ext morning Dominique informed us that he had himself delivered our
letter of introduction to M. le Commandant, who promised to wait upon us
in the course of the day. Not knowing at what hour we might expect him,
we set to work immediately after breakfast to prepare my room for the
reception of so distinguished a visitor. I helped Mary as well as I was
able, and, when nothing remained to do but the dusting, retired into a
recess to trim my beard.

An Englishwoman is never so well dressed as when she emerges from her
bedroom at early morning; and I must say that Mary looked the daintiest
little housewife possible to conceive as she went about dusting and
polishing in a pink cambric dress and tiny black apron. But, neat as she
was, and neat as my beard and the room were in a fair way of becoming,
we were overwhelmed with surprise and confusion at what followed, for
quite suddenly the door was thrown open; there was a military tramp and
a rattling of a sword outside, and Dominique exclaimed, in a voice of
thunder, "M. le Commandant!"

Impassible self-possession is a beautiful quality, and while Mary and I
stood blushing and aghast, like school children caught at stealing
cherries, M. le Commandant had made a courteous speech, welcoming us to
Teschoun. Then we all sat down, and M. le Commandant talked to us. He
was a sunburnt, soldierly man about fifty-five, with a rough manner but
a kind smile, and we felt at home with him in a moment.

"I presume that monsieur wishes to see as much of the country as
possible," he said; "and I shall be enchanted to place at monsieur's
disposal horses, and my servant and a spahi as guides. But what will
mademoiselle do while her brother is away? I must send her my little
gazelle to play with her."

"My sister will like to go with me where it is practicable," I said.

The Commandant opened his eyes, and looked at Mary much as one looks
upon a pretty little duckling or a year-old baby.

"Monsieur is evidently jesting," he answered. "Mademoiselle would be too
fatigued to undertake such journeys."

"I don't think so," Mary said. "I have no fear, monsieur, and I like to
be with my brother."

"Ah, what courage you English ladies have! Well, mademoiselle, we will
find you a quiet horse, and make everything as pleasant as possible."
And after inviting us to dine with him one evening, and bidding us to
make use of him in every possible way, he took leave of us.

"How nice he is!" cried Mar