"
Miss Lou bowed low over her plate at this speech.
"But how about the long hours of the night, sir? Have you such
control over your men--"
"Yes, sir!" interrupted Scoville with dignity. "The men I have with
me are soldiers, not camp-followers. They would no more harm you or
anything you possess, without orders, than I would."
"Without orders--a clause of large latitude. As far as words go you
have already robbed me of the greater part of my possessions. You
have told my slaves that they are free."
"Not upon my own responsibility, sir, although with hearty goodwill.
In my humble station I am far more often called upon to obey orders
than to give them. You are aware of President Lincoln's
proclamation?"
"Yes, sir, and of the Pope's bull against the comet."
Scoville laughed so genially as partially to disarm his reply of its
sting. "In this instance, sir, our armies are rather gaining on the
comet."
"But what can you and your armies hope to accomplish?" Mrs. Whately
asked. "If you should destroy every Southern man, the women would
remain unsubdued.
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