“Heigho!  I suppose Major Denham is thinking of me and pining in prison, and I haven’t thought so very much about him.  That shows what kind of an ‘angel’ I am.  Now if there were only a chance of getting him out by tricking his jailers and pulling the wool over the eyes of some pompous old official, I’d take as great a risk as any Southern—­’Reverence,’ indeed!  Captain Lane must be cured of his reverence, whatever becomes of his wound.”

CHAPTER XXXIX.

The cure of captain Lane.

A daintier bouquet than usual was placed on Lane’s table next morning, and the piece of chicken sent to his breakfast was broiled to the nicest turn of brown.  The old colored cook was friendly to the “Linkum ossifer,” and soon discovered that “Missy S’wanee” was not averse to a little extra painstaking.

After the surgeon had made his morning rounds the young girl visited the men also.  She found them doing well, and left them doing better; for, in rallying the wounded, good cheer and hopefulness can scarcely be over-estimated.

As she was returning the surgeon met her, and said, “Captain Lane is already better for your first visit and impatient for another.”

“Then he’s both patient and impatient.  A very contradictory and improper condition to remain in.  I can read to him at once, after I have seen if mamma wishes anything.”

“Please do; and with your permission I’ll take a little walk, for I, too, am restless from inaction.”

“I don’t think it’s nice for you to read alone with that officer,” said Roberta.

“I see no impropriety at all,” cried Suwanee.  “Yours and mamma’s rooms are but a few yards away, and you can listen to all we say if you wish.  If your colonel was sick and wounded at the North wouldn’t you like some woman to cheer him up?”

“No, not if she were as pretty as you are,” replied Roberta, laughing.

“Nonsense,” said Suwanee, flushing.  “For all I know this captain is married and at the head of a large family.

“But I’m going to find out,” she assured herself.  “I shall investigate this new species of genus homo who imagines me to be a saint.  He wasn’t long in proving that Northern men were not what I supposed.  Now I shall give him the harder task of proving me to be an angel;” and she walked demurely in, leaving the door open for any espionage that her mother and sister might deem proper.

Lane’s face lighted up the moment he saw her, and he said:  “You have robbed this day of its weariness already.  I’ve had agreeable anticipations thus far, and I’m sure you will again leave pleasant memories.”

“Then you are better?”

“Yes; thanks to you.”

“You are given to compliments, as our Southern men are.”

“I should be glad to equal them at anything in your estimation.  But come, such honest enemies as we are should be as sincere as friends.  I have meant every word I have said to you.  You are harboring me, an entire stranger, who presented my credentials at first very rudely.  Now you can ask me any questions you choose.  You have proved yourself to be such a genuine lady that I should be glad to have you think that I am a gentleman by birth and breeding.”