It was not that he said so
much directly to me or looked so much at me; I do not know how
I got the feeling. There was Miss Cardigan at the head of the
table, busy and talking as usual, clever and kind; yet the air
seemed to be breathed only by Thorold and me.
"And how soon, lad," Miss Cardigan broke out suddenly, when a
moment's lull in the talk had given her a chance, "how soon
will ye be off to that region of disturbance whither ye are
going?"
"Washington?" said Thorold. "Just as soon as our examination
can be pushed through; — in a very few days now."
"You'll come to me by the way, for another look at you, in
your officer's uniform?"
"Uniform? nobody will have any uniform, I fancy," said
Thorold, "nobody has any time to think of that. No, aunt
Catherine, and I shall not see you, either. I expect we shall
rush through without the loss of a train. I can't stop. I
don't care what clothes I wear to get there."
"How came you to be here now, if you are in such a hurry?"
"Nothing on earth would have brought me, but the thing that
did bring me," said Thorold.
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