ill came there from
the northern cities, but he read little in them about preparations for
war. Many attacked Buchanan, the present President, for weakness,
and few expected anything better from the uncouth western figure,
Lincoln, who would soon succeed him.

Meanwhile the Confederate convention at Montgomery was acting. In those
days apathy and delay seemed to be characteristic of the North, courage
and energy of the South. The new government was being formed with speed
and decision. Jefferson Davis, it was said, would be President, and
Stephens of Georgia would be Vice-President.

The time for departure to Montgomery drew near. Harry and Arthur were
in fine gray uniforms as members of the Palmetto Guards. Arthur, light,
volatile, was full of pleased excitement. Harry also felt the thrill
of curiosity and anticipation, but he had been in Charleston nearly six
weeks now, and while six weeks are short, they had been long enough
in such a tense time to make vital changes in his character. He was
growing older fast. He was more of a man, and he weighed and measured
things more. He recognized that Charleston, while the second city of
the South in size and the first in leadership, was only Charleston,
after all, far inferior in weight and numbers to the great cities of
the North. Often he looked toward the North over the vast, intervening
space and tried to reckon what forces lay there.

The evening before their departure they sat on the wide piazza that
swept along the entire front of the inn of Madame Delaunay. Colonel
Leonidas Talbot and Major Hector St. Hilaire sat with them. They, too,
were going to Montgomery. Mid-February had passed, and the day had been
one of unusual warmth for that time of the year, like a day in full
spring. The wind from the south was keen with the odor of fresh foliage
and of roses, and of faint far perfumes, unknown but thrilling. A sky
of molten silver clothed city, bay, and forts in enchantment. Nothing
seemed further away than war, yet they had to walk but a little distance
to see the defiant flag over Sumter, and the hostile Palmetto flags
waving not far away.

Madame Delaunay appeared in the doorway. She was dressed as usual in
white and her shining black hair was bound with the slender gold fillet.

"We are going away tomorrow, Madame," said Colonel Talbot, "and I know
that we cannot find in Montgomery any such pleasant entertainment as my
young friends have enjoye