“She haughtily affirmed her absolute faith in you, avowed her engagement to marry you, pointed to your splendid military record; disdainfully exposed the motive for Hallam’s action. . . .  And she convinced Miss Dix, who, in turn, convinced the Surgeon General.  And, in consequence, I can now take my little girl away from here on furlough, thank God!—­and thanks to Ailsa Paige, who lied like a martyr in her behalf.  And that’s what I came here to tell you.”

He drew a long, shuddering breath, his hand relaxed on Berkley’s shoulder, and fell away.

“I don’t know to-day what Ailsa Paige believes; but I know what she did for the sake of a young girl. . . .  If, in any way, her faith in you has been poisoned, remember what was laid before her, proven in black and white, apparently; remember, more than that, the terrible and physically demoralising strain she has been under in the line of duty.  No human mind can remain healthy very long under such circumstances; no reasoning can be normal.  The small daily vexations, the wear and tear of nerve tissue, the insufficient sleep and nourishment, the close confinement in the hospital atmosphere, the sights, sounds, odours, the excitement, the anxiety—­all combine to distort reason and undermine one’s natural equipoise.

“Phil, if Ailsa, in her own heart, doubts you as she now doubts Letty, you must understand why.  What she did shows her courage, her sweetness, her nobility.  What she may believe—­or think she believes—­is born only of morbid nerves, overworked body, and a crippled power of reasoning.  Her furlough is on the way; I did myself the honour to solicit it, and to interest Miss Dix in her behalf.  It is high time; the child cannot stand much more. . . .  After a good rest in the North, if she desires to return, there is nobody to prevent her . . . unless you are wise enough to marry her.  What do you think?”

Berkley made no answer.  They remained silent for a long time.  Then the doctor rose and picked up his lantern; and Berkley stood up, too, taking the doctor’s outstretched hand.

“If I were you, Phil, I’d marry her,” said Benton.  “Good-night.  I’ll see Colonel Arran in the morning.  Good-night, my boy.”

“Good-night,” said Berkley in a dull voice.

Midnight found him pacing the dead sod in front of the veranda, under the stars.  One by one the lights in the hospital had been extinguished; a lantern glimmered at the guard-house; here and there an illuminated window cast its oblong of paler light across the grass.  Southward the crimson radiance had died out; softened echoes of distant gunshots marked the passing of the slow, dark hours, but the fitful picket firing was now no louder than the deadened stamp of horses in their stalls.

A faint scent of jasmine hung in the air, making it fresher, though no breeze stirred.

He stood for a while, face upturned to the stars, then his head fell.  Sabre trailing, he moved slowly out into the open; and, at random, wandered into the little lane that led darkly down under green bushes to Letty’s bridge.