Then a whole bevy of young ladies hastened out to welcome us.
Where had we been? Why were we going back? Could General Stuart intend
to leave them in the Yankee lines again? Oh, no! he could not! He could
not have the heart to! Was he coming to see them? Oh, the sight of gray
uniforms was HEAVENLY!!!
And the young damsels positively overwhelmed me with exclamations and
interrogatories. Eyes danced, lips smiled, cheeks glowed--they hung
around me, and seemed wild with enthusiasm and delight.
Around _me_, I say--for Tom and Miss Katy had accidentally strolled
into a conservatory near at hand. A glass door gave access to it, and
they had "gone to examine the flowers," the young ladies said, with
rapturous smiles and little nods.
Meanwhile, "the wants of the soldiers" were by no means forgotten. Busy
hands brought in china, silver, and snowy napkins. On the table the
waiter was soon deposited, containing a splendid, miraculous array of
edibles, and these were flanked by decanters containing excellent
home-made wine.
This consumed half an hour--but at last the repast was ready, and one
of the young ladies hastened toward the conservatory, uttering a
discreet little "ahem!" which made her companions laugh.
In an instant Tom made his appearance with a decided color in his
cheeks; and Miss Katy--well, Miss Katy's face was the color of a peony,
or a carnation.
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