build this ambition.

Heigho! The old homestead was gone; his sister dwelt under the elder
brother's roof; the prodigal was alone.

"But there's always a fatted calf waiting in Washington," he laughed
aloud. "Once a soldier, always a soldier. I suppose I'll be begging
the colonel to have a chat with the president. There doesn't seem to
be any way of getting out of it. I'll have to don the old togs again.
I ought to write a letter to Nancy, but it will be finer to drop in
on 'em unexpectedly. Bless her heart! (So say I!) And Jack's, too,
and his little wife's! And I haven't written a line in eight weeks.
But I'll make it all up in ten minutes. And if I haven't a roof-tree,
at least I've got the ready cash and can buy one any day." All of
which proves that Mr. Robert possessed a buoyant spirit, and refused
to be downcast for more than one minute at a time.

He threw away his cigar and reentered the hotel, and threaded his way
through the appalling labyrinths of corridors till he found some one
to guide him to the barber shop, where he could have his hair cut and
his beard trimmed in the good old American way, money no object. For
a plan had at last come to him; and it wasn't at all bad. He
determined to dine at the Holland House at eight-thirty. It was quite
possible that he would see Her.

My only wish is that, when I put on evening clothes (in my humble
opinion, the homeliest and most uncomfortable garb that man ever
invented!) I might look one-quarter as handsome and elegant as Mr.
Robert looked, as he came down stairs at eight-ten that night. He
wasn't to be blamed if the women glanced in his direction, and then