"Why, papa, I had no idea of seeing you to-day!" exclaimed Florry, when she had wiped away her abundant tears. "I did not know that I should ever see you again, for they say that all the roads to the North have been closed to travel." "We did not come by land, either by railroad or otherwise; and the Bellevite lies at the wharf near this house," the captain explained. "I was terribly afraid I should never see you again, and that I should have to stay here till this war is ended, papa; but they say it will soon be over," said the fair girl. "I am afraid it will not be over for a long time, for each side is firmly united in its own cause. But I could not leave you here. Do you want to go back to Bonnydale, Florry?" "Do I want to go back? What a funny question, papa!" exclaimed she. "Why is it a funny question?" asked the anxious father, recalling the rather presumptuous suggestion the gallant major from Fort Gaines had made. "Don't you think I want to see mamma? You have not told me a word about her; and it is a long time now since I have heard any thing. I do want to go home, and especially I want to see mamma." "Then you shall see her." "Is she here, papa?" exclaimed Florry, leaping out of the chair in which she had seated herself. "She is not here, my child. She is at home, but it will not take many days to bear you to her," replied the devoted father, embracing her again, while she kissed him over and over again. "Can I see her before the war is over, papa?" she asked. "Certainly you can, if no accident interferes with my plans. You really want to go home?" "To be sure I do. How cruel it is of you to ask me such a question!" "Then I won't ask it again. But perhaps you will not be able to come to Glenfield again for years," added Captain Passford, looking earnestly into her face. "What makes you look at me so, papa? What have I done? You look just as you did when I was little and pulled the kitten's tail." "It is a long time since I have seen you, Florry and I want to look at you all I can." [Illustration: "She was Clasped in her Father's Arms" (Page 148)] "Then you may look at me as much as you wish; and I shall be thankful it is not that Major Pierson who comes here, for he has stared me out of countenance every time he came," replied she, blushing a little. "Then you don't like him, do you?" asked her father, with more interest than he cared to display. "I like him well enough, but I wish he would not stare at me all the time. He seems to think I am good for nothing but to look at," replied Florry smartly.