It was about this time that Mrs. Hartley, accompanied by her mother,
had returned to her husband's residence, and one day as she was
visiting Mrs. De Beaumont she learnt the story concerning the
wounded officer, who, though in the service of the North, was
compassionately treated by the whole household, having made friends
of them all by his cheerful uncomplaining disposition, and his
grateful acknowledgment of even the slightest service. While
recounting the story to her husband and mother at dinner, the latter
grasped the table convulsively with both her hands, and breathlessly
demanded of her daughter all the particulars; with a wild
exclamation of terror, she rushed up to her room, hastily followed
by her bewildered daughter. The latter found her mother in the act of
dressing hurriedly, and on enquiring for an explanation the poor
woman fell on her child's neck, and with bitter tears explained that
it was _her own father_ who lay so near them at death's door, and
that, whatever it might cost, she would rush to his side.
Poor Mrs. Hartley was sadly shaken at these tidings. She explained
all the circumstances to her devoted husband, and took his advice.
Hartley recommended his wife to let her mother have her own way, and
promised that presently he would accompany his wife to De Beaumont's
house to visit the invalid.
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