thence to ground and about stage, with the various curvettings of a spirited horse.  Chorus of soldiers without, with the band.  The music becomes more and more distant. JENNY gradually stops as the music is dying away, and stands, listening.  As it dies entirely away, she suddenly starts to an enthusiastic attitude.] Ah!  If I were only a man!  The enemy!  On Third Battalion, left, front, into line, march!  Draw sabres!  Charge! [Imitates Trumpet Signal No. 44. As she finishes, she rises to her full height, with both arms raised, and trembling with enthusiasm.] Ah! [She suddenly drops her arms and changes to an attitude and expression of disappointment—­pouting.] And the first time Old Margery took me to papa, in her arms, she had to tell him I was a girl.  Papa was as much disgusted as I was.  But he’d never admit it; he says I’m as good a soldier as any of ’em—­just as I am.

Enter BARKET on veranda, his arm in a sling.

BARKET. [On veranda] Miss Jenny!

JENNY.  Barket!  The regiment has marched away to the front, and we girls are left here, with just you and a corporal’s guard to look after us.

BARKET.  I’ve been watching the byes mesilf. [Coming down.] If a little milithary sugar-plum like you, Miss Jenny, objects to not goin’ wid’ ’em, what do you think of an ould piece of hard tack like me?  I can’t join the regiment till I’ve taken you and Miss Madeline back to Winchester, by your father’s orders.  But it isn’t the first time I’ve escorted you, Miss Jenny.  Many a time, when you was a baby, on the Plains, I commanded a special guard to accompany ye’s from one fort to anither, and we gave the command in a whisper, so as not to wake ye’s up.

JENNY.  I told you to tell papa that I’d let him know when Madeline and I were ready to go.

BARKET.  I tould him that I’d as soon move a train of army mules.

JENNY.  I suppose we must start for home again to-day?

BARKET.  Yes, Miss Jenny, in charge of an ould Sargeant wid his arm in a sling and a couple of convalescent throopers.  This department of the United States Army will move to the rear in half an hour.

JENNY.  Madeline and I only came yesterday morning.

BARKET.  Whin your father got ye’s a pass to the front, we all thought the fightin’ in the Shenandoey Valley was over.  It looks now as if it was just beginning.  This is no place for women, now.  Miss Gertrude Ellingham ought to go wid us, but she won’t.

JENNY.  Barket!  Captain Heartsease left the regiment yesterday, and he hasn’t rejoined it; he isn’t with them, now, at the head of his company.  Where is he?

BARKET.  I can’t say where he is, Miss Jenny. [Aside.] Lyin’ unburied in the woods, where he was shot, I’m afraid.

JENNY.  When Captain Heartsease does rejoin the regiment, Barket, please say to him for me, that—­that I—­I may have some orders for him, when we next meet. [Exit on veranda.