art with a
long, tremulous sigh which confessed that heaven was won.

CHAPTER XIV

"_The golden hours, on angel wings,
Flew o'er me and my dearie._"

BURNS

The evening that followed was of the brightest and happiest; even the
adieus spoken to the soldier who was just leaving his home did not
sadden it. They were in such a state of exaltation as to see everything
with courageous and hopeful eyes, and sent Robert off with the feeling
that all these horrible realities they had known so long were but bogies
to frighten foolish children, and that he would come back to them
wearing, at the very least, the stars of a major-general. Whatever
sombre and painful thoughts filled Ercildoune's heart he held there,
that no gloom might fall from him upon these fresh young lives, nor
sadden the cheery expectancy of his son.

Surrey, having carried the first line of defence, prepared for a
vigorous assault upon the second. Like all eager lovers, his primary
anxiety was to hear "Yes"; afterwards, the day. To that end he was
pleading with every resource that love and impatience could lend; but
Francesca shook her head, and smiled, and said that was a long way
off,--that was not to be thought of, at least till the war was over, and
her soldier safe at home; but he insisted that this was the flimsiest,
and poorest of excuses; nay, that it was the very reverse of the true
and sensible idea, which was of course wholly on his side. He had these
few weeks at home, and then must away once more to chances of battle and
death. He did not say this till he had exhausted every other entreaty;
but at last, gathering her close to him with his one loving arm,--"how
fortunate," he had before said, "that it is the left arm, because if it
were the other I could not hold you so near my heart!"--so holding her,
he glanced down at the empty sleeve, and whispered, "My darling! who
knows? I have been wounded so often, and am now only a piece of a fellow
to come to you. It may be something more next time, and then I shall
never call you wife. It would make no difference hereafter, I know: we
belong to each other for time and eternity. But then I should like to
feel that we were something more to one another than even betrothed
lovers, before the end comes, if come it does, untimely. Be generous,
dearie, and say yes."

He did not give utterance to another fear, which was that by some device
she might again be taken away from him; that some