"Nothing but what I showed you before. I tried to get something new last week, but the wholesale houses had nothing, and couldn't say when anything new would come in. Their business has been wrecked, just as mine has been. Two of the best houses I used to do business with are bankrupt." "Then show me what you have again, please. Mamma and I must have something, even if it is out of date. We'll wear it for the honor of the South." At this old Mr. Blackwood smiled. "You are a loyal girl, Marion. I like to see it in a person, especially in one who is young. It shows the right training." "But supposing I was a Northerner," said Marion, with a sly twinkle in her eye. "It would make no difference in my opinion." "You believe people should be true to their convictions?" "Yes, no matter what side they stand upon. We think we are right, and are willing to fight for our opinions. They think they are right, and they are willing to fight, too." "But who is right?" Mr. Blackwood shrugged his shoulders. "Let us trust that God will bring this difficulty to a satisfactory conclusion. If we lose in this war, my one hope is that the South will not lose everything--that the North will be generous." "But they say Grant is a stubborn general. That he will demand everything of General Lee." "I cannot believe it. I have a cousin who knew Grant, and he said Grant was not so hard-hearted as painted." "Some say the South, if defeated, will be held in virtual slavery by the North." "Yes, some hot-heads say everything. I had such a fellow in here yesterday; a surgeon in our army, who gave his name as Dr. Mackey. He was ranting around, declaring that, if we lost, the Northern soldiers would march clear through to New Orleans and loot and burn every village, town, and city, and that neither life nor property would be safe. His talk was enough to scare a timid person most to death." "A surgeon in our army," said Marion. She had been told by Jack of the meeting on the bridge. "What kind of a looking man was he?" As well as he could Mr. Blackwood described the individual. "Did he seem to have a finger on one hand doubled up and stiff?" "Yes. Do you know him, Marion?" "I know of him. He met Jack on a bridge some days ago and ordered him off as if Jack were a slave." "He appeared to be as headstrong as he was unreasonable. I have seen him around here several times, but I cannot make out what he is doing here. He asked me about the wreck on Hemlock Bluff rocks." "What!" and Marion showed her surprise. "Yes. He said he had heard of the wreck and was curious to visit it." "That was strange." "I asked him why he wished to visit the wreck, but he did not answer the question." At this point some other customers came in and the conversation was changed. Marion bought what she wanted and went out, and presently joined Jack on the way home.