and, best of all, she had such testimony as few
women have received to the depth and power of his passion. He loved her
indeed. There was a joy in that thought that set her heart beating.

The general drew his subordinate into a corner of the room, where they
conversed earnestly for a few moments. Then they came back to the young
girl.

"Adjutant-General Wylie," said the commander-in-chief, "you will take
charge of Miss Glen. You will follow him, Miss Glen. I will communicate
my further plans within an hour."

There was something intensely pathetic in the droop of the little
figure, in spite of the comforting thoughts that had come to her, when
the girl rose and followed the soldier from the room.

The general was almost persuaded to call after her a reassuring word or
two, but he restrained himself and said nothing.

CHAPTER XIII

COMPANIONS IN MISERY

It is conceivable that a man could manage to bear without repining the
loss of fame and fortune, that he could survive deprivation of rank and
station with equanimity, nay, more, that he might even contemplate with
a philosophic indifference an impending forfeiture of life, provided he
had love to sustain him. But when that is lost, and consequently
everything is gone, he has to fall back upon conscious rectitude alone,
which is well enough in schemes of philosophy, but most inadequate in
the emergencies and crises of real life.

Lieutenant Rhett Sempland, under arrest, in confinement, awaiting
trial, alone and unvisited by any one,--which meant Fanny Glen,--felt
that morning as if he had indeed lost everything. He had been certain
at first that Fanny Glen had returned his swift, impulsive caress in
the strong room even in the peculiar circumstances under which he had
bestowed it upon her, and he had therefore naturally inferred that she
loved him. Indeed, when he thought of the look in her eyes when he
strained her to his breast, although he had the pistol pointed at her
forehead, the conviction was strong within him.

Yet, again and again this proposition presented itself to him, crushing
his hope and breaking his heart: How could a woman who loved a man, and
a woman especially who had become sufficiently conversant with military
affairs through her hospital service and other experiences in this war
to understand what she was doing, have placed her lover in so
compromising a position?

And most damnably crushing thought of all, why had she not had t