And so Caroline hummed David's little serenade to herself as she dressed
without Annette's assistance and smiled at her own radiance reflected at
her from her mirrors. She had just completed a most ravishing church
toilet when she heard the major's door close softly and she knew that now
she would find him before his logs awaiting breakfast.

She blushed another tone more rosy and her eyes grew shy at the very
thought of meeting his keen eyes that always quizzed her with such
delight after one of her initiations into the sports or gaieties of this
new country. But assuming her courage with her prayer-book, she softly
descended the stairs, crossed the hall and stood beside his chair with a
laugh of greeting.

"Well," he demanded delightedly though in a guarded tone with a glance
up as if at Mrs. Matilda's and Phoebe's closed doors, "did you catch your
possum?"

"Yes--that is--no! I didn't, but somebody did I think," she answered with
delicious confusion in both tone and appearance.

"Caroline Darrah," demanded the major, "do you mean to tell me that there
is no certainty of anybody's having got a result from a foray of the
magnitude of that last night? Didn't you even see a possum?"

"No, I didn't; but I know they caught some--David said so," answered
Caroline in a reassuring voice.

"Caroline," again demanded the major relentlessly, having already had his
suspicions aroused by her confusion and blushes, "where were you when