“This, Euan, is all the general news I have to offer, save that the army expects its marching orders at any moment now.

“Euan, I am troubled in my heart.  First, I must acquaint you that Lana Helmer and I have become friends.  The night you left I was sitting in my room, thinking; and Lana came in and drew my head on her shoulder.  We said nothing to each other all that night, but slept together in my room.  And since then we have come to know each other very well in the way women understand each other.  I love her dearly.

“Euan, she will not admit it, but she is mad about Lieutenant Boyd—­ and it is as though she had never before loved and knows not how to conduct.  Which is strange, as she has been so courted and is deeply versed in experience, and has lived more free of restraint than most women I ever heard of.  Yet, it has taken her like a pernicious fever; and I do neither like nor trust that man, for all his good looks, and his wit and manners, and the exceedingly great courage and military sagacity which none denies him.

“Yesterday Lana came to my little room in our Bush House, where I sleep on a bed of balsam, and we sat there, the others being out, and she told me about Clarissa, and wept in the telling.  What folly will not a woman commit for love!  And Sir John riding the wilderness with his murdering crew!  May the Lord protect and aid all women from such birds o’ passage and of prey!  And I thought I had seen the pin-feathers of some such plumage on this man Boyd.  But he may moult to a prettier colour.  I hope so—­ but in my heart I dare not believe it.  For he is of that tribe of men who would have their will of every pretty petticoat they notice.  Some are less unscrupulous than others, that is the only difference.  And he seems still to harbour a few scruples, judging from what I see of him and her, and what I know of her.

“Yet, if a man bear not his good intention plainly written on his face, and yet protests he dies unless you love him, what scruples he may entertain will wither to ashes in the fiercer flame.  And how after all does he really differ from the others?

“Euan, I am sick of dread and worry, what with you out in the West with your painted scouts, and Mr. Boyd telling me that he has his doubts concerning the reliability of one o’ them!  And what with Lana so white and unhappy, and coming into my bed to cry against my breast at night——­”

Here the letter ended abruptly, and underneath in hurried writing: 

“Major Parr calls to say that an Oneida runner is ordered to try to find you with despatches from headquarters.  I had expected to send this letter by some one in your own regiment when it marched.  But now I shall intrust it to the runner.

“I know not how to close my letter—­ how to say farewell—­ how to let you know how truly my heart is yours.  And becomes more so every hour.  Nor can you understand how humbly I thank God for you—­ that you are what you are—­ and not like Sir John and—­ other men.