“Yes,” she answered.

“Then what does it mean?” he reiterated, “Why are you here?”

“It means,” she returned, resenting the authority of his tone, “that when New England men are fighting and suffering and dying for their country, New England women have not learned how to leave them in their need, and sail away to happy homes.  That’s what it means, General Pepperell.”  As she spoke she saw Archdale behind the General; he had come up hastily as Pepperell stood there.

“Thought you were in a desperate hurry to be off,” said Pepperell dryly.

Elizabeth blushed.  She was convicted of changeableness, and she felt that she had been impatient.  “Forgive me,” she said.  “So I was.  But I did not realize then what I ought to do.”

“Um!  Where’s your father?”

“Just gone out in the dispatch boat to the fleet.”

“Does he know of this—­this enterprise?  Of course, though,” he corrected himself, “since he has not sailed.”

“Yes, of course,” she said.  “He stays with me.  But,” she added, “I suppose he expected me to ask you about it first.”

“And you knew I wouldn’t consent—­hey?”

The girl smiled without speaking.  “Mr. Royal is over-indulgent,” he went on decidedly.

“Perhaps,” answered Elizabeth, “He thinks that a little over-indulgence in being useful will not be bad for me.  You assured both Nancy and me that we were doing good service, real service, and that you should be sorry to lose us.”

“So you have done, and I shall be sorry to lose you, both personally and for the cause.  Nevertheless, I shall send you home at once.  Your father would never have consented to your staying if he had realized the danger.  I never know where the shells will burst.  I’ll stop work upon that schooner that you came in, and send you home again in it.  It’s fitting up now as a fire-ship, but it can be made fairly comfortable.  Your safety must be considered.”

“Why is my safety of any more importance than the soldiers’?  No, General, you have no right to send me away.  I refuse to go.  I am not speaking of military right, understand, but of moral right.”

Pepperell gave a low whistle.

“That’s it, is it?” he said.  “One thing, however; if you stay, you must submit to my orders.  You are under military law.”

“I surely will.  And now thank you,” she returned with a smile so winning that, although for her own sake Pepperell had been angry, he relented.

“Oh, of course, it’s very good in you, my dear,” he said.  “Don’t think I forget that.”

Capt.  Archdale had been standing a little apart looking out to sea during a conversation in which he had no place.  Now as he perceived the General about to move on, he came forward and spoke to Elizabeth.  “You know that you are running a great risk?” he said to her gravely.

“Yes,” she answered him, “or at least somewhat of a risk.  When did you come back from your reconnoitering party?”