the manner of a man who
was at odds with the world and desired to make no friends.

The colonel quickly noted the general silence and constraint, and
resolved to shorten it as much as possible. Dropping his pen, he wheeled
around in his chair with determined cheerfulness:

"Mr. Hayne, you will need a day or two to look about before you select
quarters and get ready for work, I presume."

"Thank you, colonel. No, sir. I shall move in this afternoon and be on
duty to-morrow morning," was the calm reply.

There was an awkward pause for a moment. The officers looked blankly
from one to another, and then began craning their necks to search for
the post quartermaster, who sat an absorbed listener. Then the colonel
spoke again:

"I appreciate your promptness, Mr. Hayne; but have you considered that
in choosing quarters according to your rank you will necessarily move
somebody out? We are crowded now, and many of your juniors are married,
and the ladies will want time to pack."

An anxious silence again. Captain Rayner was gazing at his boot-toes and
trying to appear utterly indifferent; others leaned forward, as though
eager to hear the answer. A faint smile crossed Mr. Hayne's features: he
seemed rather to enjoy the situation:

"I _have_ considered, colonel. I shall turn nobody out, and nobody need
be incommoded in the least."

"Oh! then you will share quarters with some of the bachelors?" asked the
colonel, with evident relief.

"No, sir;" and the answer was stern in tone, though perfectly
respectful: "I shall live as I have lived for years,--utterly alone."

One could have heard a pin drop in the office,--even on the matted
floor. The colonel half rose:

"Why, Mr. Hayne, there is not a vacant set of quarters in the garrison.
You will _have_ to move some one out if you decide to live alone."

"There may be no quarters _in_ the post, sir, but, if you will permit
me, I can live near my company and yet in officers' quarters."

"How so, sir?"

"In the house out there on the edge of the garrison, facing the prairie.
It is within stone's-throw of the barracks of Company B, and is exactly
like those built for the officers in here along the parade."

"Why, Mr. Hayne, no officers ever lived there. It is utterly out of the
way and isolated. I believe it was built for the sutler years ago, but
was bought in by the government afterwards.--Who lives there now, Mr.
Quartermaster?"

"No one, sir. It is being used as a t