“You have only to express your wishes, Miss Baron,” was the hearty reply.

“Thank you.  Is there anything more that I can do for you?  Is there any one who specially needs—­”

As she was glancing round her eyes fell upon Yarry.  His face was so drawn and haggard with pain that, from an impulse of pity, she went directly to him and said gently, “I fear, sir, you are suffering very much.”

“I be—­oh, hang—­there, there, miss, I’ll stand it a little longer.  I could stand hell-fire for your sake.  I didn’t mean to say that.  Guess I better keep still.”

His face, now seen attentively, revealed more to her in tuition than his words.  She stooped by his side and said piteously, “Oh, you are suffering—­I feel that you are suffering terribly.  I must do something to relieve you.”

“Oh, now, miss,” he replied, forcing a ghastly sort of smile, “I’m all right, I be—­well, I am.  Bless your kind heart!  Don’t worry about me.  I’ll smoke my pipe and go to sleep pretty soon.  You look tired yourself, little one.  I will feel better if you won’t worry about me, I be—­well, I will.  I’m just like the other fellows, you know.”

“I reckon you are a brave, good-hearted man, to think of others when I know you are suffering so much.  I am having very strong soup made for one of our men, and I’ll bring you some by and by,” and with a lingering, troubled look into his rugged face, she departed.

His eyes followed her until she disappeared.

“Yarry, you are rewarded,” Captain Hanfield remarked.

“—­my reward.  Fellers, she’s just wearin’ herself out for us.  I don’t want no reward for anything I can do for her.  Well, I’m goin’ to shut up now.  The only thing I can do for her is to hold my tongue till it can’t wag.  I told her I’d smoke my pipe and go to sleep.  I be—­well, I will.  Light it for me, Tom.  When she comes, like enough I’ll be asleep, a sort of dead sleep, yer know.  Just let her think I’m dozin’ after my pipe.  Don’t let her try to wake me and worry about me.”

“All shall be as you wish, Yarry,” said Captain Hanfield.  “I tell you, men, few women ever received such a tribute as Yarry is paying this Southern girl.  For one, I’m proud of him.”

CHAPTER XXVI

A BACKGROUND OF EGOTISM

When Miss Lou returned to the house supper was ready and she sat down weary, saddened and preoccupied by the scenes she had witnessed.

“You are going beyond your strength,” said Captain Maynard, who had watched her coming back from the Federal wounded.  “Cannot you be content to confine your ministrations to your friends only?”

“For once I can agree with Captain Maynard,” Whately added stiffly.  “I don’t think it’s right for you, cousin, to be going among those rough, brutal fellows.”

Instantly her anger flamed at the injustice of the remark and she answered hotly, “I’ve found no rough, brutal fellows among the Yankees.”