\"IfMr。Vanrevelhasmetmydaughter，\"hesaid，inathickvoice，stretchingoutbothhandsinastrange，menacinggesturetowardthetownthatlaydarklinginthegrowingdusk，\"ifhehasaddressedonewordtoher，orsomuchasallowedhiseyestorestonheroverlong，lethimtakecareofhimself！\"
\"Oh，Robert，Robert，\"Mrs。Tanberrycried，inafrightenedwhispertoherself，\"allthefunandbrightnesswentoutoftheworldwhenyoucamehome！\"
For，intruth，thegayetyandlight-heartednesswhich，duringthegreatlady’stoobriefreign，hadseemedavitaladjunctofthehousetomaketheplaceresoundwithmusicandlaughter，werenowdeparted。NomoredidMrs。TanberryextemporizeDanTuckers，mazourkas，orquadrillesintheball-room，norBlind-Man’sBuffinthelibrary；nomoredidserenadersnightlyseekthegardenwithinstrumentalplunkingsandvocalgiftsofharmony。EventhegreenbronzeboyofthefountainseemedtosharethetimidityoftheotheryouthsofthetownwhereMr。Carewewasconcerned，forthegobletheheldaloftnolongersentalivelystreamleapingintothesunshineintranslucentgambols，butdribbledanddrippeduponhimlikeamorbidautumnrain。Thedepressionoftheplacewaslikeadrapeofmourningpurple；butnotthathousealonelayglum，andtherewereotherreasonsthanthereturnofRobertCarewewhyRouenhadlostthejoyandmirththatbelongedtoit。Nay，themerrytownhadchangedbeyondallcredence；itwashushedlikeasick-room，anddolefullymurmurouswithforebodingsoffarewellandsorrow。
ForalltheveryflowerofRouen’syouthhadpromisedtofollowTomVanrevelonthelongandarduousjourneytoMexico，tomarchburningmilesunderthetropicalsun，tofacestrangefeversandthegunsofSantaAnna。
Fewwerethehousesofthemorepretentioussortthatdidnotmourn，inprospect，thegoingofson，orbrother，orclosefriend；mothersalreadyweptnotinsecret，fatherstalkedwithhuskybravado；andeveryonewasverykindtothosewhoweretogo，speakingtothemgentlyandbringingthemlittlefoolishpresents。Norcouldtheheartsofgirlsnowlongermaskasblocksoficetotheprospectiveconquistadores；EugeneMadrillon’syoungbrother，Jean，afteratwoyears’Beatrice-and-BenedictwooingofTrixieChenoweth（thatnotablespitfire）announcedhisengagementuponthedayafterhisenlistment，andrecountedtoallwhowouldlistenhowhistermagantfelluponhisneckintearswhensheheardthenews。\"Andnowshecriesaboutmeallthetime，\"finishedthefrankJeanblithely。