Mr. Diggs accordingly re-entered the house, and Irene went up to her room to change her dress. She managed to detain herself until tea was announced and then invited Mr. Diggs to the dining-room. After tea the little fellow followed her back to the parlor, and she resigned herself to be bored for an hour or more by him, but did not yet suspect the real cause of his visit. "Hem--hem," began Mr. Diggs, "Miss Irene, these are troublous times." "They are indeed," answered Irene, from her seat opposite the loquacious Mr. Diggs. "We don't know one minute what will happen the next." "No, we do not," said Irene, who really did not imagine what was to happen on this occasion. "Hem, hem! two large armies are raising." "So I am informed," said Irene. "And they mean destruction to each other." "I fear some damage will be done." "Hem, hem! Sumter has fallen." "So I have heard." "Deuce take it!" thought Mr. Diggs aside, "she is as cool as an iceberg, and I am getting flurried. What had I better say or do next?" Then a short pause. "Some of your friends will doubtless take part in the coming struggle," he finally said. "I fear they will be rash enough to do so," she replied. "And some may go to return no more,"--voice and eyes were growing pathetic. "Alas! such is too often the fate of war." "I have concluded to enter the army." "A great many young men are now talking of going into the army." "I feel that my country needs my services." "You are patriotic." Mr. Diggs felt flattered. "You are--hem--hem, very kind, Miss Irene, to attribute patriotism to me. Patriotism, true patriotism is one of man's most noble attributes." "I agree with you." "But, Miss Irene, it is hard to go, even to our country's aid, and leave behind friends dearer to us than life." "Mercy!" mentally ejaculated Irene, "does the little fool mean to propose?" Then, still without any encouraging warmth in her tone, she asked, "When do you expect to leave Snagtown?" "In two or three days at most, and I feel--hem--pardon me, Miss Irene." He rose and drew his chair nearer hers. "He really means it!" thought Irene, her eyes bright, half with mischief, half with annoyance. "I have something--hem, hem, hem!--I wish to say to you. I--I--that is--hem--I cannot leave for the field of danger until I--have--hem, hem! until I have revealed to you my feelings." Mr. Diggs paused, and tried to look sentimental; but a more sheepish, simple-looking specimen of humanity Irene was sure she had never before beheld. The farce had been carried too far, and she said coldly: "Your manner and words are quite incomprehensible, Mr. Diggs." "I will make myself plain," said Mr. Diggs, swallowing something in his throat, and taking hope. "You shall understand me. I say I cannot leave for the field of battle, cannot face the cannon's mouth, in this suspense--"