undercurrent of sadness that a waltz should have,
and filled out what Carlton said as the music from the orchestra in a
theatre heightens the effect without interrupting the words of the
actor on the stage.

"It is strange," said Miss Morris. "I should have thought you were a
man who would care very much and in just the right way. But I don't
believe really--I'm sorry, but I don't believe you do know what love
means at all."

"Oh, it isn't as bad as that," said Carlton. "I think I know what it
is, and what it means to other people, but I can't feel it myself. The
best idea I ever got of it--the thing that made it clear to me--was a
line in a play. It seemed to express it better than any of the
love-poems I ever read. It was in Shenandoah."

Miss Morris laughed.

"I beg your pardon," said Carlton.

"I beg yours," she said. "It was only the incongruity that struck me.
It seemed so odd to be quoting Shenandoah here in the Dardanelles, with
these queer people below us and ancient Troy on one hand--it took me by
surprise, that's all. Please go on. What was it impressed you?"

"Well, the hero in the play," said Carlton, "is an officer in the
Northern army, and he is lying wounded in a house near the Shenandoah
Valley. The girl he loves lives in this house, and is nursing him; but
she doesn't love him, because she sympathizes with the South. At
least she says she doesn't love him. Both armies are forming in the
valley below to begin the battle, and he sees his own regiment
hurrying past to join them, So he gets up and staggers out on the
stage, which is set to show the yard in front of the farm-house, and he
calls for his horse to follow his men. Then the girl runs out and begs
him not to go; and he asks why, what does it matter to her whether he
goes or not? And she says, 'But I cannot let you go; you may be
killed.' And he says again, 'What is that to you?' And she says: 'It
is everything to me. I love you.' And he makes a grab at her with his
wounded arm, and at that instant both armies open fire in the valley
below, and the whole earth and sky seem to open and shut, and the house
rocks. The girl rushes at him and crowds up against his breast, and
cries: 'What is that? Oh, what is that?' and he holds her tight to
him and laughs, and says: 'THAT? That's only a battle--you love me.'"

Miss Morris looked steadfastly over the side of the boat at the waters
rushing by beneath, smiling to herself.