HAVERILL. [Quietly.] I beg to repeat the wish I have already expressed. [KERCHIVAL walks to him, and speaks apart, almost under his breath, but very earnest in tone.

KERCHIVAL.  I have had no opportunity, yet, to explain certain matters, as you requested me to do yesterday; but whatever there may be between us, you are now interfering with my duty and my privilege as a soldier; and it is my right to be at the head of my regiment.

HAVERILL. [Quietly.] It is my positive order that you do not reassume your command.

KERCHIVAL.  General Haverill, I protest against this—­

HAVERILL. [Quietly.] You are under arrest, sir.

KERCHIVAL.  Arrest!

GERTRUDE.  Ah! [KERCHIVAL unclasps his belt and offers his sword to
HAVERILL.

HAVERILL. [Quietly.] Keep your sword; I have no desire to humiliate you; but hold yourself subject to further orders from me. [KERCHIVAL goes up veranda.

KERCHIVAL.  My regiment at the front!—­and I under arrest! [Exit.

HAVERILL.  Gertrude!  If your heart refuses to be silent—­if you feel that you must confess your love to that man—­first tell him what I have said to you, and refer him to me for an explanation. [Exit into road.

GERTRUDE.  What can he mean?  He would save me from something worse than death, he said.  “His life—­it belongs to me!” What can he mean?  Kerchival told me that he loved me—­it seems many years since that morning in Charleston—­and when we met again, yesterday, he said that he had never ceased to love me.  I will not believe that he has told me a falsehood.  I have given him my love, my whole soul and my faith. [Drawing up to her full height.] My perfect faith!

JENNY runs in from road, and up the slope.  She looks down the hill, then enters.

JENNY.  A flag of truce, Gertrude.  And a party of Confederate soldiers, with an escort, coming up the hill.  They are carrying someone; he is wounded.

Enter up the slope, a LIEUTENANT OF INFANTRY with an escort of Union soldiers, their arms at right shoulder, and a party of Confederate soldiers bearing a rustic stretcher. LIEUTENANT FRANK BEDLOE lies on the stretcher. MAJOR HARDWICK, a Confederate Surgeon, walks at his side. MADELINE appears at veranda, watching them. GERTRUDE stands with her back to audience.  The LIEUTENANT gives orders in a low tone, and the front escort moves to right, in road.  The Confederate bearers and the SURGEON pass through the gate.  The rear escort moves to left, in road, under LIEUTENANT’S orders.  The bearers halt, front; on a sign from the SURGEON, they leave the stretcher on the ground, stepping back.

MAJOR HARDWICK.  Is General Haverill here?

GERTRUDE.  Yes; what can we do, sir?

MADELINE.  The General is just about mounting with his staff, to ride away.  Shall I go for him, sir?