"So now this couple's married, Despite their bitter foe, And she's back again in England With her darling, Jack Monroe." The two visitors laughed outright as this information was wafted to them from the veranda, the old song growing more faint as the singer circled the house in search of Gertrude. "A true daughter of the South, Dr. Delaven," said the Judge, with a tender cadence betraying how close to his heart was his pride in all Southern excellence--"child and woman in one, sir--a charming combination." "Right you are, Judge, in that; may their numbers never be less." Evilena had found Gertrude and at once confessed her daring. "Don't know how I ever did have courage to pop my head in there. Aunt Sajane--but he talked of Jack Monroe just as I passed the window, and I pretended I thought he meant the old song (I do wonder if he ever--ever sang or whistled?) Then I told him what it was all about, and promised to sing it to him some day, and I know by the sort of smile he had that he wanted to order me out of the room as he used to when I was little." "Lena, Lena!" and Gertrude shook her head admonishingly at the girl, though she smiled at the recital. "Oh, you are an angel, Gertrude; so you never have temptations to do things for pure mischief. But I wish you'd tell me who this Jack Monroe is." "A Federal officer who was of service to us when Beaufort was taken." "A _Yankee_!"--and her horror was absolute. "Well, I should not think you'd accept service from such a person." "Honey!" said Aunt Sajane, in mild chiding. "We had no choice," said Gertrude, quietly; "afterwards we learned he and Kenneth had been friends at West Point; so he was really a gentleman." "And in the _Yankee Army_?" queried the irrepressible. "Good-bye, Jack Monroe, I shan't sing you again." "You might be faithful to one verse for Gertrude's sake," ventured Aunt Sajane. "Gertrude's sake?" "Why, yes; he protected them from the intrusion of the Yankees." "Oh--h! Aunt Sajane, I really thought you were going to ferret out a romance--a Romeo and Juliet affair--their families at war, and themselves--" "Evilena!" "When Gertrude says 'Evilena' in _that_ tone I know it is time to stop," said the girl, letting go the kitten she was patting, and putting her arm around Gertrude. "You dear, sensible Gertrude, don't mind one word I say; of course I did not mean it. Just as if we did not have enough Romeos in our own army to go around." The significant glance accompanying her words made Gertrude look slightly conscious. "You are a wildly romantic child," she said, smoothing the chestnut tinted waves of the girl's hair, "and pray, tell us how many of our military Romeos are singing 'Sweet Evilena,' and wearing your colors?"