But when the two girls alighted and Elfie had a nearer view and saw wounded men piled like slaughtered cattle in those ambulances, and bleeding men carried up the steps of the hospital; and when they entered the building and she found the atmosphere pervaded with the scent of fresh blood, and the staircase slippery with gore, she could restrain herself no longer, but screamed and hid her face against Erminie’s black robe. “Elfie! Elfie! if you cannot command your feelings, my dear, you must return to the carriage. You can do no good here unless you are calm and strong,” whispered Erminie. “Oh, but I never saw anything so horrible! It is like human shambles, and it turns me sick. I have been here many, many times, but never saw anything like this!” shuddered Elfie. “Because you have never before happened to be here when they were bringing in the recently wounded. You had better go back to the carriage, Elfie.” “No, no: pray let me go on with you. I will not give way again, indeed I will not,” said Elfie, lifting her face. And she kept her promise, although there passed her at that moment two soldiers, bearing between them a ghastly burden—a man with a livid face, and a bandaged head crimsoned with blood. Old Bob, with a hamper of lint under each arm, followed the two young ladies. Erminie led the way up the first flight of stairs to the first floor, and turned at once to the clothing room attached to that ward, and under the charge of a Sister of Mercy. It was a room furnished all around with shelves and drawers like a dry goods store, and filled with ready made under clothing, dressing gowns, bed linen and napery. A mild-eyed, black-robed young sister arose to receive the visitor. “I have brought you a fresh supply of lint, Sister Agnes,” said Erminie. “Ah, yes; we are very glad to have it; it is very much wanted. We had not near enough for the fresh cases we have received to-day.” “From what battle-field do these come, Sister, do you know?” “I don’t. Some of them came up by the steamboats. So I suppose there has been another battle somewhere down the river. And some of them, I know, came by railroad from the valley, where there has been a fight with the guerrillas.” “Oh!” said Erminie. And then as time was too precious to be spent in talking, she took up the large basket of oranges she had brought, and bowing adieu to this “mistress of the robes,” she passed down the corridor, attended by Elfie, and followed by Bob, who had been back to the carriage, and had returned with a large basket of jellies and fruits. “I visited one-half the wards this morning, and I must look into the others this afternoon,” said Erminie, as she turned to the right and opened a door leading into a long room, furnished with a double row of little white beds, on most of which lay wounded men. Smiles of glad welcome greeted this young angel visitant as soon as she appeared.