ittle patient, a
thing they could not permit, for Dwight was still too weak to exercise
the needed self-control. It seemed as though he had forgotten the
existence of Inez, his wife, the existence of Foster, the existence of
Sandy Ray and everybody and anybody beyond Jimmy and those who were
ministering to him. Mrs. Ray, once again moving, though languidly, about
her household duties (for Priscilla was utterly engrossed with the boy)
had made the major as comfortable as he would permit in the little
library below stairs, where he had an easy chair in which he could
recline, and books, desk, writing material, but no one to read to him;
and, as it turned out, he would do nothing but move restlessly about,
listen for every sound from the upper floor where Jim lay in Sandy's
bed, and waylay the doctors or anybody who might have tidings. Once or
twice, there or at home, he had to see the colonel, the adjutant or his
own second in command, Captain Hurst, but the lawyers came no more. All
proceedings were called off for the time being. Everything in his mind
hinged on the fate of Jimmy, and, one thing worth the noting, Madame and
the phaeton went no more abroad.

But if he had apparently forgotten, Felicie had not, the incidents of
that stormy meeting, the episode that led to it and the consequences to
be expected. Felicie felt that the public should be enlightened and
public opinion properly aroused as to the major's domestic misrule. It
was high time all Minneconjou was made to know this monster and "the
hideous accusations he make against this angel, and this angel's the
most devoted myself that to you speak." From the torrent of her tirade,
occasionally, drops of information seemed to accord with the rumors
dribbling about the garrison. Minneconjou knew that the well-named and
impenetrable post commander was in possession of facts he could impart
to nobody; that he had been questioning and cross-questioning corporal
and men, the latter recent occupants of sentry posts Nos. 3 and 4; that
these gentry had been ordered by him to hold no converse with anybody;
that he had again called up two of the three men incarcerated at the
time of the assault upon Captain Foster, and it was now definitely known
that these two had both served under Foster in the --th Cavalry,
although both now protested they always considered him a model officer
and a perfect gentleman. To offset this was the statement of Sergeant
Hess, of the Sixty-first,