Bruce found a place for the carriage near the depot. James then quickly said his goodbyes to them and joined the regiment that was forming ranks in front of the post office. The whole town had assembled there, and when the whistle of the coming train sounded in the distance, the band began to play Dixie and the regiment marched raggedly the short way to the station, followed by all the crowd. Children danced and pranced to the music, screaming with excitement; and dogs barked and ran with them.

First one, then another broke from the ranks to give a last kiss to a wife or mother, to hold a child another time. Every woman had brought with her a bouquet of flowers, which she pressed into the hands of a soldier she loved, or merely knew; and so most of the men carried flowers in one hand and a rifle in the other.

Bruce and Sarah remained in the carriage, Sarah holding Jane by force so that Rachel and James might have the time alone.

“Try not to worry about me, honey. I’ll be all right; I swear I will. I’m going to be the least daring soldier this army has got.”

Rachel’s laugh was forced. “Promise me,” she said. “Promise me you’ll be a coward!”

“Don’t you doubt it, and don’t you fear. For I’ll be back, and soon, and we’ll go on just like before. Nothing can stop us, my honey darling, this side of God Himself.”

When James boarded the train, Rachel looked so forlorn that Sarah yielded to Jane’s demand and let her run to join her mother. Then after a minute, fearing that Jane would be a bother for Rachel, Sarah left Bruce in the carriage and went onto the station platform. A whistle blew, bells clanged, the big wheels of the engine turned. The train moved slowly, then faster, and soon was gone.

All about them women held and comforted women, some weeping, others not. Gradually, these began to drift away, leaving Rachel, who had refused Sarah’s embrace, standing alone. Sarah and Jane waited a little apart from her. The three, who still wore black for Leon, lingered until all was vacant and silent on the platform; and then at a movement from Rachel they drew together and went back to the carriage to go home.

7

In the office Sarah and Floyd had been working and worrying over accounts since suppertime. It was now nearly ten o’clock, and Sarah had heard the other family members go off to their rooms a good while ago. She sat at the desk, Floyd at a table he had pulled up near her. Each used a tallow candle to work by; wax and lamp oil had become luxuries.