"Kindred's as glum as a post," remarked a smart first classman. "Easy to see his girl's gone back on him."
Magnus caught the words, but then came a thrill of joy. No, that could never be true; and his girl was the very best in all the world. The sights and sounds about him grew indistinct; and with thoughts two thousand miles away, Cadet Kindred finished his dinner and never knew what it was. Only "Company A, rise!" awaked him from his dream.
XXXIX
MORE GIRLS
Pray to God, but continue to row to the shore.
—Russian Proverb.
But work did come hard! The reveille gun was such an impertinence after the lazy summer mornings at home. Every officer figured as an enemy, every drill was an unmitigated bore. And despite what people say about changed seasons, it rained Saturday afternoon then, as it always does now; while if it rained other days too, yet it was sure to clear up in time for drill—or the cadets thought so, which did as well.
Such meals, too, three times a day! Fair enough in ordinary, and easily disposed of by the healthy young appetites, whetted with hard work and open air; but thrown into utter disgrace just now by the background of "mother's" dainties and "home" cream. They were sober enough, these furlough men. But it is hard for even quiet steeds to go calmly back from pasture into the traces; some other fiery young coursers were simply rampant. A good deal of mischief went on in those first weeks in barracks.
Magnus Kindred kept out of it, partly because he had Cherry's image before his eyes; but also because he liked his freedom better than anything else, and had never learned to confound license with liberty. No amount of fun on Monday, would pay him for spending the next Saturday afternoon on the area.
So while other men "ran it" to the Hotel or to Highland Falls, paying that unpleasant penalty, Cadet Kindred kept his playtime free, taking long, long walks over the mountain or in other leafy regions where the squirrels and woodpeckers had it all to themselves. Studying the fanciful piebald of the autumn leaves, gathering the quaint yellow witch-hazel blooms, and the white ladies' tresses; and bringing back to barracks such a clear head for study that he went up hand over hand. Men said he was in love—which was certainly true; and some, that he was trying to "bootlick the Supe," which was as certainly false. And again others, that he was "boning Willet's Point." But no; he was doing better, and simply "boning" the highest stand he could reach.
Meanwhile, to grace the lovely fall weather, several new flowers—or birds—might be seen at parade and on the sidewalk. And Magnus had been duly presented, and had done his first devoirs to the fair strangers. But after that he thought he might please himself again, and muse and climb among the beloved old rocks.