This was torture--and she could not escape.
"Oh, Daddy, Daddy!" she burst forth with a wail of tragedy in her voice.
"_What must I tell him_ ?" The father's lips, which had been closed against the pain that racked him, softened with the perfect trust which went into his gentle command.
"The _truth_, Virgie.

Whatever the General asks." The General's observant eyes rested on the proud Southerner for an instant, noted that his face was quite without anxiety, then went back to the little child.
"Well, did he ?" he asked.
"Y-y-y-es, sir," answered Virgie with a gulp.
The General nodded and his face grew grave again.
"I wonder if you even know what it means.

A _spy_!" "Yes, sir," said the Littlest Rebel, and dropped her eyes.
"Hm.

And do you remember how many times he came that way ?" "Yes, sir," came the instant answer, and she threw up her head.
"_Once_." "_Once ?_" echoed the General, surprised.

"Are you sure ?" "Yes, sir," she answered.