car; and there was no time before that. But it's
very odd!"

"What's very odd?"

"Why, his conduct. It is so strange that he has not made himself known
to us, if he's an officer."

"Probably he doesn't know you--or we--are connected with the army,
Kate."

"Oh, yes, he does. The porter knows perfectly well, and I told him just
before he left."

"Yes, but he didn't know before that time, did he?"

"He ought to have known," said Mrs. Rayner, uncompromisingly. "At least,
he should if he had taken the faintest interest. I mentioned Captain
Rayner so that he could not help hearing."

This statement being one that Miss Travers could in no wise
contradict,--as it was one, indeed, that Mrs. Rayner could have
dispensed with as unnecessary,--the younger lady again betook herself to
silence and pulling the kitten's ears.

"Even if he didn't know before," continued her sister, after a pause in
which she had apparently been brooding over the indifference of the
young man in question, "he ought to have made himself known after I told
him who I was." Another pause. "That's what I did it for," she wound up,
conclusively.

"And that's what I thought," said Miss Travers, with a quiet smile.
"However, he had no time then: he was hurrying off to see whether any of
the soldiers had come on board. He took his flask with him, and
apparently was in haste to offer someone a drink. I'm sure that is what
papa used to do," she added, as she saw a frown gathering on her
sister's face.

"What papa did just after the war--a time when everybody drank--is not
at all the proper thing now. Captain Rayner never touches it; and I
don't allow it in the house."

"Still, I should think it a very useful article when a lot of frozen and
exhausted men are on one's hands," said Miss Travers. "That was but a
small flask he had, and I'm sure they will need more."

There came a rush of cold air from the front, and the swinging door blew
open ahead of the porter, who was heard banging shut the outer portal.
Then he hurried in.

"Can some of you gentlemen oblige me with some whiskey or brandy?" he
asked. "We've got some frozen soldiers aboard. Two of 'em are pretty
nearly gone."

Two of the card-players dropped their hands and started for their
section at once. Before they could rummage in their bags for the
required article, Mrs. Rayner's voice was heard: "Take this, porter."
And she held forth a little silver flask. "I have more in my trunk if it