d I know it will give
you joy."

"Really, sir; ah! general, I don't think----"

"Don't you?" laughed the general.

"I don't deserve it, general; and you will pardon me if I say I cannot
accept it. I am very grateful to you; but----"

"Oh, it isn't for you!" roared the general as he handed him the official
paper.

"Major de Banyan!" exclaimed Captain Somers as he read the superscription
with a thrill of delight. "It is indeed a joy to me. I am ten times as
happy as I should have been if my own name had been coupled with that
title. I am ever so much obliged to you."

"Senator Guilford again! By the way, Captain Somers, you must call on him
when you get to Washington."

"I shall certainly do so. But I know my friend could not have been
promoted without the good word which you have spoken for him."

"Well, it is all right, captain. Major de Banyan is a brave fellow. He
has done you a good turn; and I waylaid this document so as to afford you
the pleasure of being the first to address him by his new title."

"Thank you, general."

"And, captain, if you could prevail on the major to be a little more
reasonable in some of the lies he tells, his reputation for veracity
would be improved."

"I will endeavor to do so."

The general bade the invalid a hearty and even affectionate adieu; and
they did not meet again till they grasped hands on the bloody field of
Antietam, where Somers acted in a new sphere of duty. No sooner had the
general departed, than Somers, inspired to new vigor by the joyful event
which had just transpired, hastened to the camp of the regiment.

"Ah, Somers; my dear boy! how are you now?" said his friend as he seized
his hand.

"Better, I thank you, _Major_ de Banyan."

"Come, now, Somers, that is cruel! A friend of mine, just before the
battle of Solferino----"

"Confound the battle of Solferino, Major de Banyan!"

"I was about to say that a friend of mine, just before the battle of
Solferino, made fun of my aspirations, just as you do now----"

"I don't do anything of the sort. Here's the official document. If I read
right, it says Major de Banyan."

"Somers," said the captain, winking very rapidly to dissipate some
evidences of weakness which were struggling for existence in his
eyes--"Somers, you have done this."

"I did write to Senator Guilford about you before we went over the river;
and now I thank God with all my soul that I did so."

"Somers, you are one of the best of f