"Oh, I forgot to say that you must not forget the office clerks, because you know they are all so fond of John." "What a wretch you are, Ann Penhallow! Go in and repent." "I don't," and laughing, joyously, she stood and looked after the tall figure as he rode away happy and gaily singing, as he was apt to do if pleased, the first army carol the satisfaction of the moment suggested: Come out to the stable As soon as you 're able, And see that the horses That they get some corn.
For if you don't do it, The colonel will know it, And then you will rue it As sure as you're born.
"Ah!" said his wife, "how he goes back--always goes back--to the wild army life when something pleases him.

Thank God that can never come again." She recalled her first year of married life, the dull garrison routine, the weeks of her husband's absences, and when the troop came back and there were empty saddles and weeping women.
At dinner the Squire must needs drink the young cadet's health and express to Rivers his regret that there was not a West Point for Leila.
Mrs.Ann was of opinion that she had had too much of it already.

Rivers agreed with his hostess, and in one of his darkest days won the privilege of long silences by questioning the Squire in regard to the studies and life at West Point, while Mrs.Ann more socially observant than her husband saw how moody was Rivers and with what effort he manufactured an appearance of interest in the captain's enthusiasm concerning educative methods at the great army school.

She was relieved when he carried off Rivers to the library.
"It is chilly, Mark; would you like a fire ?" he asked.
"Yes, I am never too warm." The Squire set the logs ablaze.

"No pipe, Mark ?" "Not yet." He stretched out his lean length before the ruddy birch blaze and was silent.