"Four—you seem to know him very well," said Mr. Wayne, turning to look more narrowly at his companion.
"I don't know, sir: sometimes I think I do, sometimes not. He takes me all by surprise every now and then," said Magnus.
But with that he turned his eyes full upon Mr. Wayne, and the recognition was instant.
"And this is you!" said Mr. Wayne. "I see it now. Indeed I think I felt it all along. Sit over there, and let me look at you."
So Magnus changed his seat for another, and went through a new sort of inspection; differing in toto from that of any member of the tactical department. For Mr. Wayne's eyes passed rapidly over grey cloth and bell buttons (Magnus feeling quite sure the while that any dulness or disorder there would have been noted) and came to the young face, with a look so searching and wise that the sunburnt cheeks reddened, and the eyes went down. Only for a moment, however: then they met the search squarely, and with a laugh.
"Yes, sir," said Cadet Kindred, "that is just about what I am."
Privately, Mr. Wayne had been thinking to himself that just what he saw was a remarkably fine-looking fellow, whom anybody might be proud to call son or brother. For the eyes were steady and true; and when the face broke in a smile or a laugh the mouth had the same utterly clean look which had marked it two years ago. Mr. Wayne noted it all, and drew a deep breath of rejoicing.
"I give most humble and hearty thanks," he said, reverently lifting his hat. Magnus sprang up and came back to his old seat.
"Were you so doubtful of me, sir?" he said. "And what made you doubtful?"
"Not doubtful of you, my boy, but certain of the world. And the world—even this little world here—is a hard place."