"Don't take it too much to heart." Farragut patted her hand with great gentleness. "It was a severe ordeal, but truth will always prevail. Just think what it would have been had you really been guilty. Your conscience at least was clear." "I did not like Mr. Archer," said Jeanne musingly, loth to leave this friend. "I told Mrs. Butler so. I did not want to give him the papers." "Why didn't you say so?" cried the General. "Because you had received him here and I thought that of course he was all right. It would have been presumption on my part to have spoken against him when my father sent me to him, and I did not know anything against him really. Besides, I did not dream that any one could doubt my loyalty." "You must forgive me," said the General humbly, seeing how deeply the girl was hurt. "You don't know what I have to put up with or you would. When you have been here a short time you will realize the situation better than you do now. When you do, will you come to me and be friends?" "Yes;" and Jeanne smiled a little for the first time. "Good-bye," and the Admiral extended his hand as the girl prepared to accompany the Orderly detailed by the General to conduct her to her uncle's house. "I hope to see you again soon." "I hope so too," answered Jeanne. Then as she clasped his hand she cried half hysterically. "Oh, Admiral, I am afraid to go. I am afraid!" "No, you're not, child. You are tired and nervous. Be brave. Meet your uncle as if nothing had happened. I dare say that you will find him kind and good." "But he is a rebel," sobbed Jeanne in such heartrending tones that both men smiled involuntarily. "Well, some of them are very good men," said Farragut. "They are mistaken in their views and need teaching a great many things, but otherwise they are a warm-hearted people. I am from the South myself, you know." "Are you?" asked the girl surprised, yet she had wondered at his soft Southern voice. "Yes; a Tennesseean. You seem to think that I am all right." "You are," replied Jeanne so heartily that Farragut laughed outright. "But Uncle Ben didn't take New Orleans." "Perhaps you can get his services for us yet, and he may do something better than to take New Orleans. That may be your work here." "I doubt it," spoke General Butler emphatically. "There is no rebel so unregenerate as a renegade Yankee. There may be some excuse for those born in this section of the country, but for a Yankee who embraces the pernicious doctrine of secession there is none. The Orderly waits, my child." Farewells were again exchanged, and Jeanne followed reluctantly after her guide. CHAPTER XII AN UNEXPECTED GREETING The Orderly called a cab and assisted Jeanne into it, putting her satchel and basket beside her. Then springing in he gave the order and they were off.