I had thus always escaped surprise. No enemy ever annoyed me. It was the old adage, however, of the pitcher that went to the well so often!--but let me go on with my narrative. As my horse uttered his shrill neigh now, ringing through the March evening, the door opened and Katy ran out to greet me. She had never looked more beautiful, and I recall still, as though I had seen it yesterday, the charming smile on her red lips. The wind blew back her ringlets till they resembled golden ripples--the rosy cheeks were flushed--there madam! (I say this to some one who is leaning over my shoulder, and laughing) don’t begrudge me these smiling memories! Katy was only my little niece as it were--she is married and far away now. Nay, Surry ought to love and be grateful to the little lady who took such good care, in those grim days, of--your husband, madam! Behind Katy appeared the faces of the excellent family, who cordially greeted me. Behind all appeared the blushing but dandified Tom Herbert. “Ah! there is a straggler!” I said. “Why don’t you send him back to his command, ladies? Every man should be at his post in this trying moment!” “Oh, bother, my dear Surry! what a tongue you have!” exclaimed Tom. “I see General Fitz was right, or his staff rather, in what they told me, Tom.” “What did they tell you, my dear boy?” “That you were demoralized and captured!” Sweet smile on the faces of the family at these words! “That you had acknowledged your weakness, seen that further resistance was hopeless, and were already negotiating a surrender to the enemy. Well, Tom, what are the terms? Are they arranged?” Suddenly I felt my hair pulled by an enemy from behind; and looking round I saw Miss Katy passing by, with an immense appearance of innocence. Her face was blushing; her lips emitted a low laugh; and seeing that no one was looking at her, she raised her finger in silent menace at me. This caused a diversion, and Tom was enabled to rally his forces. “My dear Surry,” he said, smiling, with his delightfully foppish air, “it always charms me to meet you, for you are always sparkling, brilliant, full of wit; which reminds me of the good old days with Stuart! You have only one fault, my boy, you think yourself a philosopher. Don’t do that, I beg, Surry!--But what’s the news from Petersburg?” I acquiesced in the change of topic, and gave Tom the news; but I was looking at Katy.