And so the whole country waited in breathless anxiety on that cold and drizzling October day, with its attention centered on tumultuous Philadelphia, both sides fearing defeat, both sides hoping for victory, and all dreading the spark with which some chance word or untoward accident might kindle the smoldering passions in that city into flames that would quickly involve the whole nation. Rhoda moved restlessly about the house, showing little interest in her usual duties and disregarding her mother’s hints that she was neglecting their invalid guest. Delavan had almost recovered from his injuries and in a few days would return home. Mrs. Ware was sorely disappointed that his presence in the house had not affected her daughter’s determination. She began to feel sure that it must be her husband’s influence over Rhoda that balked all her own efforts and nullified the effect of the constant association from which she had hoped so much. Jeff asked her advice that morning and they talked the matter over intimately. She promised him once more the full measure of her influence with Rhoda. “I’m afraid it isn’t much,” she said, a little tremulously. “But I’ll do my best, Jeff.” “I thank you, Mrs. Ware, madam, and I assure you I shall not go away without trying again to win her consent.” “You and little Emmy used to call me ‘Aunt Emily,’ when I was at Fairmount,” she said with a suggestion of reproof, half motherly, half coquettish, if the chastened ghost of a manner that sometimes remembered its alluring youth might still be called coquettish. “It is the dearest wish of my heart to call you ‘mother,’ some day,” he answered, kissing her hand. “And of mine to hear you call me so,” she added, bending over and touching her lips to his forehead. Then they fell to talking of his mother and she was deeply interested in the many little things Jeff remembered of her life at Fairmount. He recalled that she had always shown concern for the welfare of the slaves and had given training in their duties and deportment to the housemaids and had allowed them and also the men who served about the house and gardens to acquire a little education if they wanted it.