His mother sat close to his shoulder, rallying him like a tormenting schoolgirl, and, at intervals, turning to look back at her husband who stood on the steps beside her, a little amused, a little proud, a little inclined to be critical of this tall son of his who yesterday had been a boy.
The younger daughters of the house, Paige and Marye, strolled past, bareheaded, arms linked, in company with Camilla and Jimmy Lent.
"O dad!" called out Paige softly, "Jim says that Major Anderson is to be reinforced at once.

There was a bulletin this evening." "I am very glad to hear it, sweetheart," said her father, smiling through his eye-glasses.
Stephen bent forward across his mother's shoulder.

"Is that true, father ?" "Camilla's brother has probably been reading the _Tribune's_ evening bulletin.

The _Herald_ bulletin says that the Cabinet has ordered the evacuation of Fort Sumter; the _Times_ says Major Anderson is to be reinforced; the _World_ says that he abandoned the fort last night; and they all say he has been summoned to surrender.

Take your choice, Steve," he added wearily.