is
getting real bright and strong. I can see Mr. Ercildoune likes to have
us here, because of the connection with Miss Francesca. She was so
interested in us, and so kind to us, and he knows I loved her so very
dearly,--and if it's any comfort to him I'm sure I'm glad to be here,
without taking Frankie into the account,--for the poor gentleman looks
so bowed and heart-broken that it makes one's heart ache just to see
him. Mr. Robert isn't well enough to be about yet, but he sits up for a
while every day, and is getting on--the doctor says--nicely. They both
talk about you often; and Mr. Ercildoune, I can see, thinks everything
of you for that good, kind deed of yours, when you and Mr. Robert were
on the transport together. Dear Jim, he don't know you as well as I do,
or he'd know that you couldn't help doing such things,--not if you
tried.

I hope you'll like the box that comes with this. Mr. Robert had it
packed for you in his own room, to see that everything went in that
you'd like. Of course, as he's been a soldier himself, he knows better
what they want than anybody else can.

Dear Jim, do take care of yourself; don't go and get wounded; and don't
get sick; and, whatever you do, don't let the rebels take you prisoner,
unless you want to drive me frantic. I think about you pretty much all
the time, and pray for you, as well as I know how, every night when I go
to bed, and am always

Your own loving

Sallie.

* * * * *

"Wow!" said Jim, as he read, "she's in a good berth there." So she
was,--and so she stayed. Frankie got quite well once more, and Sallie
began to think of going, but Mr. Ercildoune evidently clung to her and
to the sunshine which the bright little fellow cast through the house.
Sallie was quite right in her supposition. Francesca had cared for this
girl, had been kind to her and helped her,--and his heart went out to
everything that reminded him of his dear, dead child. So it happened
that autumn passed, and winter, and spring,--and still they stayed. In
fact, she was domesticated in the house, and, for the first time in
years, enjoyed the delightful sense of a home. Here, then, she set up
her rest, and remained; here, when the "cruel war was over," the armies
disbanded, the last regiments discharged, and Jimmy "came marching
home," brown, handsome, and a captain, here he found her,--and from here
he married and carried her away.

It was a happy little wedding,