EDITH.  Father! [Laying her hand gently on his shoulder.] You shall see Frank’s face again.  His little son is lying asleep upstairs; and when he wakes up, Frank’s own eyes will look into yours.  I have just received his last message.  I will read it to you. [Note-book.  Reads.] “Tell our little son how his father died, not how he lived.  And tell her who filled my own mother’s place so lovingly.” [She looks at MRS. HAVERILL, moves to her and hides her face in her bosom.] My mother!

MRS. HAVERILL.  Edith—­my child!  Frank loved us both.

EDITH. [Reading.] “Father’s portrait of her, which she gave to me in
Charleston—­[HAVERILL starts.]—­helped me to be a better man.”

HAVERILL. [Rising to his feet.] Constance!

EDITH. [Reading.] “It was taken from me in Richmond, and it is in the possession of Captain Edward Thornton.”

HAVERILL.  One moment!  Stop!  Let me think! [EDITH looks at him; retires up stage.] Thornton was a prisoner—­and to Kerchival West.  A despatch had been found upon him—­he was searched! [He moves to her and takes both her hands in his own, bowing his head over them.] My head is bowed in shame.

MRS. HAVERILL.  Speak to me, John, as you used to speak!  Tell me you still love me!

HAVERILL.  The—­the words will come—­but they are—­choking me—­now. [Presses her hand to his lips.

MRS. HAVERILL.  We will think no more of the past, except of what was bright in it.  Frank’s memory, and our own love, will be with us always.

Enter BUCKTHORN, followed by HEARTSEASE.

BUCKTHORN.  Haverill!  You are back from the war, too.  It begins to look like peace in earnest.

HAVERILL.  Yes.  Peace and home. [Shaking hands with him. MRS. HAVERILL joins EDITH.

Enter BARKET.

BARKET.  Gineral! [BUCKTHORN moves to him. HAVERILL joins MRS. HAVERILL and EDITH.  BARKET speaks apart, twisting one side of his face.] I kissed her!

BUCKTHORN.  Have you sent for a surgeon?

BARKET.  I felt as if the inimy had surprised us agin, and Sheridan was sixty miles away.

HAVERILL.  This is old Sergeant Barket. [BARKET salutes.] You were the last man of us all that saw Colonel West.

BARKET.  Just afther the battle of Sayder Creek began—­whin Colonel Wist rode to the front to mate his retreating rigiment—­the byes formed in line, at sight of him, to raysist the victorious inimy.  It was just at the brow of a hill—­about there, sur—­[Pointing with his cane.] and—­here! [He takes tray from table and sets it on the carpet.  Lays the slices of bread in a row.] That be the rigiment. [All interested. MADELINE and ELLINGHAM enter, and look on. BARKET arranges the two cups and saucers in a row.] That be the inimy’s batthery, sur. [Enter MARGERY. She goes to the table; then looks around, sharply, at BARKET.