The impossible remedies suggested by Zany depressed Miss Lou all the more, for they increased her impression of the hopeless character of her position.  She felt that she was being swept forward by circumstances hard to combat, and how to resist or whether she could resist, were questions which pressed for an immediate answer.  She possessed a temperament which warned her imperatively against this hasty marriage, nor was there any hesitancy in her belief that it would blight her young life beyond remedy.  She was not one to moan or weep helplessly very long, however, and the first gust of passion and grief having passed, her mind began to clear and face the situation.  Looking out of her window, she saw that her cousin and his men were mounted and were about to ride away again.  Having waited till they had disappeared, she bathed her eyes and then descended to her uncle.

“Where has Lieutenant Whately gone?” she asked.

“Your cousin does not forget, even at such a time, that he is a soldier, and he is scouting the country far and wide.  Moreover, it is his intention to ask the Rev. Dr. Williams to be here to-morrow evening, and a few friends also.  I trust that by that time your perverse mood will pass away, and that you will unite with your kindred in their efforts in your behalf.”

“Is there no use of reasoning with you, uncle—­no use of pleading with you?”

Perkins stood in the door and knocked to announce his presence.

“Well, what is it?” asked Mr. Baron, nervously.

“Have you heard anything, sir?”

“Good heavens, no!  Heard what?”

“Well, sir, I dunno.  The field-hands are buzzing like bees, en I kyant get nothin’ out of ’em.”

“Well, Perkins, be watchful.  Do your best.  God only knows what’s coming.  You are well armed, I suppose?”

“You may reckon that, sir, en I’ll use ’em too, ef need be.  The hands are cute, mighty cute.  I kyant lay my finger on any one in particular, but they’re all a sort of bilin’ up with ’citement.”

“Best to stay among them and be stern and vigilant.”  When Perkins withdrew Mr. Baron said to his niece with strong emotion, “You see we are beset with danger, and you talk of reasoning and pleading against my best efforts for your safety.  There!  I’m too harassed, too overwhelmed with weighty subjects for consideration, to discuss this matter further.  I must give my attention to securing some papers of vital importance.”

Miss Lou departed with the feeling that dangers were thickening on every hand, and that she was only one of the causes for anxiety in her uncle’s mind.  She knew it would be useless to say anything to her aunt; and with a longing for a little sympathy and advice, she resolved on another visit to her old mammy, Aun’ Jinkey.

The Union soldier had a remote place in the background of her thoughts, and yet she felt that it was preposterous to hope for anything from him.