Lulu gave her father an inquiring look, and he said, "What is it, daughter? You may talk now, if you wish."
"I was just wondering if you had to do such work as that at Annapolis," she said in reply.
"I did," he responded, with a smile, "and thought you had heard me speak of it."
"Maybe I have," she said, with a tone and look as if trying to recall something in the past. "Oh, yes, I do remember it now! And I suppose that's the reason you have always been so particular with us about keeping our rooms nice and neat."
"Partly, I believe," he returned, softly patting the hand she had laid on his knee; "but my mother was very neat and orderly, and from my earliest childhood tried to teach me to be the same."
"And I think I'll find it easier because of your teachings, sir," remarked Max.
"I hope so," the Captain said; "you'll find you have enough to learn, my boy, without that."
"A good father is a great blessing, Max, as I have found in my own experience," said Mr. Keith.
But the roll of the drums began again, now playing "Pease upon a Trencher;" again the ranks were formed, rolls called; the sergeants marched their companies to the colour line, officers took their stations; first captain ordered attention, swung the battalion into column of platoons to the left, ordered "Forward, guide right, march!" and away they went, to the stirring music of the fifes and drums, away across the plain till the main road was reached, down the shaded lane between the old "Academic" and the chapel, past the new quarters, and the grassy terrace beyond. Then each platoon wheeled in succession to the right, mounted the broad stone steps, and disappeared beneath the portals of the mess hall.