Colonel Maynard?"
"He is at home. Pray come up and take a chair. I will let him know.
I--I felt sure you must be some friend of his when I saw you in the
stage," said the good lady, with manifest and apologetic uneasiness.
"Yes," responded the stranger, as he quickly ascended the steps and
bowed before her, smiling quietly the while. "Let me introduce myself. I
am Captain Armitage, of the colonel's regiment."
"There! I _knew_ it!" was Aunt Grace's response, as with both hands
uplifted in tragic despair she gave one horror-stricken glance at Alice
and rushed into the house.
There was a moment's silence; then, with burning cheeks, but with brave
eyes that looked frankly into his, Alice Renwick arose, came straight up
to him, and held out her pretty hand.
"Captain Armitage, I beg your pardon."
He took the extended hand and gazed earnestly into her face, while a
kind--almost merry--smile lighted up his own.
"Have the boys given me such an uncanny reputation as all that?" he
asked; and then, as though tickled with the comicality of the situation,
he began to laugh. "What ogres some of us old soldiers do become in the
course of years! Do you know, young lady, I might never have suspected
what a brute I was if it had not been for you? What a blessed thing it
was the colonel did not tell you I was coming! You would never have
given me this true insight into my character."
But she saw nothing to laugh at, and would not laugh. Her lovely face
was still burning with blushes and dismay and full of trouble.
"I do not look upon it lightly at all," she said. "It was unpardonable
in me to--to--"
"To take so effective and convincing a method of telling a man of his
grievous sins! Not a bit of it. I like a girl who has the courage to
stand up for her friends. I shall congratulate Jerrold and Hall both
when I get back, lucky fellows that they are!" And evidently Captain
Armitage was deriving altogether too much jolly entertainment from her
awkwardness. She rallied and strove to put an end to it.
"Indeed, Captain Armitage, I _do_ think the young officers sorely need
friends and advocates at times. I never would have knowingly spoken to
you of your personal responsibilities in the woes of Mr. Jerrold and Mr.
Hall, but since I have done so unwittingly I may as well define my
position, especially as you are so good-natured with it all." And here,
it must be admitted, Miss Renwick's beautiful eyes were shyly lifted to
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