And on that day she came to her shameful decision.
She wrote him, waited a dreary week for an answer; wrote him again, waited two weeks; wrote him a third and last letter.

No answer came.

And she went dully about the task of forgetting.
About the middle of July she heard from Stephen that Berkley had enlisted in one of the new unattached cavalry companies, but which one he did not know.

Also she learned that the 3rd Zouaves had their marching orders and would probably come to the city to receive their colours.

Later she heard from the mayor, the common council, and from Major Lent; and prepared for the ceremony.
The ceremony was prettily impressive; Ailsa, Mrs.Craig, her daughters, Paige and Marye, and Camilla Lent wearing a bell button from Stephen's zouave jacket, stood on the lawn in front of Ailsa's house, escorted by Colonel Arran who had returned from Washington, with his commission, by the mayor of the city, and several red-faced, fat-paunched gentlemen of the common council, and by a young officer, Captain Hallam, who stood behind Ailsa and seemed unable to keep his handsome eyes off her.
Twenty-third Street was packed solid with people and all aflutter with flags under the July sun when the distant strains of military music and blue lines of police heralded the coming of the 3rd Zouaves.
Band crashing, raw, gray horses of field and staff-officers dancing, the regiment came swinging down the wide stony street,--a torrent of red and gold, a broad shaft of silvery bayonets;--and halted facing the group of ladies and officials.
Celia Craig looked down at her husband where he sat his great gray horse.