r, the driver
and an orderly conversing in low tones at the front. Major Dwight had
come forth with his guest, escorted him down the steps to the waiting
wagon, had ostentatiously shaken hands with him twice--thrice; had even
held him in conversation as though reluctant to part, and had then gone
stalking over to the colonel's quarters with twitching lips and fingers
to demand an explanation of this summary expulsion of his guest. If
Captain Foster was to be ordered off the post because of a personal
encounter with Lieutenant Ray, what was to be done with Mr. Ray? was
what the major wished to know, and Colonel Stone, instead of snubbing,
censuring or sending him back in arrest, went halfway down the steps to
meet him, took him by the hand and said, "I've been expecting you,
major, and have much to tell you," beckoned the adjutant to follow and
led on into an inner room. The post surgeon was also there, by
invitation.

"Major Dwight," said Stone, "I have asked these gentlemen to be present
as witnesses to what I have to tell you, and if there's any man of your
own corps you'd like to have present, my orderly will fetch him at once.
No? Then I'll proceed. I assume you wish to know why Captain Foster was
formally invited to proceed on his way this afternoon. You fancy, I
believe, and he possibly--probably--told you, it was for attacking
Lieutenant Ray at the Canteen. It was not. There are several reasons,
and the moment I have told you enough I wish you to say stop. I do not
like your fr--your guest, but I desire to say no more at his expense
than may be absolutely necessary. Do you understand?"

Dwight bowed gravely. "I think I do, sir," was his answer, and the party
settled into chairs and for the moment into silence.

Then Stone began again:

"When Captain Foster arrived here he took occasion to tell me he had
just dropped in for a day or two--that he was expecting his orders any
moment. Connor, lieutenant-colonel commanding the --th, is a classmate
of mine, and in writing me two weeks ago he spoke of the shortage of
officers. He said that Foster's application for a month's delay had been
negatived by him and that he was then expecting him any moment. Thursday
last came another letter. Short as he was of officers, three of his best
had been taken away for court-martial duty. Foster's troop was commanded
by a sergeant, and going to seed. Foster was apparently lost, for a copy
of his order to report without delay had