“I reckon the restraining should have been practiced long ago,” replied her brother irritably.

“You have practiced nothing but restraint in the case of Louise, and what is the result?”

The girl looked at them wonderingly in their abject helplessness, and then said, “If you are taking it for granted that I am spoiled beyond remedy, I can’t help it.  I would have made no trouble if you had not set about making me trouble without end.  As soon as I can I’ll go away and take care of myself.”

“Of course, Louise,” said Mrs. Whately, “we’re all wrong, you as well as the rest of us.  We must try to get this snarl untangled and begin right.  The idea of your going away!”

“I supposed that was the only idea,” said Mrs. Baron, entering.  “I, at least, have tried to remedy our niece’s perverseness by getting her things ready.”

Mrs. Whately wrung her hands in something like despair, while Miss Lou burst into a peal of half-nervous laughter at the expression on her uncle’s face.  “Well,” she said, “there’ll be no more trouble as far as I am concerned unless it’s of your own making.  If I am protected in my home, I shall stay; if not, I shall leave it.  One learns fast in such ordeals as I have passed through.  Aunt Sarah, your son threatened to shoot me for doing what you permitted.  Suppose I had told Major Brockton that?  I made allowances for Madison’s passion, but unless he learns to control himself he will have to vent his passion on some one else.”

“She has just lost her senses,” gasped Mrs. Baron.

“No, we have acted as if we had lost ours,” said Mrs. Whately rising with dignity.  “I can’t reason with either of you any more, for you have made up your minds that a spade is not a spade.  I shall tell my niece that hereafter I shall treat her kindly and rationally, and then go home,” and she left husband and wife confronting each other.

“What are you going to do?” asked the wife.

“Do!” exploded the husband in desperation, “why, hump myself and restore everything in a twinkling as it was five years ago.  What else can I do?”

Even Mrs. Baron was speechless at this admission that events had now passed far beyond his control.

CHAPTER XX

SCOVILLE’S HOPE

Mrs. Whately found her niece on the veranda watching the proceedings without, and she lost no time in expressing her purpose.  To her surprise, a pair of arms were around her neck instantly, and a kiss was pressed upon her lips.

“That’s my answer,” said Miss Lou, who was as ready to forgive and forget as a child.  “If you say a word about going home I shall be unhappy.  See, auntie, the Yankees are retreating again as our men advance.”

The morning sun was now shining brightly and the day growing very warm.  Before them was the scene of military operations.  At present, it afforded a deeply exciting spectacle, yet oppressed with no sense of personal danger.  Scoville’s little force was slowly retiring along the ridge which the Confederates were approaching, thus removing the theatre of actual conflict from the vicinity of the dwelling.