and renewed the folds of wet linen
on Electra's head, Irene stole back to the window, and, turning the
shutters, looked down the street. Here and there an anxious group huddled
on the corners, with ears strained to catch every sound, and, while she
watched, a horseman clattered at a hard gallop over the paving-stones,
reined up at the door of the boarding-house, swung himself to the sidewalk,
and an instant after the sharp clang of the bell rang startlingly through
the still mansion.

"Oh, my God! it has come at last!"

Irene groaned, and leaned heavily against the window-facing, and quick
steps came up the stairway. Martha entered, and held out a slip of paper.

"Miss Irene, Cyrus has just brought this."

Her mistress' icy fingers clutched it, and she read--

"Come at once. Aubrey is badly wounded. Cyrus will show the way.

"HIRAM ARNOLD."

"You are going to faint, Miss Irene! Drink some of this cordial."

"No. Tell Andrew to go after the carriage as quick as possible, and have it
brought here immediately; and ask Uncle Eric to come to my room at once."

Irene went to her own apartment, which adjoined Electra's, put on her
bonnet and veil, and, though the night was warm, wrapped a shawl about her.

Mr. Mitchell entered soon after, and started at sight of his niece's face.

"Irene, what does this mean? Where are you going at this hour?"

"To the battlefield!--to Malvern Hill. Colonel Aubrey is mortally wounded,
and I must see him. Will you go with me? Oh, Uncle Eric! if you have any
mercy in your soul ask me no questions now! only go with me."

"Of course, my dear child, I will go with you, if it is possible to procure
a carriage of any kind. I will see----"

"I have had one engaged for three days. Martha, stay with Electra till I
come back; leave her on no account. If you notice any change, send for Dr.
Whitmore. Here is my watch; count her pulse carefully, and as long as it is
over one hundred, give her, every two hours, a spoonful of the medicine in
that square vial on the table. I trust to you, Martha, to take care of her.
If she should be rational, and ask for me, tell her nothing about the
battles, and say I have gone to see a sick man, and will be back soon.
Come, Uncle Eric."

They entered the close carriage which she had ordered reserved for her, and
she called Cyrus to the door.

"Did you see Colonel Aubrey after he was wounded?"

"I only had a glimpse of him, as they brought him in. Mi