“Do you really think that Tom is with the Yankees?” asked Jack Brinsmade.

“Tom’s a fool,” said George, with emphasis, “but he isn’t a coward.  He’d just as soon tell Pa to-morrow that he was drilling if the Yankee leaders wished it known.”

“Virginia will never speak to him again,” said Eugenie, in an awed voice.

“Pooh!” said Puss, “Tom never had a chance with Jinny.  Did he, George?  Clarence is in high favor now.  Did you ever know any one to change so, since this military business has begun?  He acts like a colonel.  I hear that they are thinking of making him captain of a company of dragoons.”

“They are,” George answered.  “And that is the company I intend to join.”

“Well,” began Puss, with her usual recklessness, “it’s a good thing for Clarence that all this is happening.  I know somebody else—­”

Poor Stephen in the hall knew not whether to stay or fly.  An accident decided the question.  Emily Russell came down the stairs at that instant and spoke to him.  As the two entered the parlor, there was a hush pregnant with many things unsaid.  Puss’s face was scarlet, but her hand was cold as she held it out to him.  For the first time in that house he felt like an intruder.  Jack Brinsmade bowed with great ceremony, and took his departure.  There was scarcely a distant cordiality in the greeting of the other young men.  And Puss, whose tongue was loosed again, talked rapidly of entertainments to which Stephen either had not been invited, or from which he had stayed away.  The rest of the company were almost moodily silent.

Profoundly depressed, Stephen sat straight in the velvet chair, awaiting a seasonable time to bring his visit to a close.

This was to be the last, then, of his intercourse with a warmhearted and lovable people.  This was to be the end of his friendship with this impetuous and generous girl who had done so much to brighten his life since he had come to St:  Louis.  Henceforth this house would be shut to him, and all others save Mr. Brinsmade’s.

Presently, in one of the intervals of Miss Russell’s feverish talk, he rose to go.  Dusk was gathering, and a deep and ominous silence penetrated like the shadows into the tall room.  No words came to him.  Impulsively, almost tearfully, Puss put her hand in his.  Then she pressed it unexpectedly, so that he had to gulp down a lump that was in his throat.  Just then a loud cry was heard from without, the men jumped from their chairs, and something heavy dropped on the carpet.

Some ran to the window, others to the door.  Directly across the street was the house of Mr. Harmsworth, a noted Union man.  One of the third story windows was open, and out of it was pouring a mass of gray wood smoke.  George Catherwood was the first to speak.

“I hope it will burn down,” he cried.

Stephen picked up the object on the floor, which had dropped from his pocket, and handed it to him.