y.

"How did you know it?"

"Through Captain Orme."

"Yes," said I, quietly, "I have heard of Captain Orme--much of him--very
much." Still I could not read her face.

"He was with us a long time this summer," she resumed, presently. "Some
two weeks ago he left, for Charleston, I think. He has much business
about the country."

"Much business," I assented, "in many parts of the country. But most of
all with men of the Army. So Captain Orme--since we must call him
Captain and not minister--was so good as to inform you of my private
matters."

"Yes." Again she looked at me squarely, with defiance. "I know all about
it. I know all about that girl."

So there it was! But I kept myself under whip hand still. "I am very
glad. It will save me telling you of myself. It is not always that one
has the good fortune of such early messengers."

"Go on," she said bitterly, "tell me about her."

"I have no praises to sound for her. I do not wish to speak of this, if
you prefer to hear it from others than myself."

She only smiled enigmatically, her mouth crooking in some confidence she
held with herself, but not with me. "It was natural," she said at last,
slowly. "Doubtless I would have done as she did. Doubtless any other man
would have done precisely as you did. That is the way with men. After
all, I suppose the world is the world, and that we are as we are. The
girl who is closest to a man has the best chance with him. Opportunity
is much, very much. Secrecy is everything."

I found nothing which suited me to say; but presently she went on, again
leaning on the ivy-covered stone pillar of the gate, her hat held by its
strings at her side, her body not imprisoned by my arms.

"Why should you not both have done so?" she resumed, bitterly. "We are
all human."

"Why should we not have done what--what is it that you mean?" I demanded
of her.

"Why, there was she, engaged to Mr. Belknap, as I am told; and there
were you, engaged to a certain young lady by the name of Grace Sheraton,
very far away. And you were conveniently lost--very conveniently--and
you found each other's society agreeable. You kept away for some weeks
or months, both of you forgetting. It was idyllic--ideal. You were not
precisely babes in the woods. You were a man and a woman. I presume you
enjoyed yourselves, after a very possible little fashion--I do not blame
you--I say I might have done the same. I should like to know it for a
time myself--free