quite plain that something was wrong. For
Lacey looked black as thunder as he walked up and down.

"What have I done to offend him?" thought Dick, as he waited for the
young officer to speak.

"Sit down!" growled Lacey; and Dick obeyed.

"It's beyond bearing!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "I'll clean my own
boots, and brush my own clothes. I'm sick of it!"

"Nothing to do with me," thought Dick; and he ventured a remark.

"Can I help you in any way, sir?"

"No--yes; play something soothing to me. I'm put out. No, don't. It's
like making a fool of myself."

Dick thought so, too, but he did not say anything; while the lieutenant
went on pacing the room for a few minutes, and then faced round.

"What do you think he has done now?"

"Who, sir--the colonel?"

"Bah! no: that idiot servant of mine?"

"Broke something, sir?"

"No!" roared the lieutenant; "I wish he had--his neck! Can I trust you,
Smithson?"

Dick bowed.

"Yes; one can confide in you, Smithson. You remember--er--er--a little
adventure of ours--the serenade?"

"Oh, yes, sir!"

"I hardly care to refer to it, Smithson; but, as I think I said before,
I always feel as if I can trust you."

Dick bowed again, and felt disposed to laugh; but his face was
extra-serious as the lieutenant went on--

"The fact is, we made a great mistake, Smithson, and that duet was
played under the wrong window. There is an aunt there--and--and--she is
not young."

"I presumed so, sir, from the voice," said Dick, for the young officer
waited.

"There is no presumption about it, Smithson; you were quite right. She
is still single. Miss--well--er--since then--er--we have met."

"You and the aunt, sir?"

"Smithson, this is no matter for ribald jest," said the lieutenant,
sharply.

"I beg pardon, sir; I meant to be quite serious."

"I thank you, Smithson. You will grasp what I mean when you grow older.
You may come to feel as I have felt for months past."

"I hope not!" thought Dick.

"I will continue, Smithson. We have met since, more than once; and
yesterday I sent that idiot with a note."

"And he gave it to the wrong person, sir?"

"What! You have heard?"

"Oh, no, sir; but it is what I should have expected him to do."

"You are quite right; and I ought to have known better. He took the
letter, and delivered it to the aunt. Smithson, I am in agony! She has
responded to me, thinking my words were meant for her. I walked by
there an h