"I suppose you mean to intimate that Captain Rayner's position and that of the regiment is bad,--all wrong,--that Mr. Hayne has been persecuted," said Mrs. Rayner, with trembling lips and cheeks aflame. "Mrs. Rayner, you are unjust," said poor Foster. "I ought not to have undertaken to explain or defend the colonel's act, perhaps, but I am not disloyal to my regiment or my colors. What I want is to prevent further trouble; and I know that anything like a concerted resentment of the colonel's invitation will lead to infinite harm." "_You_ may cringe and bow and bear it if you choose; you may humble yourself to such a piece of insolence; but rest assured there are plenty of men and women in the Riflers who won't bear it, Mr. Foster; and for one _I_ won't." She had risen to her full height now, and her eyes were blazing. "For his own sake I trust the colonel will omit our names from the next entertainment he gives. Nellie shan't--" "Oh, think, Mrs. Rayner!" interrupted one of the ladies; "they _must_ give her a dinner or a reception." "Indeed they shall not! I refuse to enter the door of people who have insulted my husband as they have." "Hush! Listen!" said Mr. Graham, springing towards the door. There was wondering silence an instant. "It is nothing but the trumpet sounding taps," said Mrs. Rayner, hurriedly. But even as she spoke they rose to their feet. Muffled cries were heard, borne in on the night wind,--a shot, then another, down in the valley,--the quick peal of the cavalry trumpet. "It isn't taps. It's fire!" shouted Graham from the door-way. "Come on!" V.