nd
fro. She tried to close her eyes only to find them wandering about the
room in the obscure dimness, focusing themselves now on the old mahogany
dresser, now on the little prie-Dieu against the inner wall with the
small ivory crucifix outlined faintly above it, now on the chintz
hangings that covered the window. She could hear her heart, pounding its
great weight of bitterness against the pillow; and as she listened she
thought of Stephen's arrest and of its thousand and one horrible
consequences. She tried to congratulate herself on her sweet serenity
and the serenity only mocked her and anticipation loomed as fiercely as
before.

The next she knew was a quiet awakening, as if her mother's hand had
been put gently on her arm. Outside ten thousand light leaves shivered
gently and the birds were calling to one another in melodious tones.
This was her first glimpse of the day and it sent her suddenly to her
knees.

Stephen came late that afternoon. He had not been expected; yet she was
happy because he came. She had done little that day; had not left the
house, nor dressed for the occasion. The note was where she had left it,
and all reference to it buried with her thoughts of the evening.

"I cannot yet tell how it has been decided. They went into executive
session at once."

"But,... Surely,... They could not find you guilty?"

"Oh, well."

"Please.... Won't you tell me?"

"There is little to tell. It was very brief."

He could not become enthusiastic.

"Then you were put to trial?" she asked with an apprehension uncertain
in quality.

"Yes."

"Go on. Tell me."

He was silent. He desired to withhold nothing from her, yet he could not
find the words he wanted.

"What happened?" She was persistent.

"Well.... I don't know.... I soured on the whole proceeding. The
court-martial met, the Regimental Court Martial, with three members.
This was permissible. They began, reading the charge as preferred by
Colonel Forrest, which was to the effect that I had been guilty of
striking my superior officer, Colonel Forrest, by attempting to choke
him. To this was added the accusation of abusive, threatening language
as well as a threat of murder. I, of course, pleaded not guilty; nor did
I prepare any defense. The affair was so trivial that I was surprised
that it ever had been brought to trial."

"How long did the proceedings last?"

"They were very brief. Several witnesses were examined, the chief one
bein