demur, insisting
that, although of course it might be advisable to have an escort,
nevertheless, she did not wish to be deprived of opportunities to ride
for such a reason. However, observing Major Jimmie's expression rather
surprisingly she remained silent. In spite of his boyish appearance, his
gentle brown eyes and sometimes almost diffident manner, there was a
firmness in his mouth and chin which few persons ever misunderstood.

It was during one of their afternoon rides together, about ten days
later, when they were accompanied by Sergeant Donald Hackett and Nora
Jamison, that unexpectedly Charlotta turned to her escort.

"You don't approve of my having come away from home in the way that I
did, do you, Major Hersey? Oh, I know you have never said anything of
course, since you do not consider that we know each other sufficiently
well to discuss personalities, yet just the same you do disapprove of
me."

Jimmie Hersey shook his head.

"Certainly I do not disapprove of you." Then he flushed and laughed.
"May I say instead that I approve of you highly. You don't mind my being
a little complimentary?"

"Oh, if you mean to be flattering me, you need not think I am not
pleased. But what I meant was that you do not approve of my action.
Please answer me truthfully. I shall not be offended. After all, you
see I am asking you the question, so you cannot be blamed for telling me
the truth."

Still the young American officer hesitated.

"Well, Countess Charlotta, you must always remember that I am a soldier,
and that in so far as possible I try to live up to a soldier's ideals.
One of them is to face the music, never to run away. But there, that
seems an extremely impolite thing for me to have said! You know how glad
I am personally that you did come to Coblenz."

To the latter part of Major Hersey's remark, Charlotta apparently paid
no attention.

She dropped her chin for a moment and stared straight ahead of her.

This afternoon she was wearing a brown corduroy riding habit and brown
leather boots and a close fitting corduroy riding hat. Her father had
not been so obdurate that he had not sent Charlotta a large trunk of her
clothes soon after he learned of her safe arrival in Coblenz.

"You mean to say as kindly as possible that you think I am a coward,"
she returned finally. "That is what Mrs. Clark thinks also, only she has
not said so, I suppose because I have never asked her. Sometimes, I have
wondered si