spirit."

"She has suddenly taken the notion that, since she is growing up,
she can snap her fingers at all the powers that be."

"Growing up! Why, uncle, she's grown, and ready to hear me say,
'With all my worldly goods I thee endow.'"

"But the trouble is, she doesn't act as if very ready."

"Oh, tush! she isn't ready to throw herself at the head of any one.
That isn't the way of Southern girls. They want a wooer like a
cyclone, who carries them by storm, marries them nolens volens, and
then they're happy. But to be serious, uncle, in these stormy times
Lou needs a protector. You've escaped for a long time, but no one
can tell now what a day will bring forth. As my wife, Cousin Lou
will command more respect. I can take her within our lines, if
necessary, or send her to a place of safety. Ah, here comes my
blooming aunt to prepare for supper."

"Welcome to The Oaks," she again repeated. "Never more welcome,
since you come as defender as well as guest."

"Yes, aunt; think of a red-whiskered Yank paying his respects
instead of me."

"Don't suggest such horrors, please."

The gentlemen now joined Miss Lou in the parlor, while under Mrs.
Baron's supervision Zany, and Chunk, as gardener and man-of-all-