her friend Miss Cuthbert decorated the front of her riding-jacket with
brass buttons. When Sergeant Norris sharply reprimanded Private Van
Kyp for losing his hat, Rollo answered that he considered himself
perfectly excusable for so doing, since in a breeze strong enough to
blow the buttons off a sergeant's blouse a hat stood no show to remain
on its owner's head, whereupon the other abruptly changed the subject.

In the mean time Mrs. Norris, who had recognized among the names of the
young men presented to her those of some of the best-known families of
the country, was surrounded by a group of Ridge's friends, who, as they
all wore the same uniform that he did, she imagined must also be
officers. So she delighted their hearts and rose high in their
estimation by treating them with great cordiality, and calling them
indiscriminately major, captain, or whatever military title happened on
the end of her tongue. This she did until her husband appeared on the
scene with Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt, whom he had known in
Washington. The moment the fond mother discovered this gentleman to be
her son's superior officer, she neglected every one else to ply him
with questions.

"Did he think her boy would make a fine soldier? Was Ridge really an
officer? If so, what was his rank, and why did he not wear a more
distinctive uniform? Did _General_ Roosevelt believe there would be
any fighting, and if there was, would he not order Ridge to remain in
the safest places?"

To all of these questions the Lieutenant-Colonel managed to return most
satisfactory answers. He thought Ridge was in a fair way to make a
most excellent soldier, seeing that he had already gained the rank of
sergeant, which was very rapid promotion, considering the short time