The morning drill was over, and the volunteers were lounging about the tents, on the grass; Abner was leaning with his arm across the saddle-bow of his faithful horse, that he was about to turn out to graze. The mind of the young lieutenant was full of fancies and memories. His sudden departure from home, his interview with Irene, the parting with his brother, all were fresh in his thoughts, and his eyes naturally wandered back toward the road that led to his home. A familiar sight met his view. Coming down the hill, attended by a member of his own company, who had been on picket guard, was his father's carriage driven by the family coachman. Abner started. Why was he coming to the Junction? The carriage drove up to Abner's tent, and the guard, making what he meant for a military salute, said: "Lieutenant, here is a man as says he wants to see you." "All right, Barney, you can leave him here." The guard turned, and hurried back to his post as though the Nation's safety depended on his speed. The driver opened the carriage door, Mr. Tompkins alighted, and father and son met with a cordial hand-grasp. Abner led his father into the officers' tent which was at present deserted by its usual occupants. "Have you seen Oleah since?" asked Abner. "I have," was the reply. "Where?" "At his camp." "Why, father, how dare you go there, when your sentiments are known to be directly opposed to their cause? It was very dangerous." "Not very dangerous, since I have a son who is an officer in that army." "What office does Oleah hold?" "Second Lieutenant." "I suppose Seth Williams and Howard Jones are there?" "Yes, and Harry Smith." "Harry Smith?" "Yes." "Why, he is no Confederate at heart." "So are not a great many who are in their ranks." "I have been daily expecting Diggs here," said Abner. "Diggs, Henry Diggs?" asked Mr. Tompkins curiously. "Yes; he promised me he would come here and join our company," said Abner. "He is on the other side," replied Mr. Tompkins. "What?" "He is on the other side. He is a corporal in Oleah's company." "Why, the contemptible little scamp! He promised me faithful he would come here and enlist." "He is a man who cannot resist persuasion, and someone on the other side got the last persuade of him." "True, Diggs has no mind of his own," said Abner. "I have sometimes wished that my sons' minds were not quite so decidedly their own," said the planter with a sad smile and a doubtful shake of the head. "Did you try to persuade Oleah to leave the Southern army?" "No; he has conscientiously espoused the cause, and I would not have him do violence to his conscience. I talked to him mostly about you." "About me?"