flitting about magnificently, the band
parading up and down and turning itself inside out around the towering
drum-major, the line of spectators behind, the bright faces and gay
parasols, and among them the black eyes of Marian looking unmistakably
at him. When at the end of the parade the company officers marched up
to salute and the companies were dismissed, Sam saw a member of the new
first class talking to her. He was now on an equality with all the
cadets, and he boldly advanced and asked for an introduction. At last
he had her hand in his, and as he pressed it rather harder than the
occasion warranted, he felt his pressure returned. Sam's fate was
sealed. He made no formal proposal, it was unnecessary. The engagement
was a thing taken for granted. It was a novel experience for Marian as
well as for Sam, as now for the first time she meant business. It is
impossible in cold ink to reproduce the ecstasies of those many hours
on Flirtation Walk, during which Sam opened his heart. For the first
time in his life he had found a person as deeply interested in military
matters as he was, and as much in love with military glory. He told her
his whole history, including the lead soldiers and the Boys' Brigade.
He laid bare to her his ambition to be a perfect soldier--a hero. He
told her how disappointed he was to find no other cadet so completely
wrapped up in his profession as he was, and how in her alone he had now
realized his ideal not only of womanhood, but also of appreciation of
the soldier's career. He rehearsed the thrilling experiences of hazing,
and went over the fight in detail and told her how Saunders had brought
it about.

"The horrid wretch!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms about his neck
and kissing him. "I'm so glad they didn't break your nose."

"Are you really?" he asked, and as he read the truth in her eyes a
weight was rolled from his soul.

He showed her the little lead officer with the plume, which he always
carried as a mascot in his breast-pocket, and also the two hazing
photographs which kept it company. She was delighted with them all.

"Oh! you will be a hero," she cried. "I am sure of it, and what a time
we shall have of it, you dear thing!"

With his spare time thus occupied Sam did not see much of Cleary,
who now shared another tent. One afternoon late in September he was
on the way to the gate of the hotel grounds where he was accustomed
to wait unt