ertain, they have fitted up
their quarters beautifully at the Point, and are living there in a good
deal of style."

"Here come the officers in from drill," exclaimed Mrs. Turner, as a
group of bronzed and soldierly-looking men came suddenly around the
corner of the adjutant's office and strolled towards them. "Ask Captain
Merrill, he will know. _Captain Merrill_," she called, raising her
voice. "Do come here a moment." And obediently he came, doffing his cap
and accepting the seat tendered him beside her by Mrs. Raymond.

"You were at the Point last month. Is it true that Captain Truscott has
a good deal of money now?"

"Can't prove it by me, madame," said Merrill, sententiously. "Ask Blake.
He's our Jenkins. How is it, Blake?"

"Don't call me pet names, dearie. 'When _my_ tongue blabs then let mine
eyes not see,'" declaimed Mr. Blake, sauntering up to the group and
swinging a long, lean leg over the railing. "What do you want to know?"

"Is Mr.--Captain Truscott rich?"

"If my individual experiences are indicative, I should say he was
boundless in wealth and prodigality."

"Why?"

"He lent me a hundred dollars when I was East on leave, and I know he
never expects to see it again."

"I declare, Mr. Blake, you are as bad as Mr. Ray!"

"They are scoundrels and substractors that say so of me. Mrs. Turner,
you--you make me blush. Ray, come hither and bear me consolation. Friend
of my youth, Merrill calls me Jenkins; Mrs. Turner calls me bad as you;
and you--called me with a pair of kings when mine was a bobtail. The
world is hollow, Ray."

"_Mr._ Blake! Will you stop your everlasting nonsense and tell us about
Truscott? When were you there?"

"Mrs. Turner, you aggrieve me, but I was there in April."

"And _are_ they so delightfully situated?"

"Yea, verily,--blissfully."

"Was Miss Sanford there?"

"She came, alas! the very eve I hied me hence. I saw her but a moment;
'twas----"

"You saw her? Tell us what she's like. Is she pretty? is she
sweet-mannered as they say?"

"Sweet? She's sweet, aye, _dix-huit_; at least she was a year agone.
Pretty? Ah me!" And Blake sighed profoundly, and straddled the rail a
picture of dejection. His auditors groaned in chorus, the customary
recognition of one of Blake's puns, but gathered about him in manifest
interest. With all his rattling nonsense he was a regimental pet.

"But where is she from? What connection of the New Jersey Sanford?"

"The Autocrat of the