looks around at him as if about to speak; hesitates.] Answer me! [She looks down with a coquettish smile, tapping her skirt with her riding whip.] Well? [A distant report of a cannon, and low rumbling reverberations over the harbour. GERTRUDE turns suddenly, looking out. KERCHIVAL draws up, also looking off.

GERTRUDE.  A low—­bright—­line of fire—­in the sky!  It is a shell. [A second’s pause; she starts slightly.] It has burst upon the fort. [Looks over her shoulder at KERCHIVAL, drawing up to her full height.] Now!—­do you believe that we Southerners are in deadly earnest?

KERCHIVAL.  We Northerners are in deadly earnest, too.  I have received my answer.  We are—­enemies! [They look at each other for a moment. [Exit KERCHIVAL.

GERTRUDE.  Kerchival! [Moving quickly half across stage, looking after him eagerly; stops.] Enemies! [She drops into chair, sobbing bitterly.  Another distant report, and low, long reverberations as the curtain descends.

CURTAIN.

ACT II.