“Well, my dear, perhaps this is one of the minor sacrifices that we must make for the cause.  Until Merwyn can explain for himself, he has no right to expect from us more than politeness.  While I would not take from him a loan for my individual work, I can induce him to give much material help.  In aiding Strahan, and in other ways, he has done a great deal, and he is willing to do more.  The prospects are that everything will be needed, and I do not feel like alienating one dollar or one bit of influence.  According to your theory his course is due to infirmity rather than to fault, and so he should be tolerated, since he is doing the best he can.  Politeness to him will not compromise either our principles or ourselves.”

“Well, papa, I will do my best; but if he had a particle of my intuition he would know how I feel.  Indeed, I believe he does know in some degree, and it seems to me that, if I were a man, I couldn’t face a woman while she entertained such an opinion.”

“Perhaps the knowledge that you are wrong enables him to face you.”

“If that were true he wouldn’t be twenty-four hours in proving it.”

“Well,” said her father, with a grim laugh, and in a low voice, “he may soon have a chance to show his mettle without going to the front.  Marian, I wish you would join your mother.  The city is fairly trembling with suppressed disloyalty.  If Lee marches northward I shall fear an explosion at any time.”

“Leave the city!” said the young girl, hotly.  “That would prove that I possess the same traits that repel me so strongly in Mr. Merwyn.  No, I shall not leave your side this summer, unless you compel me to almost by force.  Have we not recently heard of two Southern girls who cheered on their friends in battle with bullets flying around them?  After witnessing that scene, I should make a pitiable figure in Captain Lane’s eyes should I seek safety in flight at the mere thought of danger.  I should die with shame.”

“It is well Captain Lane does not hear you, or the surgeon would have fever to contend with, as well as wounds.”

“O dear!” cried the girl.  “I wish we could hear from him.”

Mr. Vosburgh had nearly reached the conclusion that if the captain survived the vicissitudes of the war he would not plead a second time in vain.

A few evenings later Merwyn called.  Mr. Vosburgh was out, and others were in the drawing-room.  Marian did not have much to say to him, but treated him with her old, distant politeness.  He felt her manner, and saw the gulf that lay between them, but no one unacquainted with the past would have recognized any lack of courtesy on her part.

Among the exciting topics broached was the possibility of a counter-revolution at the North.  Merwyn noticed that Marian was reticent in regard to her father and his opinions, but he was startled to hear her say that she would not be surprised if violent outbreaks of disloyalty took place any hour, and he recognized her courage in remaining in the city.  One of the callers, an officer in the Seventh Regiment, also spoke of the possibility of all the militia being ordered away to aid in repelling invasion.