ar,
that's all. Eugie, you must go to bed early."

"I had her out all the morning in the sun," put in Bernard, with an
affectionate nod at Eugenia, "and she's such a trump she wouldn't give
out."

"You must learn to consider your sister," said his father testily.

"Oh! I liked it, papa," declared Eugenia. "I'm well and--I'm hungry."

Congo brought more waffles, and she ate one with grim determination. The
alert affection which surrounded her--which proved sensitive to a
change of colour or a tremor of voice, filled her with a swift sense of
security. She felt a sudden impulse to draw nearer in the shelter of the
race--to cling more closely to that unswerving instinct which had united
individual to individual and generation to generation.

As they rose from the table, she slipped her arm through her father's
and went with him into the hall.

"I'm tired," she said, stopping him on his way to the sitting-room, "so
I'll go to bed."

The general held her from him and looked into her face.

"Anybody been troubling you, Eugie?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"You dear old goose--no!"

He patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"If anybody troubles you, you just let me hear of it," he said. "They'll
find out Tom Battle wasn't at Appomattox. You've got an old father and
he's got an old sword--"

"And he's hungry for a fight," she gaily finished. Then she rubbed her
cheek against his brown linen sleeve, which was redolent of tobacco. The
firm physical contact inspired her with the courage of life; it seemed
to make for her a bulwark against the world and its incoming
tribulations.

She threw back her head and looked up into the puffed and scarlet face
where the coarse veins were congested, her eyes seeing only the love
which transfigured it. She was his pet and his pride, and she would
always be the final reward of his long life.

As she mounted the stairs, he blew his nose and called cheerfully after
her:

"Just remember, if anybody begins plaguing you, that I'm ready for
him--the rascal."

Once in her room she threw open the window and sat looking out into the
night, the chill autumn wind in her face. Far across the fields a pale
moon was rising, bearing a cloudy circle that betokened rain. It flung
long, ghostly shadows east and west, which flitted, lean and noiseless
and black, before the wind. Overhead the stars shone dimly, piercing a
fine mist. Eugenia leaned forward, her chin on her clasped hands. Beyon