d not money
enough to meet the demand of the tailor.

"Certainly not," blandly replied Shears; "but we cannot make up the goods
with the risk of not disposing of them. They may not fit the next man who
wants such a suit."

"I have not the money, sir;" and Tom felt that the confession was an awful
sacrifice of dignity on the part of an officer in the army of the Potomac,
who had fought gallantly for his country on the bloody fields of
Williamsburg and Bull Run.

"I am very sorry, sir. I should be happy to make up the goods, but you
will see that our rule is a reasonable one."

Tom wanted to tell him that this lack of confidence was not a suitable
return of a stay-at-home for the peril and privation he had endured for
him; but he left in disgust, hardly replying to the flattering request of
the tailor that he would call again. With his pride touched, he walked
down to the railroad station to await the departure of the train. He had
hardly entered the building before he discovered the familiar form of
Captain Barney, to whom he hastened to present himself.

"Why, Tom, my hearty!" roared the old sea captain, as he grasped and wrung
his hand. "I'm glad to see you. Shiver my mainmast, but you've grown a
foot since you went away. But you don't look well, Tom."

"I'm not very well, sir; but I'm improving very rapidly."

"How's your wound?"

"O, that's almost well."

"Sit down, Tom. I want to talk with you," said Captain Barney, as he led
the soldier boy to a seat.

In half an hour Tom had told all he knew about the battle of Williamsburg,
and the old sailor had communicated all the news from Pinchbrook.

"Tom, you're a lieutenant now, but you haven't got on your uniform,"
continued Captain Barney.

"No, sir," replied Tom, laughing. "I went into a store to order one, and
they wouldn't trust me."

"Wouldn't trust _you_, Tom!" exclaimed the captain. "Show me the place,
and I'll smash in their deadlights."

"I don't know as I blame them. I was a stranger to them."

"But, Tom, you mustn't go home without a uniform. Come with me, and you
shall be fitted out at once. I'm proud of you, Tom. You are one of my
boys, and I want you to go into Pinchbrook all taut and trim, with your
colors flying."

"We haven't time now; the train leaves in a few moments."

"There will be another in an hour. The folks are all well, and don't know
you're coming; so they can afford to wait."

Tom consented, and Captain Barney conducted