nearer to the window.

"Close, George," said Harry at length.

"Yes, a bit hard to breathe."

"When fellows get used to a thing it's hard to change."

"Fine room, though, and those are splendid beds."

"Great on a winter night."

"You've noticed how the commander-in-chief himself seldom sleeps under a
tent, but takes his blankets to the open?"

"Wonder how an Indian who has roamed the forest all his life feels when
he's shut up between four walls for the first time."

"Fancy it's like a prison cell to him."

"Think so too. But the Lanhams are fine people and they're doing their
best for us."

"Do you think they'd be offended if I were to take my blankets, and sleep
on the grass in the back yard?"

"Of course they would. You mustn't think of such a thing. After this
war is over you've got to emerge slowly from barbarism. Do you remember
whether at supper we cut our food with our knives and lifted it to our
mouths with forks, or just tore and lifted with our fingers?"

"We used knife and fork, each in its proper place. I happened to think
of it and watched myself. You, I suppose, did it through the force of an
ancient habit, recalled by civilized surroundings."

"I'm glad you remember about it. Now I'm going to bed, and maybe I'll
sleep. I suppose there's no hope of seeing the stars through the roof."

"None on earth! But my bed is fine and soft. We'd be all right if
we could only lift the roof off the house. I'd like to hear the wind
rubbing the boughs together."

"Stop it! You make me homesick! We've got no right to be pining for
blankets and the open, when these good people are doing so much for us!"

Each stretched himself upon his bed, and closed his eyes. They had not
been jesting altogether. So long a life in the open made summer skies
at night welcome, and roofs and walls almost took from them the power of
breathing.

But the feeling wore away after a while and amid pleasurable thoughts of
the coming ball both fell asleep.

CHAPTER X

THE MISSING PAPER

Harry and Dalton did not awake until late the next morning and they found
they had not suffered at all from sleeping between four walls and under a
roof. Their lungs were full of fresh air, and youth with all its joyous
irresponsibility had come back. Harry sprang out of bed.

"Up! up! old boy!" Harry cried to Dalton. "Don't you hear the bugles
calling? not to battle but to pleasure! There is no enemy in our fro