The general could not bring himself to speak of Elizabeth, and North lacked the courage to ask concerning her.
"I heard through one of my men of your arrest.

He brought word of it to the farm," the farmer said at length.
"Miss Herbert knows--of course you told her--" "Yes, North; yes, she knows!" her father replied.

"She knows and she urged me to come!" He saw North's face light up with a sudden look of joy.
"She urged you to come ?" repeated North.
"Yes--I think she would have come herself if I had not been willing." "I am glad she did not!" said North quickly.
"Of course! I told her it would only distress you." "It would only distress her--which is all that is worth considering," rejoined North.
"That's so!" said the general, approaching the young man and resting a brown and muscular hand on his shoulder.
"She has told you ?" asked North.
The older man nodded.
"Yes, she's told me," he said briefly.
"I can't ask if it was pleasant news at this time," said North.

"What do you wish me to do ?" he continued.

"She must forget what was said that night, and I, too, will endeavor to forget--tell her that." He passed a shaking hand before his face.
"I've a note here for you, North--" General Herbert was fumbling in his pocket--"from Elizabeth.