s I say; and as for the
poor but noble-hearted widow----"

"You'll marry her yourself, as a reward; won't you, uncle?" asked the
incorrigible Cap.

"Perhaps I will, you monkey, if it is only to bring somebody home to
keep you in order," said Old Hurricane; then, turning again to Herbert,
he resumed: "As to the widow, Herbert, I will place her above want."

"Over my head," cried Cap.

"And now, Herbert, I will trouble you to ring for coffee, and after we
have had that I think we had better separate and prepare for our journey
to-morrow."

Herbert obeyed, and, after the required refreshment had been served and
partaken of, the little circle broke up for the evening and soon after
retired to rest.

Early the next morning, after a hasty breakfast, the three took their
seats in the express train for Washington, where they arrived upon the
evening of the same day. They put up for the night at Brown's, and the
next day Major Warfield, leaving his party at their hotel, called upon
the President, the Secretary of the Navy and other high official
dignitaries, and put affairs in such a train that he had little doubt of
the ultimate appointment of his nephew to a cadetship at West Point.

The same evening, wishing to avoid the stage route over the mountains,
he took, with his party, the night boat for Richmond, where, in due
time, they arrived, and whence they took the valley line of coaches that
passed through Tip-Top, which they reached upon the morning of the
fourth day of their long journey. Here they found Major Warfield's
carriage waiting for him, and here they were to separate--Major Warfield
and Capitola to turn off to Hurricane Hall and Herbert Greyson to keep
on the route to the town of Staunton.

It was as the three sat in the parlor of the little hotel where the
stage stopped to change horses that their adieus were made.

"Remember, Herbert, that I am willing to go to the utmost extent of my
power to benefit the good widow and her son who were so kind to my
nephew in his need. Remember that! I hold it a sacred debt that I owe
them. Tell them so. And mind, Herbert, I shall expect you back in a week
at furthest."

"I shall be punctual, sir. God bless you, my dear uncle. You have made
me very happy in being the bearer of such glad tidings to the widow and
the fatherless. And now I hear the horn blowing--good-by, uncle;
good-by, Capitola. I am going to carry them great joy--such great joy,
uncle, as you, who ha