We were taken at once to Jack's room, and it was very evident that he
was glad to see us again. He had changed a great deal; he looked older,
and appeared to be worn by illness. He had been removed from the cabin
on the river at a critical period, and, as a result, he was compelled
to go through a long and drastic illness. He was on the high road to
recovery, but I thought he would never be the same handsome Jack again,
so cadaverous was his countenance and so changed his voice. The two
ladies and myself left the friends together and went into the room that
had been the parlor, where there was a brisk fire burning.

The house was a very commodious country home and had evidently been
built by some prosperous person whose heart and mind turned to the
country after he had acquired wealth in the town. But the owner had
deserted it when the Federals took possession of Murfreesborough,
leaving furniture and everything to the mercy of circumstance--the
cruel circumstance that goes hand in hand with war. But everything was
intact. The old piano stood in the corner as glossy as if it had been
newly bought, and the carpets on the floor wore a clean look, though
some of them were threadbare.

After a while, Harry came in search of Kate--she was more important
than his wounded friend--and Mrs. Bledsoe went to take her place by
Jack's bedside. This arrangement would have left me very much alone,
but for the thoughtfulness of Kate, who intimated that I should find
very interesting company in the next room. "Don't be afraid," she said.
But I was very much afraid, I know not why, and hesitated a long time
before I ventured into the room.

And when I did venture to wander in casually, I was more afraid than
ever, for at a window a small lady sat reading. I knew her at once for
Jane Ryder, but that fact made me no bolder. On the contrary, I felt a
timidity that was almost childish; it was a feeling that carried me
away back to my boyhood, when I refused to go into a room where there
was a company of little girls.

"I beg your pardon," said I, and began to back toward the door.

"Oh, no harm is done," the lady declared, closing the book, but keeping
the place with her fore-finger. "Did you desire to see me? Or perhaps
you would see Miss Bledsoe?"

"No, ma'am--I--that is, Miss Bledsoe is talking with a friend of mine,
and I just wandered in here, having nothing else to do."

"To be sure! I believe that is a custom of Southern gentle