Magnus ran down the hill, whistling at the top of his power. I am not sure that Cherry knew what he whistled; and I doubt if he knew himself; but I think it was "The Girl I Left behind Me."
"My dear boy," said Mrs. Kindred, as her cadet came in, "you forget that it is night in these Western regions. Have you been round the neighbourhood whistling people up?"
Magnus threw himself down on the floor at her feet.
"Mammy, if you'd not been allowed to whistle for two years, you would know how good it feels."
"Not allowed to whistle? What could comfort you?" said the mother, laying her hand caressingly on his head. "Well, I suppose if three hundred boys got to whistling, the effect might be rather powerful."
"What kept you so long, boy?" said Rose.
"Cherry. She is a rather slow girl, sometimes."
"She isn't!" cried Violet. "Never! She is just the quickest girl going."
"Cherry—as I have found her," said Magnus gravely.
"Do all cadets tell fibs?" inquired Rose.