after him through blinding tears. She knew how determined he was when
once his mind was made up, and she feared his present excitement would
last until he was fairly shipped, and it was too late to return. He
would never fight, she was sure, and at the first battle-sound he
would fly, and be hung as a deserter, no doubt! This touched her
pride. She would rather people should say of her boy that he married a
milliner's daughter than that he was hung, and hurrying to the window
just as Ben looked back, hoping for a signal, she waved her hand for
him to return, calling out at the top of her voice, "I relent--I
relent." "I knew the _Crimea_ would fetch her," said Ben; "lucky I
thought of that," and without going to his mother at all, he sought
out Rosamond. Half an hour later he astonished the former by rushing
into her presence, and exclaiming, "She's refused me, mother; and she
meant it, too. Oh, _I shall die_--I know I shall. _Oh, oh, oh!"_ and
Ben rolled on the floor in his frantic grief. As nearly as she could,
Mrs. Van Vechten learned the particulars of his interview with
Rosamond, and, though at first secretly pleased that he had been
refused, she felt a very little piqued that her son should thus be
dishonored, and when she saw how wretched it had made him, her
feelings were enlisted in his behalf, and she tried to soothe him by
saying that her brother had a great deal of influence with Rosamond,
and they would refer the matter to him.

"Go now, mother. Don't wait a minute," pleaded Ben, and Mrs. Van
Vechten started for her brother's library.

She found him alone, and disclosed the object of her visit at once.
Rosamond had refused her son, who, in consequence, was nearly
distracted, and threatened going to the Crimean war--a threat she knew
he would execute unless her brother persuaded Rosamond to revoke her