s a hard
thing of a dark night in the trenches, or while you lie on the wet
ground in front of them, thinking of home and far away, to have any
one thought but love and affection in your heart It does n't do to be
mourning over faults and follies, and grieving over things one is sorry
for. One likes to think, too, that they who are at home, happy at their
firesides, are thinking kindly of us. A man's heart is never so stout
before the enemy as when he knows how dear he is to some one far away."

As the youth spoke these words half falteringly, for he was naturally
bashful and timid, Bella turned her eyes fully upon his, with an
interest she had not felt before, and he reddened as he returned her
gaze.

"I 'm sure you forgive me, sir," said he, addressing Kellett. "It was a
great liberty I took to speak to you in this fashion; but I was Jack's
comrade,--he told me every secret he had in the world, and I know how
the poor fellow would march up to a Russian battery to-morrow with an
easier heart than he'd hear one hard word from you."

"Ask Bella there if I ever said a word, ever as much as mentioned his
name," said Kellett, with all the self-satisfaction of egotism.

Bella's eyes quickly turned towards the soldier, with an expression
so full of significance that he only gave a very faint sigh, and
muttered,--

"Well, I can do no more; when I next hear from Jack, sir, you shall know
it." And with this he moved towards the door.

Bella hastily whispered a few words in her father's ear, to which, as he
seemed to demur, she repeated still more eagerly.

"How could we, since it's Sunday, and there will be Beecher coming out?"
muttered he.

"But this is a gentleman, papa; his soldier jacket is surely no
disgrace--"

"I couldn't, I couldn't," muttered he, doggedly.

Again she whispered, and at last he said,--

"Maybe you 'd take your bit of dinner with us tomorrow, Conway,--quite
alone, you know."

The young fellow drew himself up, and there was, for an instant, a
look of haughty, almost insolent, meaning in his face. There was that,
however, in Bella's which as speedily overcame whatever irritation had
crossed his mind, and he politely said,--

"If you will admit me in this dress,--I have no other with me."

"To be sure,--of course," broke in Kellett. "When my son is wearing the
same, what could I say against it?"

The youth smiled good-naturedly at this not very gracious speech; mayhap
the hand he was then