Sweet Anna Millbrook's eyes were dim with tears, and her heart was sore
with pain when told that Alice Johnson, was waiting for her in the
parlor below. Only the day before had she heard of her brother's
disgrace, feeling as she heard it, how much rather she would that he
had died ere there were so many stains upon his name. But Alice would
comfort her, and she hastened to meet her. Sitting down beside her, she
talked with her long of all that had transpired since last they met;
talked, too, of Adah, and then of Willie, who was sent for, and at
Alice's request taken by her to the hotel, where Mrs. Worthington was
stopping. He had grown to be a most beautiful and engaging child, and
Mrs. Worthington justly felt a thrill of pride as she clasped him to her
bosom, weeping over him passionately. She could scarcely bear to lose
him from her sight, and when later in the day Anna came down for him,
she begged hard for him to stay. But Willie was rather shy of his new
grandmother, and preferred returning with Mrs. Millbrook, who promised
that he should come every day so long as Mrs. Worthington remained at
the hotel.
As soon as Mrs. Richards learned that Mrs. Worthington and Alice were in
town, she insisted upon their coming to Terrace Hill. There was room
enough, she said, and her friends were welcome there for as long a time
as they chose to stay. There were the pleasant chambers fitted up for
'Lina, they had never been occupied, and Mrs. Worthington could have
them as well as not; or better yet--could take Anna's old chamber, with
the little room adjoining, where Adah used to sleep. Mrs. Worthington
preferred the latter, and removed with Alice at Terrace Hill, while at
Anna's request Densie went to the Riverside Cottage, where she used to
live, and where she was much happier than she would have been with
strangers.
Not long could Mrs. Worthington stay contentedly at Snowdon, and after a
time Alice started with her and Lulu for Washington, taking Sam also,
partly because he begged so hard to go, and partly because she did not
care to trouble her friends with the old man, who seemed a perfect child
in his delight at the prospect of seeing "Massah Hugh." But to see him
was not so easy a matter. Indeed, he seemed farther off at Washington
than he had done at Spring Bank, and Alice sometimes questioned the
propriety of having left Kentucky at all. They were not very comfortable
at Washington, and as Mrs. Worthington pined for the pure country air,
Alice managed at last to procure board for herself, Mrs. Worthington,
Lulu and Sam, at the house of a friend whose acquaintance she had made
at the time of her visit to Virginia. It was some distance from
Washington, and so near to Bull Run that when at last the second
disastrous battle was fought in that vicinity, the roar of the artillery
was distinctly heard, and they who listened to the noise of that bloody
conflict knew just when the battle ceased, and thought with tearful
anguish of the poor, maimed, suffering wretches left to bleed and die
alone. They knew Hugh must have been in the battle, and Mrs.
Washington's anxiety amounted almost to insanity, while Alice, with
blanched cheek and compressed lip, could only pray silently that he
might be spared, and might yet come back to them. Only Sam thought of
acting.