"I see General Fitz was right, or his staff rather, in what they told
me, Tom."
"What did they tell you, my dear boy?"
"That you were demoralized and captured!"
Sweet smile on the faces of the family at these words!
"That you had acknowledged your weakness, seen that further resistance
was hopeless, and were already negotiating a surrender to the enemy.
Well, Tom, what are the terms? Are they arranged?"
Suddenly I felt my hair pulled by an enemy from behind; and looking
round I saw Miss Katy passing by, with an immense appearance of
innocence. Her face was blushing; her lips emitted a low laugh; and
seeing that no one was looking at her, she raised her finger in silent
menace at me.
This caused a diversion, and Tom was enabled to rally his forces.
"My dear Surry," he said, smiling, with his delightfully foppish air,
"it always charms me to meet you, for you are always sparkling,
brilliant, full of wit; which reminds me of the good old days with
Stuart! You have only one fault, my boy, you think yourself a
philosopher. Don't do that, I beg, Surry!--But what's the news from
Petersburg?"
I acquiesced in the change of topic, and gave Tom the news; but I was
looking at Katy.
More than ever before I admired that little "bird of beauty," flitting
about with charming grace, and an irresistible business air, to get me
my supper, for the rest had just finished.
Pages:
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622