ught_ himself as tall as the
General," declared Willy, defiantly, oblivious in his excitement of
the eldest brother's presence. There was a general laugh at Hugh's
confusion; but Hugh had carried an order across a field under a hot
fire, and had brought a regiment up in the nick of time, riding by its
colonel's side in a charge which had changed the issue of the fight,
and had a sabre wound in the arm to show for it. He could therefore
afford to pass over such an accusation with a little tweak of Willy's
ear.

"Where's Cousin Belle?" asked Frank.

"I s'peck she's putting on her fine clothes for the General to see.
Didn't she run when she heard he was here!"

"Willy!" said his mother, reprovingly.

"Well, she did, Ma."

His mother shook her head at him; but the General put his hand on the
boy, and drew him closer.

"You say she ran?" he asked, with a pleasant light in his eyes.

"Yes, sirree; she did _that_."

Just then the door opened, and their Cousin Belle entered the room.
She looked perfectly beautiful. The greetings were very cordial--to
Hugh especially. She threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

"You young hero!" she cried. "Oh, Hugh, I am so proud of
you!"--kissing him again, and laughing at him, with her face glowing,
and her big brown eyes full of light. "Where were you wounded? Oh! I
was so frightened when I heard about it!"

"Where was it? Show it to us, Hugh; please do," exclaimed both boys at
once, jumping around him, and pulling at his arm.

"Oh, Hugh, is it still very painful?" asked his cousin, her pretty
face filled with sudden sympathy.

"Oh! no, it was nothing--nothing but a scratch," said Hugh, shaking
the boys off, his expression being divided between feigned
indifference and sheepishness, at this praise in the presence of his
chief.

"No such thing, Miss Belle," put in the General, glad of the chance to
secure her commendation. "It might have been very serious, and it was
a splendid ride he made."

"Were you not ashamed of yourself to send him into such danger?" she
said, turning on him suddenly. "Why did you not go yourself?"

The young man laughed. Her beauty entranced him. He had scars enough
to justify him in keeping silence under her pretended reproach.

"Well, you see, I couldn't leave the place where I was. I had to send
some one, and I knew Hugh would do it. He led the regiment after the
colonel and major fell--and he did it splendidly, too."

There was a ch