MRS. HAVERILL. Mr. West! I've been looking for you. I have a favour to ask.
MRS. HAVERILL. But I am sorry to have interrupted you and Gertrude. [_Apart._] There are tears in your eyes, Gertrude, dear!
GERTRUDE. [_Apart._] They have no right there.
MRS. HAVERILL. [_Apart._] I'm afraid I know what has happened. A quarrel! and you are to part with each other so soon. Do not let a girl's coquetry trifle with her heart until it is too late. You remember the confession you made to me last night?
GERTRUDE. [_Apart._] Constance! [_Starting._] That is my secret; more a secret now than ever.
MRS. HAVERILL. [_Apart._] Yes, dear; but you do love him. [GERTRUDE _moves away._
GERTRUDE. You need not ride over with me, Mr. West.
GERTRUDE. I choose to go alone! Old Pete will be with me; and Jack, himself, is a charming companion.
KERCHIVAL. If you prefer Jack's company to mine--
GERTRUDE. I do. [_Exit on veranda and down right._
KERCHIVAL. Damn Jack! But you will let me assist you to mount. [_Exit after her._
MRS. HAVERILL. We leave for the North before noon, but every hour seems a month. If my husband should learn what happened in my room to-night, he would kill that man. What encouragement could I have given him? Innocence is never on its guard--but, [_Drawing up._] the last I remember before I fell unconscious, he was crouching before me like a whipped cur! [_Starts as she looks out of the window._] There is Mr. Thornton now--Ah! [_Angrily._] No,--I must control my own indignation. I must keep him and Colonel Haverill from meeting before we leave Charleston. Edward Thornton would shoot my husband down without remorse. But poor Frank! I must not forget him, in my own trouble. I have but little time left to care for his welfare.
KERCHIVAL. You said I could do you a favour, Mrs. Haverill?
MRS. HAVERILL. Yes, I wanted to speak with you about General Haverill's son, Frank. I should like you to carry a message to Charleston for me, as soon as it is light. It is a sad errand. You know too well the great misfortune that has fallen upon my husband in New York.
KERCHIVAL. His only son has brought disgrace upon his family name, and tarnished the reputation of a proud soldier. Colonel Haverill's fellow-officers sympathize with him most deeply.