before long; he can stay here till
I come back--or--till the troubles are over. In the meantime, you could be
with the Harrises, or Hendersons, or Mrs. Churchill."

"No, sir; I can stay here, which is infinitely preferable on many accounts.
I will, with your permission, invite Mrs. Campbell to shut up the parsonage
in her husband's absence, and remain with me till Uncle Eric returns. I
have no doubt that she will be glad to make the change. Do you approve the
plan?"

"Yes. That arrangement will answer for the present, and Arnold will be here
to take care of you."

At the close of a week a telegraphic dispatch was received, informing Mr.
Huntingdon of his appointment as major in the provisional army of the
Confederacy and containing an order to report immediately for duty.

Having completed his arrangements, and ordered the carriage to be in
readiness at daylight next morning to convey him to the depot, he bade her
good night much as usual, and retired to his own room.

But thought was too busy to admit of sleep. He turned restlessly on his
pillow, rose, and smoked a second cigar, and returned, to find himself more
wakeful than ever. The clock downstairs in the library struck one; his door
opened softly, and, by the dim moonlight struggling through the window, he
saw Irene glide to his bedside.

"Why don't you go to sleep, Irene?"

"Because I can't. I am too miserable."

Her voice was dry, but broken, faltering.

"Father, the future is dark and uncertain; and I feel that I want an
assurance of your entire reconciliation and affection before you go. I came
here to say to you that I deeply regret all the unfortunate circumstances
of my life which caused you to treat me so coldly for a season--that if in
anything I have ever seemed obstinate or undutiful, it was not because I
failed in love for you, but from an unhappy difference of opinion as to my
duty under very trying circumstances. Father, my heart ached very bitterly
under your estrangement--the very memory is unutterably painful. I want
your full, free forgiveness now, for all the trouble I have ever occasioned
you. Oh, father! give it to me!"

He drew her close to him, and kissed her twice.

"You have my forgiveness, my daughter--though I must tell you that your
treatment of poor Hugh has been a continual source of sorrow and keen
disappointment to me. I never can forget your disobedience in that matter.
I do not believe you will ever be happy, you have