“I’m not going to allow you to attempt such a thing!” he said gravely. “I want to see mother--and to get a new uniform--and other things.” Dan looked at me as if he thought I was crazy. “Milicent is going--and I think I ought to go with her.” “I don’t want Millie to go--I don’t think she ought to try it; and I won’t permit you to go off on such a wild-goose chase.” I was silent a minute, trying to think how to tell him as respectfully as I could that I differed with him on this point. It all ended by my repeating in a stupid, poll-parrot fashion: “I’m going with Millie to Baltimore.” Dan looked at me as if he would like to spank me! Here was his obedient, docile girl-bride blossomed into a contumacious, rebellious wife! I was ready to cry--nay, I was crying--but I still affirmed that I must go to Baltimore. Dan reasoned and argued, but that didn’t do any good. Then he swore, but swearing didn’t alter the case. The case was, indeed, beyond Dan, but he made a long and hard fight, and didn’t surrender for a long while. I cried all night, and he reasoned all night. When he saw that the case was hopeless, he started us to Petersburg under suitable escort. We had to go first to Petersburg in order to get the money which we wished to take North to exchange for all the goods and chattels we might be able to smuggle South. Dan detailed a driver and an ambulance for our service and Lieutenant Johnston to act as escort. The morning we started it looked cloudy. Dan tried to dissuade us. I said I had always been a good weather prophet and I didn’t think it would rain. Millie reinforced me. But when it actually came to telling Dan good-by, I broke down. His threadbare clothes plead with me both ways. I hung around his neck and did so much crying that he got sorry for me and helped me off. “When I get you a new uniform, Dan--” I sobbed, as he tucked the old blanket shawl about me where I sat in the ambulance. “Uniform be ----!” growled Dan. Then, seeing my crestfallen look, “I reckon I’ll like it well enough, Nell--when it comes. Good-by, girls. You’re mighty big geese. God bless you! If you change your minds in Petersburg--but, Lord! an earthquake wouldn’t change you! Good-by, my darling--God bless you! I reckon you’ll get along all right.” The rusty coat-sleeve was out of sight, and I was on my way. CHAPTER X I CROSS THE COUNTRY IN AN AMBULANCE AND THE PAMUNKEY ON A LIGHTER As we traveled along farther and farther from Dan, I kept on crying softly to myself now and then, turning my face from Milicent. Presently her arm stole around me. “Do you feel so badly, darling?” “I hate to leave Dan--I can’t bear it!” “Then we’ll turn back, Nell.” And our astonished driver and escort received orders to turn back toward camp. “But in a few days,” I sobbed, “Dan--will--be--gone. And you--will be--gone. And I can’t stand that!” And to the further confusion of escort, driver, and mules, we were turned again.