“There is no question in my mind,” she interrupted, angrily.  “Of course your allegiance is due to your State; so don’t let me hear any more about that.  Your father and brother never hesitated for a moment; and it would become you to be more ready to be guided by them.”

“Mother,” he said, with a pained look, “you forget that I am no longer a boy; and you would be the first to despise a man who could not form an opinion of his own.  All I ask is time to decide this question and—­another.”

“Pray what may that be? whether you will break with Miss Aller, I presume,” she retorted, sneeringly.

“No, mother,” he answered with dignity; “there is no question in my mind in regard to that.  Mary and I are pledged to each other, and nothing but death can part us.”

“And” (fiercely) “you would marry her, though she is ready to cheer on the men who are coming to invade our homes and involve us in the horrors of a servile insurrection!”

“I think it is hardly an hour since I heard you say the North would not fight; and since we have shown our determination in capturing Sumter, the next news would be that we were to be allowed to go in peace.  You may be right; I hope you are; but the fellows I know in the North are as full of pluck as ourselves, and I fear there is a long, fierce, bloody struggle before us.”  He stood before her with folded arms and grave, earnest face, his eyes meeting hers unflinchingly.  “And ere I rush into it I want to know that I am ready for death and for judgment.”

“No need to hesitate on that account,” she said, with a contemptuous smile; “you’ve always been a remarkably upright young man, and I’m sure are safe enough.  Besides, I haven’t a doubt that those who die in defense of their country go straight to heaven.”

He shook his head.  “I have been studying the Bible a good deal of late, and I know that that would never save my soul.”

“This is some of Horace’s and Elsie’s work; I wish they would attend to their own affairs and let you and others alone.”  And she rose and swept angrily from the room.

Walter did not appear at dinner, nor was he seen again for several days; but as such absences were not infrequent—­he having undertaken a sort of general oversight of both the Oaks and Ion—­this excited no alarm.

The first day in fact was spent at Ion; the next he rode over to the Oaks.  Mrs. Murray always made him very comfortable, and was delighted to have the opportunity; for the place was lonely for her in the absence of the family.  She was on the veranda as he rode up that morning attended by his servant.

“Ah, Mr. Walter,” she cried, “but I’m glad to see you!  You’re a sight for sair een, sir.  I hope ye’ve come to stay a bit.”

He had given the reins to his servant and dismounted.  “Yes,” he said, shaking hands with her, “for two or three days, Mrs. Murray.”

“That’s gude news, sir.  Will ye come in and take a bite or sup o’ something?”