ROSE. Thank heaven; I am rid of them. Now to Walter, and learn his
full danger.

[_Enter_ ARMSTRONG.]

Are you mad? What are you here for? Back to your hiding place at once.

WALTER. No, Rose; I shall not go.

ROSE. Why--what--

WALTER. Hear me, Rose. Ask yourself if it is an honourable course for
me, a proscribed and hunted rebel, to suffer myself to be concealed
in your father's house when my discovery would involve him in terrible
consequences. I cannot consent to expose him to those consequences. I
would rather openly deliver myself into the hands of Major Cleveland.

ROSE. Foolish man! You are ruining all. Walter, for my sake go back
again. This is a ridiculous and false sense of honour.

WALTER. No, Rose, I am resolved--

ROSE. Walter, I implore you--

[_Enter_ MAJOR CLEVELAND.]

[_Aside_.] Ha! Lost! [_Aloud_.] Oh, Major Cleveland, how opportune.
Pray let me make you acquainted with Captain Fuller. A friend of my
father's, sir--a neighbour. Captain Fuller, Major Cleveland. Allow me
to commend you, gentlemen, to each other's better acquaintance.

CLEVELAND. A rebel officer. This is very extraordinary.

ROSE. Let me see you shake hands, gentlemen, for here, you know, you
must be friends. If you like to cut each other's throats elsewhere, so
be it; but, of course, you sheathe your swords, and swear peace in the
presence of a lady.

CLEVELAND. Miss Elsworth well rebukes us. Captain Fuller, for the
time being, the red and the blue rejoice under a common auspices--Miss
Elsworth smiles.

[_They shake hands ceremoniously_.

ROSE. Now, gentlemen, sit down. You, Major, shall have a seat upon
the sofa by my side. Captain Fuller, please, take the chair near you.
[_The gentlemen seat themselves_.] Now, you see, I am between you, and
shall prevent warfare. I here proclaim a truce. The Captain, Major,
wants to join our ball to-night. I have promised him my hand the next
after yours.

CLEVELAND. [_Scrutinizing_ WALTER _closely_.] I'm quite ready, Miss
Elsworth, to laugh at a joke, but really I cannot understand--

ROSE. Why two gentlemen cannot meet under my father's roof, as his
guests, and not fall to tearing each other to pieces? Is it the modern
way to make war in parlours, instead of the field?

CLEVELAND. Strange, very strange. Your pardon, Captain Fuller, but I
cannot help remarking that you closely resemble a description I have
received of one Captain Armstrong.

ROSE. Dear me, and who is Captain