looking upon
Rayner as either perjured or grossly and persistently mistaken, no one
felt called upon to do it. Guilty or innocent, he has lived the life of
a Pariah ever since."

"_I_ wanted to open out to him, to-day," said Captain Gregg, "but the
moment I began to speak of his great kindness to our men he froze as
stiff as Mulligan's ear. What was the use? I simply couldn't thaw an
icicle. What made him so effective in getting the frost out of them was
his capacity for absorbing it into his own system."

"Well, here, gentlemen," said Buxton, impatiently, "we've got to face
this thing sooner or later, and may as well do it now. I know Rayner,
and like him, and don't believe he's the kind of man to wilfully wrong
another. I _don't_ know Mr. Hayne, and Mr. Hayne apparently don't want
to know me. _I_ think that where a man has been convicted of
dishonorable--disgraceful conduct and is cut by his whole regiment it is
our business to back the regiment, not the man. Now the question is,
where shall we draw the line in this case? It's none of our funeral, as
Blake says, but ordinarily it would be our duty to call upon this
officer. Shall we do it, now that he is in Coventry, or shall we leave
him to his own devices?"

"I'll answer for myself, Buxton," said Blake, "and you can do as, you
please. Except that one thing, and the not unusual frivolities of a
youngster that occurred previous to his trial, I understand that his
character has been above reproach. So far as I can learn, he is a far
more reputable character than I am, and a better officer than most of
us. Growl all you want to, comrades mine: 'it's a way we have in the
army,' and I like it. So long as I include myself in these malodorous
comparisons, you needn't swear. It is my conviction that the Riflers
wouldn't say he was guilty to-day if they hadn't said so five years ago.
It is my information that he has paid every cent of the damages, whether
he caused them or not, and it is my intention to go and call upon Mr.
Hayne as soon as he's settled. I don't propose to influence any man in
his action; and excuse me, Buxton, I think you _did_."

The captain looked wrathful. Blake was an oddity, of whom he rather
stood in awe, for there was no mistaking the popularity and respect in
which he was held in his own regiment. The ----th was somewhat
remarkable for being emphatically an "outspoken crowd," and for some
years, thanks to a leaven of strong and truthful men in wh