When he related the episode of Lucy's refusal to say whether he would return, although threatened with instant death unless she did so, his narrative was broken by the exclamations of his hearers.
"You need not say another word in praise of her," his mother said.

"She is indeed a noble girl, and I shall be proud of such a daughter." "She must be a darling!" Annie exclaimed.

"Oh, Vincent, how brave she must be! I don't think I ever could have done that, with a pistol pointing straight at you, and all those dreadful men round, and no hope of a rescue; it's awful even to think of." "It was an awful moment, as you may imagine," Vincent replied.

"I shall never forget the scene, or Lucy's steadfast face as she faced that man; and you see at that time I was a perfect stranger to her--only a fugitive Confederate officer whom she shielded from his pursuers." "Go on, Vincent; please go on," Annie said.

"Tell us what happened next." Vincent continued his narrative to the end, with, however, many interruptions and questions on the part of the girls.