nd immediately?"

"Excuse me one moment, and I will ask," the mother said, leaving the
room.

She returned shortly to say that Wilkins had consented that Dr. Barton
should be summoned; accepted Mrs. Travilla's kind offer with thanks.

Elsie at once sent her servant and carriage upon the errand, and
meanwhile engaged in conversation with her hostess. It was principally
an account by the latter of her son's illness.

His sufferings, she said, had been intense: at first borne with fierce
impatience and muttered imprecations upon the hand that had inflicted
the wound. He had likened himself to a caged tiger, so unbearable was
the confinement to him,--almost more so than the torturing pain--but of
late a great change had come over him; he had grown quiet and
submissive, and the bitter hate seemed to have died out of his heart.

"As it has out of mine, I hope," continued the mother, the big tears
rolling down her cheeks.

"I am now sensible that the feelings I have indulged against some
persons--the Lelands principally--were most unchristian, and I hope the
Lord has helped me to put them away. It has been hard for us to see
strangers occupying our dear old home; and yet it was certainly no fault
of theirs that we were compelled to give it up."

"That is all true," Elsie said, "I think I can understand both your
feelings and theirs, but they are dear good Christian people, and I
assure you bear you no ill-will."

"Ah, is that so? I am told Leland has not really gone North, as was
supposed, but has returned to the plantation since--since the coming of
the troops."

"He has, and is nearly recovered from his wound."

"He was wounded, then?"

"Yes, pretty badly."

"And was in hiding somewhere; and his wife staying on alone with her
children and servants? I wonder she had the courage."

"She put her trust in the Lord, as I believe both you and I do, my dear
Mrs. Foster; and he has not failed her."

Mrs. Foster mused sadly for a moment. "I have felt hard to her," she
murmured at length, in low, trembling tones; "and she a Christian, whom
I should love for the Master's sake, and it was quite natural for her
to--defend her husband and children. I should have done the same for
mine."

She had not mentioned when or where Wilkins had received his wound, but
Elsie knew now that it was at Fairview and that Mrs. Leland's or
Archie's hand had sped the bullet that had done such fearful work.

Dr. Barton came: Mrs. Foster