“And if the lady cares for you, she is certain to be pleased.”
“Yes, Smithson; but I don’t know that she does. Now let’s rest for a few minutes. It’s so awkward for that fellow to have upset me just before I had my music lesson. I wish I knew of a good man; I’d give anything for him.”
The Friday night came, and at a time appointed Dick crossed the barrack yard, to find it soft, delicious, and summer-like, starry but dark, and with a feeling in the air which accorded well with the mission they were on.
On reaching the lieutenant’s room, he found him impatiently walking up and down, smoking a cigarette—the ends of half a dozen more lying on the fire-grate ornament.
“Come—come, Smithson! you are late,” cried the young officer impatiently. “It will be so vexatious to find nobody stirring. People do go to sleep when they are in bed.”
“Generally, sir. But you said half-past ten, to be the time.”
“Yes; and for you to be here by ten.”
“Exactly, sir; but I thought I would get here half an hour sooner, in case you liked to try through the piece before we started.”
“Eh? What time is it, then?”
“Just about to chime half-past nine, sir.”