CHAPTER VII.
GENERAL ROLLESTON'S servants made several trips to the _Proserpine,_ carrying boxes, etc.
But Helen herself clung to the house till the last moment.

"Oh, papa!" she cried, "I need all my resolution, all my good faith, to keep my word with Arthur, and leave you.

Why, why did I promise?
Why am I such a slave to my word ?" "Because," said the old general, with a voice not so firm as usual, "I have always told you that a lady is not to be inferior to a gentleman in any virtue except courage.

I've heard my mother say so often; and I've taught it to my Helen.

And, my girl, where would be the merit of keeping our word, if we only kept it when it cost us nothing ?" He promised to come after, in three months at furthest, and the brave girl dried her tears as well as she could, not to add to the sadness he fought against as gallantly as he had often fought the enemies of his country.
The _Proserpine_ was to sail at two o'clock.