The voices still persisted, but they sounded so distant that the light laughter from their neighbour's stoop drowned the echoes.
Later, Jimmy Lent drifted into the family circle.
"They say that there's an extra out about Fort Sumter," he said.
"Do you think he's given up, Mr.Craig ?" "If there's an extra out the fort is probably safe enough, Jim," said the elder man carelessly.

He rose and went toward the group of girls and youths under the trees.
"Come, children," he said to his two daughters; and was patient amid indignant protests which preceded the youthful interchange of reluctant good-nights.
When he returned to the stoop Ailsa had gone indoors with her cousin.

His wife rose to greet him as though he had been away on a long journey, and then, passing her arms around her schoolgirl daughters, and nodding a mischievous dismissal to Jimmy Lent, walked slowly into the house.

Bolts were shot, keys turned; from the lighted front parlour came the notes of the sweet-toned square piano, and Ailsa's voice: -- "Dear are her charms to me, Dearest her constancy, Aileen aroon--" "Never mind any more of that silly song!" exclaimed Celia, imprisoning Ailsa's arms from behind.
"Youth must with time decay, Aileen aroon, Beauty must fade away, Aileen aroon--" "Don't, dear! please----" But Ailsa sang on obstinately: "Castles are sacked in war, Chieftains are scattered far, Truth is a fixed star, Aileen aroon." And, glancing back over her shoulder, caught her breath quickly.
"Celia! What _is_ the matter, dear ?" "Nothing.

I don't like such songs--just now----" "What songs ?" "I don't know, Ailsa; songs about war and castles.