HAVERILL. Gertrude! If your heart refuses to be silent--if you feel that you must confess your love to that man--first tell him what I have said to you, and refer him to me for an explanation. [_Exit into road._
GERTRUDE. What can he mean? He would save me from something worse than death, he said. "His life--it belongs to me!" What can he mean? Kerchival told me that he loved me--it seems many years since that morning in Charleston--and when we met again, yesterday, he said that he had never ceased to love me. I will not believe that he has told me a falsehood. I have given him my love, my whole soul and my faith. [_Drawing up to her full height._] My perfect faith!
JENNY _runs in from road, and up the slope. She looks down the hill, then enters._
JENNY. A flag of truce, Gertrude. And a party of Confederate soldiers, with an escort, coming up the hill. They are carrying someone; he is wounded.
_Enter up the slope, a_ LIEUTENANT OF INFANTRY _with an escort of Union soldiers, their arms at right shoulder, and a party of Confederate soldiers bearing a rustic stretcher._ LIEUTENANT FRANK BEDLOE _lies on the stretcher._ MAJOR HARDWICK, _a Confederate Surgeon, walks at his side._ MADELINE _appears at veranda, watching them._ GERTRUDE _stands with her back to audience. The_ LIEUTENANT _gives orders in a low tone, and the front escort moves to right, in road. The Confederate bearers and the_ SURGEON _pass through the gate. The rear escort moves to left, in road, under_ LIEUTENANT'S _orders. The bearers halt, front; on a sign from the_ SURGEON, _they leave the stretcher on the ground, stepping back._
MAJOR HARDWICK. Is General Haverill here?
MADELINE. The General is just about mounting with his staff, to ride away. Shall I go for him, sir?
MAJOR. Say to him, please, that Colonel Robert Ellingham, of the Tenth Virginia, sends his respects and sympathy. He instructed me to bring this young officer to this point, in exchange for himself, as agreed upon between them last evening. [_Exit_ MADELINE.
JENNY. Is he unconscious or sleeping, sir?
MAJOR. Hovering between life and death. I thought he would bear the removal better. He is waking. Here, my lad! [_Placing his canteen to the lips of_ FRANK, _who moves, reviving._] We have reached the end of our journey.