_Gaylie._ Mother, what does this mean? _Mrs. T._ Mother! you have no right to call me by that name: you have disgraced it. Four years ago you plighted vows with my dear boy; he went to battle, trusting in your promise: and now another's arms are about you, another's voice pleading to you for words which tremble on your lips. O Gaylie! how I have loved you, you may never know; but I love my boy, and he shall not come here to have his noble heart broken at the sight of his rival, a favored suitor. No: I thank you for all your kindness to me, but—my boy's coming, and I'll go to meet him: he has no one to love him now so tenderly as his old mother, bless him! 'Twill be a hard blow after all his love and hope and faith. O Gaylie, Gaylie! you've broken my heart! (_Drops her box, and staggers forward_; GAYLIE _runs, and catches her in her arms_.) _Gaylie._ O mother, mother! this must not be! Stay here; this is your home: here Rob will come— _Mrs. T._ Not in that man's presence will I meet my boy. _Rowell_ (_aside_). The old lady's complimentary. (_Aloud._) I think Mrs. Trueworth is right, Gaylie. It would certainly be unpleasant to young Trueworth to see our happiness. _Gaylie._ I beg your pardon, colonel; I have not spoken yet. _Mrs. T._ Let me go, Gaylie: I cannot stay here! _Gaylie._ You must, you shall, mother! You have heard the colonel: now hear me. _Mrs. T._ No, no! I will go. Hark! what's that? (_Distant chorus; sings the chorus of "Marching through Georgia."_) _Gaylie._ At last, at last! They've come, mother, they've come. Hear me. Within myself, and to myself, I made a vow that I would keep Col. Rowell in suspense until I heard the victorious shouts of our returning heroes. They come, and I can speak; hear me: Col. Rowell, you have asked me to be your wife: I answer, No; for I detest you. (MRS. TRUEWORTH _goes over to chair_, R.) _Rowell._ Gaylie, what is this? are you in earnest? _Gaylie._ Four years ago I defied you; enlisted, for the war between you and my hero, on his side, not yours. I have kept the faith: I have battled you from that time to this, and won the victory. _Rowell._ Battled! victory! I do not understand you. _Gaylie._ You sought to keep us apart, and, to that end, intercepted our letters. _Rowell._ No, no! you are mistaken! I—I am innocent of any such crime. (_Enter_ HIRAM, R.) _Gaylie._ Here is my witness. 'Twas he who aided me in outwitting you. For the last two years our letters have passed under cover of his name. Those you have stopped were decoys. _Rowell_ (_aside_). What a fool I have been! _Gaylie._ You sought to keep my hero in the ranks. Perhaps you will recollect the first letter which reached him. 'Twas sent by the hands of a trusty messenger. (Enter CRIMP, L.) 'Twas delivered in your presence. _Crimp._ Yaas, colonel; d-d-don't shoot!