GERTRUDE. I was never more astonished or delighted in my life than when you and Jenny Buckthorn rode up, this morning, with a guard from Winchester; and Madeline, dear, I--I only wish that my brother Robert could be here, too. Do you remember in Charleston, darling--that morning--when I told you that--that Robert loved you? MADELINE. He--[_Looking down._]--he told me so himself only a little while afterwards, and while we were standing there, on the shore of the bay--the--the shot was fired which compelled him to enter this awful war--and me to return to my home in the North. GERTRUDE. I was watching for that shot, too. [_Turning._ MADELINE. Yes--[_Rising_.]--you and brother Kerchival-- GERTRUDE. We won't talk about that, my dear. We were speaking of Robert. As I told you this morning, I have not heard from him since the battle of Winchester, a month ago. Oh, Madeline! the many, many long weeks, like these, we have suffered, after some terrible battle in which he has been engaged. I do not know, now, whether he is living or dead. MADELINE. The whole war has been one long suspense to me. [_Dropping her face into her hands_. GERTRUDE. My dear sister! [_Placing her arm about her waist and moving left_.] You are a Northern girl, and I am a Rebel--but we are sisters. [_They go up veranda and out_. An OLD COUNTRYMAN _comes in on a cane. He stops and glances back, raises a broken portion of the capstone of post, and places a letter under it_. GERTRUDE _has stepped back on veranda and is watching him. He raises his head sharply, looking at her and bringing his finger to his lips. He drops his head again, as with age, and goes out._ GERTRUDE _moves down to stage and up to road, looks right and left, raises the broken stone, glancing back as she does so; takes letter and moves down_.] Robert is alive! It is his handwriting! [_Tears open the wrapper_.] Only a line from him! and this--a despatch--and also a letter to me! Why, it is from Mrs. Haverill--from Washington--with a United States postmark. [_Reads from a scrap of paper_.] "The enclosed despatch must be in the hands of Captain Edward Thornton before eight o'clock to-night. We have signaled to him from Three Top Mountain, and he is waiting for it at the bend in Oak Run. Our trusty scout at the Old Forge will carry it if you will put it in his hands."