lly disappeared
beyond the point.

Then Jerrold turned to leave, and Chester stepped forth and confronted
him:

"Mr. Jerrold, did I not instruct you to confine yourself to your
quarters until satisfactory explanation was made of the absences with
which you are charged?"

Jerrold started at the abrupt and unlooked-for greeting, but his answer
was prompt:

"Not at all, sir. You gave me to understand that I was to remain
here--not to leave the post--until you had decided on certain points;
and, though I do not admit the justice of your course, and though you
have put me to grave inconvenience, I obeyed the order. I needed to go
to town to-day on urgent business, but, between you and Captain
Armitage, am in no condition to go. For all this, sir, there will come
proper retribution when my colonel returns. And now, sir, you are spying
upon me,--_spying_, I say,--and it only confirms what I said of you
before."

"Silence, Mr. Jerrold! This is insubordination."

"I don't care a damn what it is, sir! There is nothing contemptuous
enough for me to say of you or your conduct to me--"

"Not another word, Mr. Jerrold! Go to your quarters in arrest.--Mr.
Rollins, you are witness to this language."

But Rollins was not. Turning from the spot in blankness of heart before
a word was uttered between them, he followed the waning light with eyes
full of yearning and trouble; he trudged his way down along the sandy
shore until he came to the silent waters of the slough and could go no
farther; and then he sat him down and covered his face with his hands.
It was pretty hard to bear.

XV.

Tuesday still, and all manner of things had happened and were still to
happen in the hurrying hours that followed Sunday night. The garrison
woke at Tuesday's reveille in much perturbation of spirit, as has been
said, but by eight o'clock and breakfast-time one cause of perplexity
was at an end. Relief had come with Monday afternoon and Alice Renwick's
letter saying she would not attend the german, and now still greater
relief in the news that sped from mouth to mouth: Lieutenant Jerrold was
in close arrest. Armitage and Chester had been again in consultation
Monday night, said the gossips, and something new had been
discovered,--no one knew just what,--and the toils had settled upon
Jerrold's handsome head, and now he was to be tried. As usual in such
cases, the news came in through the kitchen, and most officers heard it
at the brea