"I suppose so."

"You are not going?" - I asked, because the question was
torturing me.

He looked down at me again, a steady, fixed, inquiring look,
that grew very full of affection before he answered,

"I hope so, Daisy."

"You are not ordered!"

"No; not yet."

"But if you were to go, would you not know it by this time?"

"Not certainly. Some troops will be left here of course, to
guard Washington."

I walked with my heart in my mouth. I knew, what he did not
say, that orders might be issued suddenly and as suddenly
obeyed; with no beforehand warning or after delay. How could I
speak anything of what had been in my mind to be said? Yet the
very circumstances which made it more difficult made it also
imperative, to speak them. I fought myself, while Mr. Thorold
sometimes watched me and constantly took care of me, with a
thoughtful care in little things which was eloquent.

"Christian" - I began, feeling my voice changed.