"The doctor is devoted to Maud," said Mrs. Mason, "although I do not think she cares for him."
"Is he the surgeon who is to go with the regiment?" Harold asked.
"I think not. Dr. Fairchild is the man spoken of," said Mrs. Mason. "I suppose I should not mention it, but as you are one of the officers it can do no harm to tell you. I believe that Dr. Beaumont would like to go. It will however be finally decided to-morrow."
"Thank you for telling us," said Helen. "I suppose it is out of the question about Miss Maud going?"
"Entirely out of the question." returned the elder lady emphatically. "If they should happen to appoint Dr. Beaumont, she would not dream of going. H-m, h-m," she continued, wisely shaking her little grey head; "that throws new light upon it; I do not believe she will really want to go."
"My dear, if we do not commence we shall lose our waltz," exclaimed Harold to his wife, "It is half through already."
"A thousand pardons, dearie. It is our first since we were married. I wouldn't miss it for the world," and her winsome smile thrilling him again, as it had always done, they glided over the floor.
The next afternoon Maud visited Helen at the Citadel.
"Our little chat remained unfinished," were almost her first words. "There were so many unmarried officers at the ball last night that the gentlemen outnumbered the ladies, and I did not get a chance to speak to you again."