_Mattie._ Glad! You should be ashamed of yourself. You can't marry them both. _Gaylie._ Oh! you don't know what I can, what I will do. _Rob_ (_approaching_). Mattie, sister, good-by. _Mattie_ (_rising, and running into his arms_. GAYLIE _slips into her seat, and covers her face_). O brother! so soon? what shall we do without you? _Rob._ Keep a good heart, sister. You will do bravely. (_Kisses her._ MATTIE _goes to her mother_, C. ROB _comes down, looks at_ GAYLIE, _sighs, and turns up stage_.) Good-by, Crimp. (_Shakes hands._) _Crimp._ Good-by, Massa Rob. I'm obleeged to you. You'll come home a drum-major, sartin sure. _Rob._ Thank you, Crimp. Good-by, Hiram, and thank you for your friendly aid. _Hiram._ Good-by, Rob. I'll look out for the women-folks, sharp too. (ROB _goes to door_.) _Gaylie_ (_running up stage_). Rob, Rob! you've forgotten me! _Rob._ True, Gaylie. I had not the heart to say farewell to you. You are so dear— _Rowell._ This is but tardy obedience. _Rob._ Ah! you fear me, Col. Rowell, no more than I fear myself. But am I not bound in honor to be silent? Gaylie, farewell: you have been a kind friend to us, will still be to my dear ones when I am gone. Good-by. _Gaylie._ Rob, is there nothing more you would say to me? (_Looks at him tenderly._) _Rob._ Nothing, Gaylie: were you but the poor girl I once thought you; but no, no— _Gaylie._ Rob, whatever you would have said to the poor girl, say to the rich heiress: there's the same heart here. _Rowell._ Confusion! is she leading him on to confession? _Rob._ O Gaylie! am I awake? You give me life; you give me hope: you make me bold to speak. Gaylie, I love you, dearly, truly. _Gaylie_ (_placing her hands on his shoulders_). As dearly and truly as I love you? O Rob! it must be deep and strong. _Rob_ (_clasping her in his arms_). Mine, Gaylie, mine! oh, this is happiness indeed! _Crimp._ Hi, das a fac. De Union foreber! _Rowell._ Girl, are you losing your senses? I forbid this folly. _Gaylie._ And who are you? _Rowell._ Your guardian. You shall not throw yourself away upon a common soldier. _Rob_ (_comes down_). A common soldier! True. I glory in my rank. You leap to a command by power and influence. My spurs must yet be won. I am content. Should I rise by merit, no emblems of rank could shed a brighter glow than gleams from the trusty bayonets of Liberty's common soldiers. _Rowell._ Enough! To your regiment. You forget I am your superior. _Rob._ No, I do not forget it; and I know what to expect,—hard service, and an enemy in command. I am satisfied, for I have won the victory here. (_Takes Gaylie's hand._) _Rowell._ Be not so sure of that. You forget the enemy has a long arm, and it may reach even here. _Gaylie._ And, if it does, I fear it not.