checked an irritated start with difficulty.

"I believe I did," he said coldly, as if he regretted it.

"And of course you taught her YOUR gospel,--the gospel according to
St. Lincoln. Oh, I know," she went on hurriedly, as if conscious of his
irritation and seeking to allay it. "She was a woman and loved you, and
thought with your thoughts and saw only with your eyes. Yes, that's the
way with us,--I suppose we all do it!" she added bitterly.

"She had her own opinions," said Brant briefly, as he recovered himself.

Nevertheless, his manner so decidedly closed all further discussion that
there was nothing left for the young girl but silence. But it was broken
by her in a few moments in her old contemptuous voice and manner.

"Pray don't trouble yourself to accompany me any further, General Brant.
Unless, of course, you are afraid I may come across some of your--your
soldiers. I promise you I won't eat them."

"I am afraid you must suffer my company a little longer, Miss Faulkner,
on account of those same soldiers," returned Brant gravely. "You may not
know that this road, in which I find you, takes you through a cordon
of pickets. If you were alone you would be stopped, questioned, and,
failing to give the password, you would be detained, sent to the
guard-house, and"--he stopped, and fixed his eyes on her keenly as he
added, "and searched."

"You would not dare to search a woman!" she said indignantly, although
her flush gave way to a slight pallor.

"You said just now that there should be no sex in a war like this,"
returned Brant carelessly, but without abating his scrutinizing gaze.

"Then it IS war?" she said quickly, with a white, significant face.

His look of scrutiny turned to one of puzzled wonder. But at the same
moment there was the flash of a bayonet in the hedge, a voice called
"Halt!" and a soldier stepped into the road.

General Brant advanced, met the salute of the picket with a few formal
words, and then turned towards his fair companion, as another soldier
and a sergeant joined the group.

"Miss Faulkner is new to the camp, took the wrong turning, and was
unwittingly leaving the lines when I joined her." He fixed his eyes
intently on her now colorless face, but she did not return his look.
"You will show her the shortest way to quarters," he continued, to the
sergeant, "and should she at any time again lose her way, you will again
conduct her home,--but without detaining or reporting her.