BY FRANCES C. SPARHAWK, Author of "A Lazy Man's Work."
While Archdale, full of emotions that he did not try to analyze, went on toward Grand Battery, a figure, eluding him, crept softly to one of the hospital tents, lifted the curtain a little way without being observed at first, and stood looking in, an interested spectator, not because human suffering, patience, and courage were upon exhibition here, but because here he would find some one who could give him information that he wanted.
In a few minutes Nancy Foster, passing by the door, looked up and saw him watching her. She had become too well used to unfamiliar faces and to messages at all hours and was too well protected to feel alarm.
"Oh! la! how you startled me," she cried. "What do you want? Dr. Waters?"
"Hush!" he said, and beckoned to her to draw nearer. "I want to speak to that lady yonder, only for a moment. Do you think she would come here?" Harwin, for it was he, was a fine illustration of the proverb that he who asks timidly, teaches denial. If he had demanded her mistress, Nancy would have spoken to her at once. Now she scanned the intruder curiously, and judged from the hesitation of his manner that his errand was not urgent.
"No, she can't," she answered, with the decision wanting in the other. "Don't you see how she's driven? And she's got to go away some time and get a little rest. You'll have to come tomorrow."
"To-morrow!" he echoed drearily. Was it for this that he had come from the fleet in the dispatch boat, and was braving all dangers? He took a resolution from despair. He fell back until Nancy had gone and was again intent upon her work.
At last he stepped forward noiselessly and began to make the half circuit of the tent toward Elizabeth. Nancy, pre-occupied, passed by him without speaking.
Elizabeth had sent for fresh water to moisten the lips of the dying soldier whom she had told Archdale about. She had just filled her cup a second time, and was on her way toward her especial charge for that night, when Edmonson asked her for water. Ashamed of her impatience at the simple request, she turned toward him, walking carefully with her eyes upon her mug, not to waste a refreshment that had to be brought from a distance. Suddenly, she found herself almost running against the intruder. She looked up.