you been?" he asked. "We expected you last night, and concluded you must
have been detained on some special service. I have been wearing myself
to a shadow on your account!"

I made some commonplace excuse and left him, saying I was tired and
wished to sleep; for, though I did not regret my action, I could hardly
refrain from doubting its wisdom.

At first the incident occupied a large portion of my thoughts, but as
the days passed into weeks the memory of it wore off.

Winter had set in, and we knew the campaign would not open until the
spring of the next year. It was a trying time; the cold was intense--the
oldest veteran had never known such a keen frost--and much sickness
broke out among the troops. The good Admiral tended them with the
devotion of a father, spending himself in their service, and we of his
household were kept busy from morning till night.

In spite of every care, however, our losses were enormous, and the
prospect became very gloomy. Every one looked forward with eagerness to
the coming of spring.

"If the winter lasts much longer," said Roger Braund, one night when we
had all met at my aunt's house, "there will be no army left."

"A little more patience," my father exclaimed smilingly; "once the
campaign begins you will have no cause to complain of inaction!"

"Faith," laughed Felix, "if he rides with the Admiral, he will be
regretting sometimes having left the comforts of Rochelle."