liant sister were annoyed and embarrassed
by the topic and strove to change it; but Foster's propensity for
mimicry and his ability to imitate Mrs. Clancy's combined brogue and
sniffle proved too much for their efforts. Kate was in a royally bad
temper by the time the youngsters left the house, and when Nellie would
have made some laughing allusion to the fun the young fellows had been
having over her morning caller, she was suddenly and tartly checked
with--

"We've had too much of that already. Just understand now that you have
no time to waste, if your packing is unfinished. We start to-morrow
afternoon."

"Why, Kate! I had no idea we were to go for two days yet! Of course I
can be ready; but why did you not tell me before?"

"I did not know it--at least it was not decided--until this morning,
after the captain came back from the office. There is nothing to prevent
our going, now that he has seen the colonel."

"There was not before, Kate; for Mr. Billings told me yesterday morning,
and I told you, that the colonel had said you could start at once, and
you replied that the captain could not be ready for several days,--three
at least."

"Well, now he _is_; and that ends it. Never mind what changed his mind."

It was unsafe to trifle with Nellie Travers, as Mrs. Rayner might have
known. She saw that something had occurred to make the captain eager to
start at once; and then there was that immediate sending for Mrs.
Clancy, the long, secret talk up in Kate's room, the evident mental
disturbance of both feminines on their respective reappearances, and the
sudden announcement to her. While there could be no time to make formal
parting calls, there were still some two or three ladies in the garrison
whom she longed to see before saying adieu; and then there was Mr.
Hayne, whom she had wronged quite as bitterly as anyone else had wronged
him. He was out that day for the first time, and she longed to see him
and longed to fulfil the neglected promise. _That_ she must do at the
very least. If she could not see him, she must write, that he might
have the note before they went away. All these thoughts were rushing
through her brain as she busied herself about her little room, stowing
away dresses and dropping everything from time to time to dart into her
sister's room in answer to some querulous call. Yet never did she leave
without a quick glance from her window up and down the row. For whom was
she looking?

It was j