"Then it was the black one. Boning discipline! I don't believe it. Not you."
Magnus bowed.
"Let me see, then," she said. "I know it's just some old thing with a love letter inside. Give it to me!"
Magnus drew out the little book and handed it over, but Miss Saucy was a very bewildered girl indeed, as she turned the pages.
"What?" she said. "I can't make head or tail of this thing. What sort of stuff is it, anyhow?"
"Stuff that will wear."
"It'll wear you—wear you out," said Miss Saucy. "You are at least two years older than you were last night. Oh, I don't know anything about religion, except the outside of course, don't you know; but that's enough. So the Chaplain has given you the points, and you're going to pose; Cadet Kindred, the serious man. Well, it'll be a variety. Come, let's go; I'll be the first to have a walk with him, anyhow. Will this do-o-o?" said the girl, drawling out her words, and bringing the corners of her little mouth as far down as they would go. "Mr. Kindred, what will be a profitable subject for us to discuss, as we take our solemn way under the brooding trees that shadow the path once called Flirtation? The low state of grace in the Corps, and what to do about it? Then when we've settled that we might turn our brilliant light upon the girls and go for them."
"You said you wanted to walk on the plain," Magnus answered her.
"Plain's too gay. Do you think, Mr. Kindred, you could lend me your lovely book just till to-morrow? It might do me no end of good. And you know how much I need it."
"The book would do you no good at all," said Magnus, trying to keep cool. "If that is what you want, you had better read your own Bible."