OF FUN.--NO END OF LARKS, YOU KNOW,
AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING."

In order to get rid of my vexation, mortification, humiliation, and
general aggravation, I allowed Jack to persuade me to go that evening
to Colonel Berton's. Not that it needed much persuasion. On the
contrary, it was a favorite resort of mine. Both of us were greatly
addicted to dropping in upon that hospitable and fascinating household.
The girls were among the most lively and genial good fellows that girls
could ever be. Old Berton had retired from the army with enough fortune
of his own to live in good style, and his girls had it all their own
way. They were essentially of the military order. They had all been
brought up, so to speak, in the army, and their world did not extend
beyond it. There were three of them--Laura, the eldest, beautiful,
intelligent, and accomplished, with a strong leaning toward Ritualism;
Juna, innocent, childish, and kitten-like; and Louie, the universal
favorite, absurd, whimsical, fantastic, a desperate tease, and as
pretty and graceful as it is possible for any girl to be. An aunt did
the maternal for them, kept house, chaperoned, duennaed, and generally
overlooked them. The colonel himself was a fine specimen of the _vieux
militaire_. He loved to talk of the life which he had left behind, and
fight his battles over again, and all his thoughts were in the army.
But the girls were, of course, the one attraction in his hospitable
house. The best of it was, they were all so accustomed to homage, that
even the most desperate attentions left them heart-whole, in maiden
mediation, fancy free. No danger of overflown sentiment with them. No
danger of blighted affections or broken hearts. No nonsense there, my
boy. All fair, and pleasant, and open, and above-board, you know.
Clear, honest eyes, that looked frankly into yours; fresh, youthful
faces; lithe, elastic figures; merry laughs; sweet smiles; soft,
kindly voices, and all that sort of thing. In short, three as kind,
gentle, honest, sound, pure, and healthy hearts as ever beat.

The very atmosphere of this delightful house was soothing, and the
presence of these congenial spirits brought a balm to each of us, which
healed our wounded hearts. In five minutes Jack was far away out of
sight of all his troubles--and in five minutes more I had forgotten all
about my late adventure, and the sorrows that had resulted from it.

After a time, Jack gravitated toward Louie, leaving