She drew
the curtains of her window and then shrank back, shuddering and
sobbing, for, scattered over the lawn, men and horses lay stark and
motionless. More pitiful still, here and there a wounded horse was
struggling feebly. The spring morning, dewy, bright, fragrant, made
these evidences of strife tenfold more ghastly. There could not be a
more terrible indictment of war than nature's peaceful loveliness.
By the time she was dressed she was joined by Mrs. Whately, who
looked serious indeed. Before they could descend to the lower hall,
Madison, haggard and gloomy of aspect, intercepted them. Looking at
his cousin's red eyes and pale face, he asked abruptly, "What's the
matter?"
"Do you think I am accustomed to these sights and sounds?" she
answered.
"Oh," he said, in a tone which seemed to her heartless, "it's an old
story to me. Mother, I must speak alone with you a moment."
She turned back with him to her room, meantime saying, "Louise, I do
not think you had better go down without me.
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