on just thirty hours, and, steaming on to sea before the
latter was signaled, found some hours out that Foster and Gibson had
been unaccountably left behind. At their own expense, their soldier
wardrobe and toilet replenished by a score of jovial Britons who had
also contributed to their detention, these two warriors completed their
voyage, and Gibson said he was practically alone, for, from morn till
nearly midnight, from off Cadiz until held up at quarantine, Foster had
been dancing attendance on the lovely Mrs. Dwight, the captain being
much of the time down with _mal de mer_.

Now, Sandy had merely referred to "two fellows left at 'Gib,'" without
going into particulars. Sandy, of course, could not be expected to know
what might have transpired on the _Hohenzollern_. Sandy had said nothing
about the Dwights at Naples. Sandy had not mentioned even Jimmy, and so
long as he shrank from the subject the mother wisely would not question.
She was glad now that Sandy was not at home, that he was busy with his
accounts over at the Exchange. She was glad that Priscilla was not
within earshot, that she was busy with her Bible class on the floor
below. Priscilla, Aunt Marion owned, was inquisitive at times, and her
theory of a mission among men was not limited to the rank and file.
Priscilla had ambitions embracing the moral improvement of every officer
from "C.O. to sub.," and Priscilla had heard things somewhere about the
post that set her to asking all manner of questions of her aunt,
questions that set the mother heart to fluttering lest Priscilla next
might direct her batteries on Sandy. No good could come from that, she
knew, for one of Sandy's earliest antipathies had been Cousin 'Cil, whom
he called a preacher in petticoats. Sandy was civil to her now, but by
no means inviting, and Priscilla took it much amiss that her cousin
rather held aloof, refused to argue the canteen question with her, and
could not be drawn into doctrinal discussion of any kind.

Below stairs could be heard the low hum of voices through the open
casement. Priscilla had been reading aloud to her soldier wards, but
police and stable call would presently be sounding--the signal that,
save the secretary, would take away her pupils, and Aunt Marion hoped
Priscilla might not appear upon the scene before Dwight departed, yet
longed to hear him tell of little Jim, and Dwight seemed intent only on
telling her of Inez--Inez and her perfections. Dwight seeme