The information had not meant much to her then; but when she had heard Mrs.Haddon speak on the previous evening about his attachment to his mother and his sister, she remembered what Ella has said, and her heart was full of pity for him.

She had made up her mind to tell him all that Mrs.Haddon had said, for surely more sympathetic words had never been spoken; and her opportunity had come sooner than she expected.
Their chat together had led naturally up to Mrs.Haddon, and she had been able to repeat to him almost word for word all that his mother's friend had said.
Her heart felt for him.

Surely the sweetest reward that can come to a man who has toiled and fought and conquered was denied to the man who had just parted from her.

He had toiled and conquered; but not for him was the joy of seeing pride on the face of those who claimed him as their kin.

His father had been killed when he had charged with a brigade through the lines of a stubborn enemy--everyone knew the story.