awkward squad."

"And I say, Lem, it'll be just rippin' if you'll drill us in regular
'tactics.' Once a day, anyhow. I'll get Dad to furnish the uniforms and
it'll be a help because, you know, I'm bound for West Point sometime,"
cried Leslie.

Lady Gray's face resumed its look of anxiety that had passed for a
moment, listening to Lemuel's talk. This West Point ambition of her
son's was a sore subject with her, though his great desire for a
military life had never been hidden from her.

"If I can pass the physical exam., and the book one--either," he added,
with a grimace.

"Well, you'll have to know a power more 'n you do now, if you get into
that place," said truthful Alfy. "I've heard Mis' Judge Satterlee,
up-mounting, tell 't her boy near studied his head off, an' then got
shut out. It's a terrible fine thing, though, if a body could. Why,
up-mounting, we can hear the bands playin', guns firin', and Dolly
there, she's seen 'em drill. Seen the battery-drill, she called it, and
didn't guess how in the world them gray-coated boys could hop
on-an'-off their gun wagons like they did. When I get home, I mean to go
over to the Point myself and see 'em. If you should be there I'd take
you something to eat."

Leslie was now much more interested in hearing about the place of his
dreams than in the present inspection of San Leon; and encouraged by
this Alfaretta made Dolly tell how she and Molly had once visited the
Academy and Molly's cadet cousin, Tom Hungerford.

Molly interrupted the narrative with frequent comments and they all
paused at the entrance to the Barracks, as Lemuel had named the long
building of the workmen, while the story was told. Lemuel and Leslie
were the most eager listeners, both faces alight with enthusiasm, as the
two girls described their day at the military school.

"Tom got leave off, to show us around, and Aunt Betty with Mrs.
Hungerford--"

"That's Aunt Lucretia, Tom's mother," explained Molly.

"You tell it, Molly. You can do it better," urged Dorothy.

"All right. I'd rather. Well, we went down in the morning early, on the
boat, to be in time for early drill. It was summer time and the darling
cadets were all in their white uniforms, fresh as daisies. Do you know
those poor lambs have to change their white suits every day? Some
oftener, if they get a single speck of dirt on them. Their laundry
bills are something terrible. Terrible! poor dears!"

Lady Gray laughed at the girl's sym