te of the devil
and all, you and I, eh? The best of things, even if things are bad, dear
lady, eh?"

"You darling vagabond!" Mrs. Tanberry murmured, trying to smile back to
him.

"Hark to 'em!" said Crailey. "They're very near! Only hear the people
cheer them! They'll 'march away so gaily,' won't they?--and how right
that is!" The vanguard appeared in the street, and over the hedge
gleamed the oncoming banner, the fresh colors flying out on a strong
breeze. Crailey greeted it with a breathless cry. "There's the
flag--look, Fanchon, your flag!--. waving above the hedge; and it's Jeff
who carries it. Doesn't it always make you want to dance! Bravo, bravo!"

The procession halted for a moment in the street and the music ceased.
Then, with a jubilant flourish of brass and the roll of drums, the band
struck up "The Star Spangled Banner," and Jefferson Bareaud proudly
led the way through the gates and down the driveway, the bright silk
streaming overhead. Behind him briskly marched the volunteers, with
heads erect and cheerful faces, as they knew Corporal Gray wished to see
them, their Captain flourishing his sword in the air.

"Here they come! Do you see, Fanchon?" cried Crailey, excitedly. "They
are all there, Jeff and Tappingham, and the two Madrillons and Will,
the dear old fellow--he'll never write a decent paragraph as long as he
lives, God bless him!--and young Frank--what deviltries I've led the boy
into!--and there's the old General, forgetting all the tiffs we've had.
God bless them all and grant them all a safe return! What on earth are
they taking off their hats for?--Ah, good-by, boys, good-by!"

They saw the white face at the window, and the slender hand fluttering
its farewell, and Tappingham halted his men.

"Three times three for Corporal Gray!" he shouted, managing, somehow, to
keep the smile upon his lips. "Three times three, and may he rejoin his
company before we enter the Mexican capital!"

He beat the time for the thunderous cheers that they gave; the
procession described a circle on the lawn, and then, with the band
playing and colors flying, passed out of the gates and took up the march
to the wharf.

"The flag, the flag!" whispered Crailey, following it with his eyes.
"It shows that you helped make it, Fanchon, it's so beautiful. Ah, Tom,
they've said we abused it, sometimes--it was only that we loved it so
well we didn't like to see anyone make it look silly or mean. But, after
all, no man