chorus of approbation.

"Well, hold on a moment," said Foster. "Hasn't the colonel had every one
of us to dinner more or less frequently?"

"Admitted. But what's that to do with it?"

"Hasn't he invariably invited each officer to dine with him in every
case where an officer has arrived?"

"Granted. But what then?"

"If he broke the rule or precedent in Mr. Hayne's case would he not
practically be saying that he endorsed the views of the court-martial as
opposed to those of the department commander, General Sherman, the
Secretary of War, the President of the United--"

"Oh, make out your transfer papers, Foster. You ought to be in the
cavalry or some other disputatious branch of the service," burst in Mr.
Graham.

"I declare, Mr. Foster, I never thought you would abandon your colors,"
said Mrs. Rayner.

"I haven't, madame, and you've no right to say so," said Foster,
indignantly. "I simply hold that any attempt to work up a regimental row
out of this thing will make bad infinitely worse, and I deprecate the
whole business."

"I suppose you mean to intimate that Captain Rayner's position and that
of the regiment is bad,--all wrong,--that Mr. Hayne has been
persecuted," said Mrs. Rayner, with trembling lips and cheeks aflame.

"Mrs. Rayner, you are unjust," said poor Foster. "I ought not to have
undertaken to explain or defend the colonel's act, perhaps, but I am not
disloyal to my regiment or my colors. What I want is to prevent further
trouble; and I know that anything like a concerted resentment of the
colonel's invitation will lead to infinite harm."

"_You_ may cringe and bow and bear it if you choose; you may humble
yourself to such a piece of insolence; but rest assured there are plenty
of men and women in the Riflers who won't bear it, Mr. Foster; and for
one _I_ won't." She had risen to her full height now, and her eyes were
blazing. "For his own sake I trust the colonel will omit our names from
the next entertainment he gives. Nellie shan't--"

"Oh, think, Mrs. Rayner!" interrupted one of the ladies; "they _must_
give her a dinner or a reception."

"Indeed they shall not! I refuse to enter the door of people who have
insulted my husband as they have."

"Hush! Listen!" said Mr. Graham, springing towards the door.

There was wondering silence an instant.

"It is nothing but the trumpet sounding taps," said Mrs. Rayner,
hurriedly.

But even as she spoke they rose to their feet. Muffled cries w