revolted."

The scales fell from Virginia's eyes. She now saw clearly the bitter
trial through which her lover had been called to pass, and recognized
once more the generous, self-denying nature of Hansford. The stain upon
his pure fame, to use her own figure, was but the effect of the false
and deceptive lens through which she had looked, and now that she saw
clearly, it was restored to its original purity and beauty.

"And is this true, indeed?" she said, in a happy voice. "Believe me,
Hansford, the relief which I feel at this moment more than compensates
for all that I have endured. The renewed assurance of your honour atones
for all. Can you forgive me for harbouring for a moment a suspicion that
you were aught but the soul of honour?"

"Forgive you, dearest?" returned Hansford. "Most freely--most fully! But
scarcely can I forgive those who have so wronged you. Cast in a common
lot with them, and struggling for a common cause, I cannot now withdraw
from their association; and indeed, Virginia, I will be candid, and tell
you freely that I would not if I could."

"Alas!" said Virginia, "and what can be the result of your efforts.
Sooner or later aid must come from England, and crush a rebellion whose
success has only been ephemeral. And what else can be expected or
desired, since we have already seen how lost to honour are those by whom
it is attempted. Would you wish, if you could, to subject your country
to the sway of men, who, impelled only by their own reckless passions,
disregard alike the honour due from man and the respect due to woman?"

"You mistake the character of these brave men, Virginia. I believe
sincerely that General Bacon was prompted to this policy by a real
desire to prevent the unnecessary loss of life; and though this humanity
cannot entirely screen his conduct from reprehension, yet it may cast a
veil over it. Bold and reckless though he be, his powerful mind is
swayed by many noble feelings; and although he may commit errors, they
nearly lose their grossness in his ardent love of freedom, and his
exalted contempt of danger."

"His love of freedom, I presume, is illustrated by his forcible capture
of unprotected females," returned Virginia; "and his contempt of danger,
by his desire to interpose his captives between himself and the guns of
his enemies."

"I have told you," said Hansford, "that this conduct is incapable of
being justified, and in this I grant that Bacon has grievously er