Then I gave them all an account of his adventure at the taking of San Fernando D'Omoa, when he handed the Spanish officer a cutlass to fight with him. In the first few days I was at home I was made more of than I ever had been before in my life. Tom stayed on with us. He had now no home to go to--no friends for whom he cared. He recovered his spirits and became as great a lion among his class as I was among mine--indeed, I suspect a far greater, as he made more than I could of all the adventures he had gone through, and was eager to tell about. The days passed by very pleasantly, but I felt a weight oppressing me, and could not rest till I had unburdened my mind to Jane about Madeline early on. At last I got her alone quietly, and told her all that had happened from beginning to end, and all my hopes and fears and wishes. She listened attentively. Her countenance changed its expression frequently as I went on. I looked at her earnestly to try and discover what she thought. "Oh, brother," she exclaimed at last, "I doubt not that she is a dear charming girl. I doubt not that you love her, and that she is deserving of your love, but she is the daughter of a rebel. She is living among rebels; she will not leave them; but for you to go to them, to wed with her would assuredly bring dishonour and disgrace upon your name." "Why, Jane, I did not expect you to speak thus," I exclaimed. "You are hard upon me. I would not wish to go and live with rebels; but the Americans will not be rebels much longer. We are pressing them hard by land and sea, and they will soon come to terms. If they do not give in I think we shall give up, for everybody is heartily sick of the war. Nobody is gaining anything, and everybody is losing by it. Fighting the French and the Spaniards is a very different thing. Everybody feels that. It's all natural, you know." "I'm sure that I shall be glad to hear that the war is over," said Jane, with a sigh, "but surely the Americans must be very wicked people to behave as they have done to their lawful sovereign King George." "They say that he has been a very ill-advised King to behave as he has done to them," I replied. "You see, dear Jane, that there are two sides to every question; but do not let us discuss that matter just now. You'll say that, for the sake of Madeline Carlyon, I am siding too much with the Americans, but that is not the reason. I have been on the spot. I know the feelings of both sides. I have seen how things have been managed. I am sure the war can bring no honour or profit to England, and I heartily wish that it was ended one way or the other." "So do I, brother, believe me," said Jane warmly; "and then, if Miss Carlyon is all you describe her, I for one will cordially welcome her as a sister if you can persuade her to come over here to visit our kith and kin." I jumped up and gave Jane a hearty kiss when she said this.