try to come back for us to-night: we'll stay here in town. Send the
quartermaster's team in for the trunks as soon as the storm is over and
the road clear. That's all."

Then he rejoined the party at the waiting-room of the station, and Mrs.
Rayner noted instantly that all the cheeriness had gone and that a cloud
had settled on his face. She was a shrewd observer, and she knew him
well. Something more serious than a mishap to a squad of soldiers had
brought about the sudden change. He was all gladness, all rejoicing and
delight, when he clasped her and his baby boy in his arms but ten
minutes before, and now--something had occurred to bring him serious
discomfort. She rested her hand on his arm and looked questioningly in
his face. He avoided her glance, and quickly began to talk. She saw
that he desired to answer no questions just then, and wisely refrained.

Meantime, Miss Travers was chatting blithely with two young gallants who
had returned to her side, and who had thrown off their heavy furs and
now stood revealed in their becoming undress uniforms. Mr. Ross had gone
to look over the rooms which the host of the railway hotel had offered
for the use of the party; the baby was yielding to the inevitable and
gradually condescending to notice the efforts of Mr. Foster to scrape
acquaintance; the kitten, with dainty step, and ears and tail erect, was
making a leisurely inspection of the premises, sniffing about the few
benches and chairs with which the bare room was burdened, and
reconnoitring the door leading to the hall-way with evident desire to
extend her researches in that direction. Presently that very door
opened, and in came two or three bundles of fur in masculine shape, and
with them two shaggy deer-hounds, who darted straight at the kitten.
There was a sudden flurry and scatter, a fury of spits and scratching, a
yelp of pain from one brute with lacerated nose, a sudden recoil of both