"Good. How do you do, Mrs. Sandford? I told you yesterday that it would be good."
"Yes, but how good is it, Major Fairbairn?"
"Well, go on and tell us. You are a nice major."
"Thank you. In the first place, as you may remember I said it would be, the lists of casualties are greatly reduced."
"Casualties?" said Mrs. Sandford. "What is that? I am learning so many new things."
"Oh! That is what a military man calls _casualties_, Daisy, my dear."
"It is the term in common use -" said the major, looking somewhat taken aback.
"I know. Pray, Major Fairbairn, have the officers of the army the reputation of making good husbands and heads of families?"
"I have always heard that they did," said the major, colouring a little and by no means free of his astonishment.
"I don't see how they can have any sympathy for little common heartaches and headaches, though, when to be run through the body is such a trifle. They can't, I think, major."
"For instance," the lady went on, unmercifully, - "for instance, Miss Randolph has her head taken off by a cannon ball. The doctor and I are desolate; but Major Fairbairn says it is a 'casualty.' Or, the doctor himself may be hit by a shot not intended for him, and put out of charge of his hospital for ever. Miss Randolph and I are in ashes; but our friend Major Fairbairn says it is only a 'casualty.' "
"But _friends_, Mrs. Sandford, -" the major began.
"Everybody has friends," said Mrs. Sandford. "I was reading in the paper just now a list of these little accidents. One man had his leg shattered by a minie ball; it killed him in a few hours. Another had a charge of grape-shot in his breast; it struck the spine. _He_ is dead. What is grape-shot, Major Fairbairn?"
The major hastily passed to the sideboard in the other room and brought me a glass of water.
"Daisy!" Mrs. Sandford exclaimed. "Are you faint, my dear? These are only casualties. My dear, are you faint? what is the matter? - Bless me, how white you are! What is it?"
I drank the water, and struggled back into composure, at least outwardly; being very much surprised at myself.
"But what _is_ the matter, Daisy? what is the matter? I have said nothing in the world. Cannot you bear that?"
"Major Fairbairn was going to tell us something, ma'am," I said, endeavouring to throw my thoughts off.