"That is true."
"If I married him I would still remain a Ruthven."
"Then why not remain an old maid and likewise a Ruthven? It would be far better, take my word on it."
"Then you don"t advise me to marry?"
"I don"t advise you to marry St. John."
"Oh!"
"Are you engaged to him?" he asked, coming closer.
"I am not."
"I am glad to hear it."
"Are you married, Cousin Harry?" she asked suddenly.
"Me? No, Marion--not yet."
"I suppose you"ll marry some Yankee girl one of these days."
"I don"t think so, unless----"
"Unless what?"
"Unless the girl I always did love goes back on me, Marion. Do you think she will go back on me?" and he caught both of her hands in his own.
"Harry, you are a--a--Yankee."
"But that doesn"t affect my feelings for you."
"A true Yankee ought not to care for a Southern girl."
"And why not?"
"Well, I don"t know exactly. But it doesn"t seem right."
"Do you mean to say that a Southern girl ought not to care for the man who is fighting as his conscience dictates?" he demanded, turning a trifle pale.
"No, no, Harry! I honor you for sticking to your principles. But we had better say no more at present on this subject." She glanced down the garden path. "See, St. John is coming. Let go my hands."
He dropped her hands and took a seat on the other side of the summerhouse, and a moment later St. John Ruthven presented himself at the doorway.
CHAPTER XVIII.
MEETING OF THE COUSINS.
St. John had come up the garden path quickly, and had failed to notice Harry Powell, although he had caught sight of a well-known dress which Marion wore.
Now, when he saw the young surgeon, his face fell, for he had calculated upon seeing Marion alone.
"Excuse me, Marion," he said, "I did not know you had company."
"Come in, St. John," replied the girl. "Do you not recognize my visitor?
It is Dr. Harry Powell."
"Oh!" St. John was much surprised, and showed it. "How do you do?" he continued stiffly.
"Shake hands. You are cousins," went on Marion, not liking the dark look which had come to St. John"s face.
"Excuse me, but I cannot shake hands with one who wears that uniform,"
returned the spendthrift, drawing back. "I am surprised, Marion, to see you upon such intimate terms with your country"s foe."
Marion"s face flushed, and she bit her lip. Harry Powell set his teeth and then smiled coldly.
"I perceive you wear no uniform at all, St. John," he remarked pointedly.
"No. My duty to my mother keeps me at home," stammered St. John.
"If all who have mothers were to remain at home we would have few soldiers."
"It is a very great trial to me to have to remain at home," went on the hypocrite smoothly. "Yet, to my notion, a man is far better off at home than to be wearing a Yankee uniform."
"That is for each man to decide for himself."
St. John turned to Marion.
"Does your mother know that Dr. Powell is here?"
"Yes; she has invited him to dine with us."
"To dine with you!" exclaimed the spendthrift.
"Yes, what is wrong about that?" questioned Harry Powell.
"I thought she was a true and loyal Southern woman."
"I do not follow you," answered Harry Powell hotly. "The ties of blood count for something, even in war times."
"They do not count for as much as that--to me," said St. John sourly.
"Then I presume you will not care to stop and dine with us, St. John,"
put in Marion.