t
jolly brave thing. Now, I call that decidedly interesting and capital.
I'm glad to know it; but I won't blab.'

'Mind you don't. Look here. Ted, if you'd killed a man, would it trouble
you--a bad one, I mean?'

The lad opened his mouth to say, 'Not a bit,' but checked that answer as
if something in Dan's face made him change his mind. 'Well, if it was my
duty in war or self-defence, I suppose I shouldn't; but if I'd pitched
into him in a rage, I guess I should be very sorry. Shouldn't wonder if
he sort of haunted me, and remorse gnawed me as it did Aram and those
fellows. You don't mind, do you? It was a fair fight, wasn't it?'

'Yes, I was in the right; but I wish I'd been out of it. Women don't see
it that way, and look horrified at such things. Makes it hard; but it
don't matter.'

'Don't tell 'em; then they can't worry,' said Ted, with the nod of one
versed in the management of the sex.

'Don't intend to. Mind you keep your notions to yourself, for some of
'em are wide of the mark. Now you may read if you like'; and there the
talk ended; but Ted took great comfort in it, and looked as wise as an
owl afterwards.

A few quiet weeks followed, during which Dan chafed at the delay; and
when at length word came that his credentials were ready, he was eager
to be off, to forget a vain love in hard work, and live for others,
since he might not for himself.

So one wild March morning our Sintram rode away, with horse and hound,
to face again the enemies who would have conquered him, but for Heaven's
help and human pity.

'Ah, me! it does seem as if life was made of partings, and they get
harder as we go on,' sighed Mrs Jo, a week later, as she sat in the long
parlour at Parnassus one evening, whither the family had gone to welcome
the travellers back.

'And meetings too, dear; for here we are, and Nat is on his way at last.
Look for the silver lining, as Marmee used to say, and be comforted,'
answered Mrs Amy, glad to be at home and find no wolves prowling near
her sheepfold.

'I've been so worried lately, I can't help croaking. I wonder what Dan
thought at not seeing you again? It was wise; but he would have enjoyed
another look at home faces before he went into the wilderness,' said Mrs
Jo regretfully.

'Much better so. We left notes and all we could think of that he might
need, and slipped away before he came. Bess really seemed relieved;
I'm sure I was'; and Mrs Amy smoothed an anxious line out of her wh