Even the fascinations of the beautiful girl could not entice him to remain in his beloved home while his arm was needed to help on the nation's cause to a victorious Union.
At the end of four weeks, he felt as well as ever before in his life, and he was impatient to return to the Bellevite.

For a week before he had been talking to his father about the matter; and Bertha knew her betrothed, as he was by this time, too well to make any objection to his intended departure.
The Tallahatchie had been promptly condemned, and the fact that she was a superior vessel for war purposes, and her great speed compared with most vessels in the navy, had caused her to be appropriated to the use of the government.

Orders had been given weeks before for her thorough repair and better armament, all of which had been hastily accomplished.
Christy had not been to New York since his return; and for some reason of his own, his father had said very little to him about the service, perhaps believing that his son had better give his whole mind to the improvement of his health and strength.
"I hope you have found a vessel by which I can return to the Eastern Gulf squadron, father," said Christy one morning, with more earnestness than usual.

"I begin to feel guilty of neglect of duty while I am loafing about home." "Don't trouble yourself, my son," replied Captain Passford, who seemed to be rather exhilarated about something.

"You shall return to your duty in due time, though not in exactly the same position as before." "Am I to be appointed to some other ship, father ?" asked Christy, gazing earnestly into the captain's face to read what was evidently passing in his mind, for it made him very cheerful.
"You are to sail in another ship, Christy; but wait a minute and I will return," said Captain Passford, as he left the sitting-room and went to his library.
Opening his safe he took from it a ponderous envelope bearing official imprints, and returned to the sitting-room.