atched him until he slept again. Then, her soul filled with
thankfulness and peace, she closed her eyes once more, and happy
thoughts became happy dreams.

At about that time Salina threw herself despairingly upon her bed, at
home, gnashing her teeth, and wishing she had never been born. And these
two were sisters. And Salina had the house and all its comforts left to
her, while Virginia had nothing of outward solace for her delicate
nature but the rudest entertainment. So true it is that not place, and
apparel, and pride make us happy, but piety, affection, and the
disposition of the mind.

The night passed, and morning dawned, and they who had slept awoke, and
they who had not slept watched bitterly the quickening light which
brought to them, not joy and refreshment, but only another phase of
weariness and misery.

Captain Lysander Sprowl was observed to be in a savage mood that day.
The cares of married life did not agree with him: they do not with some
people. Because Salina had baffled him, and Toby had escaped, his
inferiors had to suffer. He was sharp even with Lieutenant Ropes, who
came to report a fact of which he had received information.

"Stackridge was in the village last night!"

"What's that to me?" said Lysander.

"The lieutenant-colonel--" whispered Silas. Sprowl grew attentive. By the
lieutenant-colonel was meant no other person than Augustus Bythewood,
who had received his commission the day before. Well might Lysander, at
the mention of him to whom both these aspiring officers owed everything,
bend a little and listen. Ropes proceeded. "He feels a cussed sight
badder now he believes the gal is in a cave somewhars with the
schoolmaster, than he did when he thought she was burnt up in the woods.
He entirely approves of your conduct last night, and says Toby must be
ketched, and the secret licked out of him. In the mean while he thinks
sunthin' can be done with Stackridge's family. Stackridge was home last
night, and of course his wife will know about the cave. The secret might
be frightened out on her, or, I swear!" said Silas, "I wouldn't object
to using a little of the same sort of coercion you tried with Toby; and
Bythewood wouldn't nuther. Only, you understand, he musn't be supposed
to know anything about it."

Lysander's eyes gleamed. He showed his tobacco-stained teeth in a way
that boded no good to any of the name of Stackridge.

"Good idee?" said Silas, with a coarse and brutal grin.