th
alarm bells, sudden shattering bugle notes, thunderclaps of cannon, men
and women too close companions of great and stern presences, for the
exhibition of much care for the minuter social embroidery. No necessary
and fitting tracery was neglected, but life moved now in a very intense
white light, so deep and intense that it drowned many things which in
other days had had their place in the field of vision. There was an old
butler at the President's door, and a coloured maid hovered near to help
with scarf or flounce if needed. In the hall were found two volunteer
aides, young, handsome, gay, known to all, striking at once the note of
welcome. Close within the drawing-room door stood a member of the
President's Staff, Colonel Ives, and beside him his wife, a young,
graceful, and accomplished woman. These smilingly greeted the coming or
said farewell to the parting guest.

The large drawing-room was fitted for conversation. Damask-covered sofas
with carved rosewood backs, flanked and faced by claw-foot chairs, were
found in corners and along the walls; an adjoining room, not so brightly
lit, afforded further harbourage, while without was the pillared
portico, with roses and fireflies and a view of the flare upon the
horizon. From some hidden nook the violins played Italian opera. On the
mantles and on one or two tables, midsummer flowers bloomed in Parian
vases.

Scattered in groups, through the large room, were men in uniform and
civilians in broadcloth and fine linen. So peculiarly constituted were
the Confederate armies that it was usual to find here a goodly number of
private soldiers mingling with old schoolmates, friends, kindred wearing
the bars and stars of lieutenants, captains, majors, colonels, and
brigadiers. But to-night all privates and all company officers were with
their regiments; there were not many even of field and staff. It was
known to be the eve of a fight, a very great fight; passes into town
were not easy to obtain. Those in uniform who were here counted; they
were high in rank. Mingling with them were men of the civil
government,--cabinet officers, senators, congressmen, judges, heads of
bureaus; and with these, men of other affairs: hardly a man but was
formally serving the South. If he were not in the field he was of her
legislatures; if not there, then doing his duty in some civil office; if
not there, wrestling with the management of worn-out railways; or, cool
and keen, concerned in blo