And Erminie and Britomarte went down stairs to the drawing-room, where, in the course of an hour, they were joined by Elfie, who had renovated herself with a fresh toilet. When the three friends were seated together, Britomarte said: “Here are three of our school quartette; but where is the fourth? Where is Alberta Goldsborough?” “Alberta Corsoni, you mean; for she has changed herself from a planter’s daughter into a bandit’s bride, or a guerrilla’s bride, which amounts to the same thing,” said Elfie. “She made her escape from the convent, and eloped with Vittorio Corsoni, who married her the same night,” said Erminie. “Yes; and he was a good fellow enough until he married her. He had embraced the cause of the Union against the rebels. Some people said, however, that he did so only in opposition to old Mr. Goldsborough, who had opposed his union with Alberta. However that may be, he certainly _was_ a Unionist before his marriage. But it seems that Alberta is one of the most determined female rebels that ever lived; and possessing immense influence over her lovesick young husband, she won him to the cause of rebellion; so that now he is one of the most formidable of those brigand leaders who ravage with fire and sword the shores of the Potomac and its tributaries,” said Elfie. “His Italian nature took readily to guerrilla warfare,” sighed Erminie. “And now he and my traitor are brother bandits, and the best friends in the world. When either has made a successful raid, he divides the spoils with the other,” laughed Elfie. “But what a condition to come back and find my native country in! It seems to me as if in dream or trance I had lost my footing in the nineteenth century, and slipped down into the tenth; or as if I had died, and my spirit had passed into another state of existence. This change has come gradually upon you, but upon me it has burst like a thunderbolt. I left the country in smiling peace; I return to find it groaning under all the horrors of civil war,” said Britomarte, bowing her head upon her hand in deep thought. “Britty, stop that! If people go to musing now, they go mad! It is a time to act, not think!” said Elfie, sharply. “I know it—I know it—and I shall act!” exclaimed the beautiful amazon. “Britty, there is one piece of forbearance for which I thank you,” said Elfie, by way of changing the subject. “What is that?” inquired Miss Conyers. “Well, although three years ago you warned Erminie and myself that if we should have anything to do with the ‘natural enemy’ we should inevitably come to grief, and although you see that through disregarding your warning we _have_ come to grief, you magnanimously forbear to say—‘I told you so!’” “I do not think that you _have_. I call the treason that divided your betrothed lovers from your side a very providential thing, so far as _you_ are concerned. I can mourn over _their_ sins, but not over _your_ escape,” said the man-hater, firmly.