"
"And perhaps you may sleep. Yes, mammy, get the bed ready as soon as you
can."
"My darling, how pale you are!" Mr. Travilla said with concern, as he
knelt by her side, applying the restoratives. "Do not be alarmed; I am
quite sure the man's right arm is disabled, and therefore the danger is
past, for the present at least."
She put her arm about his neck and relieved her full heart with a burst of
tears. "Pray, praise," she whispered; "oh, thank the Lord for your narrow
escape; the ball must have passed very near your head; I heard it whiz
over mine and strike the opposite wall."
"Yes, it just grazed my hair and carried away a lock, I think. Yes, let us
thank the Lord." And he poured out a short but fervent thanksgiving, to
every word of which her heart said "Amen!"
"Yes, there is a lock gone, sure enough," she said, stroking his hair
caressingly as he bent over her. "Ah, if we had not lingered so long here,
this would not have happened."
"Not here, but elsewhere perhaps."
"That is true, and no doubt all has been ordered for the best."
Aunt Chloe presently returned, with the announcement that the bed was
ready; and they retired for the second time, leaving the house in the care
of Uncle Joe and the women servants.
It was some time before Elsie could compose herself to sleep, but near
daybreak she fell into a deep slumber that lasted until long past the
usual breakfast hour.
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