“Yes, and your last visit was but a flying one.”

“And so I fear this one must be.  The Yanks are on the move, perhaps in this direction, and so are we.  It was one of their scouting parties that we ran into.  Their horses were fresher than ours and they separated when once in the shadow of the woods.  They won’t be slow, however, in leaving these parts, now they know we are here.  I’m going to take a little well-earned rest between my scoutings, and make love to my cousin.  Olympian humbugs! how handsome and haughty she has become!  I didn’t think the little minx had so much spirit.”

“She has suddenly taken the notion that, since she is growing up, she can snap her fingers at all the powers that be.”

“Growing up!  Why, uncle, she’s grown, and ready to hear me say, ‘With all my worldly goods I thee endow.’”

“But the trouble is, she doesn’t act as if very ready.”

“Oh, tush! she isn’t ready to throw herself at the head of any one.  That isn’t the way of Southern girls.  They want a wooer like a cyclone, who carries them by storm, marries them nolens volens, and then they’re happy.  But to be serious, uncle, in these stormy times Lou needs a protector.  You’ve escaped for a long time, but no one can tell now what a day will bring forth.  As my wife, Cousin Lou will command more respect.  I can take her within our lines, if necessary, or send her to a place of safety.  Ah, here comes my blooming aunt to prepare for supper.”

“Welcome to The Oaks,” she again repeated.  “Never more welcome, since you come as defender as well as guest.”

“Yes, aunt; think of a red-whiskered Yank paying his respects instead of me.”

“Don’t suggest such horrors, please.”

The gentlemen now joined Miss Lou in the parlor, while under Mrs. Baron’s supervision Zany, and Chunk, as gardener and man-of-all-work, with the aid of others soon set the two tables.  Then began a procession of negroes of all sizes bearing viands from the kitchen.

CHAPTER IV

AUN’ JINKEY’S POLICY

Allan Scoville, for such was the Union soldier’s name, fully realized that he was in the enemy’s country as he watched through a cranny in the cabin the shadowy forms of the Confederates file past.  Every bone in his body ached as if it had been broken, and more than once he moved his arms and legs to assure himself that they were whole.  “Breath was just knocked right out of me,” he muttered.  “I hope that’s the worst, for this place may soon become too hot for me.  My good horse is not only lost, but I may be lost also through him.  That queer-looking darky, Chunk, is my best hope now unless it is Miss Lou.  Droll, wasn’t it, that I should take her for an angel?  What queer thoughts a fellow has when within half an inch of the seamy side of life!  Hanged if I deserve such an awakening as I thought was blessing my eyes on the other side.  From the way I ache, the other side mayn’t be far off yet.  Like enough hours will pass before Chunk comes back, and I must try to propitiate his grandam.”