“No; and you must not think that there are not hundreds of better and braver men than myself in our army, or that I am a very wonderful person.  I have got the wish of my heart—­it has been granted to me more fully than I ever looked to see it; but how often do we see in the hour of triumph that there is something bitter in the cup, something we had not looked to find there.  Three months ago I was burning to sail for Quebec, and now—­”

He paused for a moment, and she looked full at him.

“Surely you have not changed.  You want to go; your heart is set upon it!”

“Yes,” he answered gravely:  “my wish and purpose have never wavered; but now my heart is divided.  Once it beat only for my country, and the clash of arms was music in my ears; now it has found a rival elsewhere.  If I go to Quebec, I must leave you behind, my Kate!”

Suddenly into her bright eyes there sprang the smart of tears.  She clasped the hands that held hers and pressed them closely.

“It will not be for long,” she said; “you will return covered with glory and renown!”

“It may be so, it may be so; yet who can tell?  Think how many gallant soldiers have been left behind upon that great continent:  Braddock, Howe—­oh, I could name many others less known to fame, perhaps, but gallant soldiers all.  We go out with our lives in our hand, and so many never return!”

The tears began to fall slowly in sparkling drops.  She could not release her hands to wipe them away.

“Do not speak so, James; it is not like you!  Why do you try to break my heart?”

“Would you care so much, so much, were I to find a soldier’s grave?”

A quick sob was her reply.  She turned her head away.

“Kate, do you love me?”

“I think you know that I do, James.”

“I have begun to hope, and yet I have scarcely dared.  You so full of life and strength and beauty, and I such a broken crock!”

“A hero, you mean!” she answered, with flashing eyes—­“a soldier and a hero; tenfold more a hero in that you overcome pain and weakness, sickness and suffering, in the discharge of your duty, and do things that others would declare impossible!  Oh yes, I have heard of you; Lieutenant Dautray has told me.  I know how you have done the impossible again and yet again.  James, you will do this once again.  You will storm that great fortress which men call impregnable—­you will storm it and you will vanquish it; and you will come home crowned with glory and honour!  And I shall be here waiting for you; I shall watch and wait till you come.  It is written in the book of fate that your name is to go down to posterity as the hero of Quebec.  I am sure of it—­oh, I am sure!  Do not say anything to damp my hope, for I will not believe you!”