“I wonder, now, if that little atom is my rival?” said Albert, musingly. “Yes, he _is_!” exclaimed Elfie, spitefully catching at the idea; “he just _is_! I love and admire little Mim beyond everything. I love his little finger better than I ever did your whole person. He is a true hero, and I worship the very ground he walks on!” “Very pleasant words for me to hear, Elfie.” “I don’t care whether they are or not. They are true. I am dying in love with little Mim. And when I get back to Washington, I mean to ask him to marry me as soon as ever—Oh, my good gracious, I can’t, either!” exclaimed Elfie, suddenly breaking off and bursting into tears of rage at the recollection that she was married already to Goldsborough. “No, you can’t! Polygamy is not lawful in this land, at least not for ladies,” laughed Albert Goldsborough. “You will be hanged some day, shortly, and then I shall be a widow,” sobbed Elfie. “Come, come, my darling girl, why do you keep up this comedy? Do you think that I could be jealous of your little champion? Do you think that I believe for a moment in your professions either of regard for him or detestation for me? No, dear Elfie. I have a confidence in your love and faith that your words and actions cannot shake. Listen, my darling girl—” “I don’t want to hear a word you have to say, Albert Goldsborough.” “But, my dear, in common justice you must. Listen, Elfie—for we must march soon, and the time for explanation and defence is short. I have told you that, loving you beyond measure, and believing in your unaltered love for me, I could not leave you among the Yankees. I could not, Elfie. And so, at the imminent risk of my life, and the lives of all my band, I crossed the river, and brought you off from between the very teeth of the enemy.” “You have bragged of all that before,” sneered Elfie. “I could not have believed in your persistent opposition to my wishes, Elfie; else, perhaps, I should have spared you and myself this trial.” “When you made the discovery, why did you not send me back to my friends?” demanded Elfie.