"What do you fear, Daisy?" His look was unchanged and feared
nothing. It was very hard to tell him what I feared.

"I think, without seeing you and knowing you, they will never
let us write; and I would rather they did not know anything
about the - about us - till you can see them."

He took both my hands in his, and I felt how hard it is for a
woman to move a man's will when it is once in earnest.

"Daisy, that is not brave," he said.

"No - _I_ am not," I answered. "But is it not prudent?"

"I do not believe in cowardly prudence," he said; but he
kissed me gently to soften the words; "the frank way is the
wisest, always, I believe; and anyhow, Daisy, I can't stand
any other. I am going to ask you of your father and mother;
and I am going to do it without delay."

"I wish they could see you," I said helplessly.

"And as I cannot be present to do my pleading in person, I
must trust you to plead for me."

"You forget," said I; "it is against you that you are a
Northern officer."

"That may depend upon the event of the war," he said; and I