CHAPTER XIV.
"_The golden hours, on angel wings, Flew o'er me and my dearie._" BURNS The evening that followed was of the brightest and happiest; even the adieus spoken to the soldier who was just leaving his home did not sadden it.

They were in such a state of exaltation as to see everything with courageous and hopeful eyes, and sent Robert off with the feeling that all these horrible realities they had known so long were but bogies to frighten foolish children, and that he would come back to them wearing, at the very least, the stars of a major-general.

Whatever sombre and painful thoughts filled Ercildoune's heart he held there, that no gloom might fall from him upon these fresh young lives, nor sadden the cheery expectancy of his son.
Surrey, having carried the first line of defence, prepared for a vigorous assault upon the second.

Like all eager lovers, his primary anxiety was to hear "Yes"; afterwards, the day.

To that end he was pleading with every resource that love and impatience could lend; but Francesca shook her head, and smiled, and said that was a long way off,--that was not to be thought of, at least till the war was over, and her soldier safe at home; but he insisted that this was the flimsiest, and poorest of excuses; nay, that it was the very reverse of the true and sensible idea, which was of course wholly on his side.