t him understand he ought not to lead the
german, had gone to see him and been refused admission. Asked from
within what they wanted, the reply was somewhat difficult to frame, and
in both cases resolved itself into "Oh, about the german;" to which
Jerrold's voice was heard to say, "The german's all right. I'll lead if
I'm well enough and am not bothered to death meantime; but I've got some
private matters to attend to, and am not seeing anybody to-day." And
with this answer they were fain to be content. It had been settled,
however, that the officers were to tell Captain Chester at ten o'clock
that in their opinion Mr. Jerrold ought not to be permitted to attend so
long as this mysterious charge hung over him; and Mr. Rollins had been
notified that he must be ready to lead.

Poor Rollins! He was in sore perplexity. He wanted nothing better than
to dance with Nina Beaubien. He wondered if she _would_ lead with him,
or would even come at all when she learned that Jerrold would be unable
to attend. "Sickness" was to be the ostensible cause, and in the youth
and innocence of his heart Rollins never supposed that Nina would hear
of all the other assignable reasons. He meant to ride in and call upon
her Monday evening; but, as ill luck would have it, old Sloat, who was
officer of the day, stepped on a round pebble as he was going down the
long flight to the railway-station, and sprained his ankle. Just at five
o'clock Rollins got orders to relieve him, and was returning from the
guard-house, when who should come driving in but Cub Sutton, and Cub
reined up and asked where he would be apt to find Mr. Jerrold.

"He isn't well, and has been denying himself to all callers to-day,"
said Rollins, shortly.

"Well, I've got to see him, or at least get a note to him," said Cub.
"It's from Miss Beaubien, and requires an answer."

"You know the way to his quarters, I presume," said Rollins, coldly:
"you have been there frequently. I will have a man hold your horse, or
you can tie him there at the rail, just as you please."

"Thanks. I'll go over, I believe." And go he did, and poor Rollins was
unable to resist the temptation of watching whether the magic name of
Nina would open the door. It did not; but he saw Cub hand in the little
note through the shutters, and ere long there came another from within.
This Cub stowed in his waistcoat-pocket and drove off with, and Rollins
walked jealously homeward. But that evening he went throug