ange a cup and saucer in front of her and held
daintily in her fingers a pair of imaginary sugar tongs.

"Coffee? How many lumps? And _do_ you take cream?"

"Five, please--and a little cream. There--just right."

She passed the cup gracefully and added a little moue of concern for the
efficiency of her menage.

"I'm afraid you won't find it very hot," said this surprising young
hostess. "That butler of mine is growing absolutely _wuthless_."

"Then perhaps we can have something better," her guest responded
readily, and he picked up the battered old tin can. "Permit me, Miss
Cary, to offer you a glass of fine old blackberry wine which I carefully
brought with me to your beautiful home. It has been in my family wine
cellars since 1838.

"Well--" he cried, as Virgie suddenly sat back with a look of painful
recollection on her face.

"Oh, Daddy," she murmured pathetically, "_don't_ let's call it
_blackberry_ wine."

"Forgive me, darling," her father said tenderly, and he took the small
face between his hands and kissed her. "There, now--it's all right. It's
_all right_."

To create a diversion he looked behind him with a frown and spoke with
great severity to an imaginary waiter.

"Here, _Jo_! How dare you bring such terribly reminiscent stuff to our
table. Go get the port.

"We'll surely have to discharge that butler," he said. "He's too
shiftless. And now, fair lady, will you honor me by joining the humblest
of your admirers in a sip of port."

"With pleasure," answered his hostess, and lifted the can of water in
both hands. "Your health, sir. May your shadow never grow littler."

Half way through her drink Virgie stopped and slowly put the can down.
She looked at her father, who already had his finger at his lips. Voices
had come to them from down the road--the sounds of a party of men
talking and laughing as they marched along.

Cary's face took on again the grim lines which had been wiped away
momentarily by their little bit of play. He was trying to make himself
believe that the approaching party might be friends, although he knew
only too well that such a possibility was full of doubt. There were too
many scouting parties of Federals ready to pounce on Rebel patrols in
these perilous days to allow any but large forces of men to venture far
from Richmond, and when his own men sallied forth they did not go with
laughter but with tightly drawn, silent lips.

"S-s-s-h," he whispered, and held up his fi