"Oh, Edward! isn't it terrible? Civil war in our dear land! So many whom
we love on both sides!"
There was a moment of sorrowful silence. Then her father asked, "What does
Enna say?"
"She is very bitter, papa: speaks with great contempt of the North; exults
over the fall of Fort Sumter and the seizure of United States property;
glories in the war-spirit of Dick and Arthur, and sneers at poor Walter
because he is silent and sad, and declines, for the present at least, to
take any part in the strife. Grandpa, she says, and his mother, too, are
almost ready to turn him out of the house; for they are as hot
secessionists as can be found anywhere.
"I have a letter from Walter too, papa. He writes in a very melancholy
strain; hints mildly at the treatment he receives at home; says he can't
bear the idea of fighting against the old flag, and still less the old
friends he has at the North, and wishes he was with us or anywhere out of
the country, that he might escape being forced to take part in the
quarrel."
"Poor fellow!" sighed Mr. Dinsmore. "Ah, I have a letter here from my
father that I have not yet opened."
He took it from the table as he spoke. His face darkened as he read, the
frown and stern expression reminding Elsie of some of the scenes in her
early days; but he handed the missive to Rose, remarking, in a calm, quiet
tone, "My father expects me to be as strong a secessionist as himself.
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