a one-sided quarrel" going on. As he came close to
the door this became more evident, for he could hear the lieutenant,
striding about the room, storming angrily.

"Joe Todd seems to have fetched himself hot water this morning," said
Dick to himself, for Lacey was calling his servant by every name
suggestive of stupidity that he could think of, but all in the most
calmly, dignified manner.

"I beg your pardon, Smithson," he said, as the man left the room. "I
ought not to go on like that, but the fellow really is beyond bearing.
I can't trust him to do a single thing. He either forgets or does it
wrong. He burns my wet boots; he folds my clothes so that they are
always in creases; he leaves the stopper out of my scent; upsets the
scented bear's grease over my dress-clothes; and--and--Oh, I can't think
of half the mischief he has done! Oh, dear me! there never was a man
worried as I am.--Now, about this duet, Smithson. Do you think we can
manage?--the fact is, I want it for a serenade on Friday night."

"If you will only play it as well, sir, as you did at the last lesson,
it will be all right," said Dick, smiling to himself.

"Think so? I'm afraid I must seem very stupid to you, Smithson--such a
musician as you are. Really, you are a mystery to me."

Dick made no reply.

"There, I beg your pardon, Smithson; it's just as if I were trying to
pump you about your past, and I assure you I did not mean to. It would
be so ungentlemanly."

"Lieutenant Lacey is always gentlemanly to me," said Dick, quietly.

"Well, so are you to me, Smithson. Really, I begin to look upon you as
quite a friend."

"It is very kind of you, sir."

"Well, it's your way, Smithson. Never had lessons in music before
without the fellow I took them of trying to make all the money he could
out of me, bothering me to buy pieces of music, or instruments, or
something. Well, let's begin. But one moment, Smithson; you really are
keeping this a profound secret--I mean about the serenade?"

"I wish you would have a better opinion of me, sir," said Dick.

"I couldn't--I couldn't, really, Smithson," cried the lieutenant; "but
the fact is, I am so nervous about it. If it were known in the
regiment, I should never hear the last of it."

"It will not be known through me, sir," said Dick, quietly, as he
arranged a couple of pieces of music on the stands.

"Of course, it will not, Smithson," cried the lieutenant, rather warmly.
"You see, I