"I am glad," he said at length, "to hear that you are all well. I am going away, and could not feel satisfied to do so without learning that my services were not needed here." "Going away?" she echoed. "We had not heard of it." "No; it is scarcely an hour since I knew it myself." "Where? how long?" she asked impetuously, with changed countenance; then blushing to think she had betrayed so much curiosity and interest--"Excuse me, but Percy and Clare will be anxious to know; some of us may be taken sick." "Yes; but we will hope not," he said, in the same calm, even tone he had used all along, his gaze still fixed upon the fire. "I go out into the wilderness, Miss Nell, and the time of my return is uncertain." "Now! in this most inclement season of the year?" she exclaimed. "Isn't it running a great risk? would it not be wiser to put off your journey till spring opens?" "I think not," he answered slowly; "life is uncertain, and what my hand finds to do must be done with my might." "But if you lose your life?" "It will be in the path of duty; and there are some things worth even that risk, Miss Nell." He turned his head, and his eyes looked full into hers. "They must be of very great importance," she answered, returning his look with one as calm and quiet as his own, though her pulses quickened at the thought that he was perhaps about to appeal to her for sympathy in his mysterious sorrow. But he did not. "Do you not agree in my opinion?" he asked. "Yes; if I had been in Percy's place when the war broke out, I would have done just as he did--periled my life and all I had for my country," she said with kindling eyes. He smiled approval, then rising, "Good-by, Miss Nell," he said, taking her hand in his, "I must away." "What! to-night? and do you go alone?" "I start to-night, Wawillaway is to be my guide a part of the way," he said; "after that my horse and gun will be my sole companions." "Oh, can't you get Wawillaway to go with you all the way? I should feel--so much more hopeful for your safe return!" she exclaimed; then blushing deeply, as she saw his face light up with pleasure while he asked, "Do you really care for that?" she hastily withdrew her hand, saying almost pettishly: "Of course I care to have you here in case any of the family should be taken sick. You understand our constitution, and are the only doctor in the town that we have the least confidence in." His countenance fell, and she thought she heard a faint sigh as he turned sadly away, and with a silent bow left the house. She dropped into a chair, hid her face in her hands, and burst into a passion of tears. "Oh, how could I! how could I! when he has been so good and kind to me!" she sobbed. "It's just as if I had struck him a cruel blow, and oh! I could beat myself for it!"