"She hasn't at all," said Violet.
"She will—by that time," said Magnus confidently; enjoying the pulsating colour in Cherry's face, and comparing it with the unmoved tinting of poppy leaves. "Why, even to-night she'll not walk home with anybody but Cadet Kindred, in full canonicals."
"Magnus!" said his mother, "I think you are absolutely beside yourself."
"Do cadets all talk in that style?" demanded Rose.
"Not all so brilliantly as I do, by any means, but in the same general way."
"Then I think they need a professor of common sense at West Point."
"And I think you had better go to bed and to sleep," said Violet. "We'll walk home with Cherry. Your brain is getting overexcited."
"Silence and solitude will calm it down," said Magnus. "If you all go, there will be a chatter, but Cherry and I know each other so well that there is no need to speak. She will not try to keep me, mammy; I'll be right back."
There is no doubt but Cherry was laughing when they set out, partly for nervousness, but also in part for the mere infectious atmosphere of frolic. She gave no sign, however, being much under the spell of the tall, erect figure at her side. Whenever she looked up and tried to throw off the glamour, one glint of the bell buttons brought it on worse than before.
"Aren't we walking very fast?" said Magnus mildly.