It consisted of coffee and bread and ham left over from the night before.

A heap of timber glowed in the fireplace and shot forth ruddy flames.

Harry's soul fairly warmed within him.
"Sit down, all of you," said Colonel Talbot, "and we'll help one another." They ate with the appetite of the soldier, and Colonel Talbot and Lieutenant-Colonel St.Hilaire, finishing first, withdrew to a wide window seat.

There they produced the board and box of chessmen and proceeded to rearrange them exactly as they were before the battle of Fredericksburg.
"You will recall that your king was in great danger, Leonidas," said Lieutenant-Colonel Hector St.Hilaire.
"Truly I do, Hector, but I do not think it beyond my power to rescue him." "It will be a hard task, Leonidas." "Hector, I would have you to remember that I am an officer in the Army of Northern Virginia, and the Army of Northern Virginia prefers hard tasks to easy ones." "You put the truth happily, Leonidas, but I must insist that your position is one of uncommon danger." "I recognize the fact fully, Hector, but I assert firmly that I will rescue my red king." Harry, his part of the work finished, watched them.

The two gray heads bent lower and lower over the table until they almost touched.
Everybody maintained a respectful silence.