"Mr. Ardmore, how dare you suggest that we call United States troops into North Carolina! Don't you know that would be an insult to every loyal son of this state? I should have you know that the state of North Carolina is big enough to take care of herself, and if any president of the United States sends any troops down here while I'm running this office, he'll find that, while our people will gladly die, they never surrender." "Oh, I didn't mean anything like that by what I said," pleaded Ardmore, frightened almost to tears. "Of course, we've got our own troops, and we'll get through all our business without calling for help. I shouldn't any more call on the president than I'd call on the czar of Russia." She seemed satisfied with this disclaimer, and produced a diary in which Governor Dangerfield had noted his appointments far into the future. "We'll have to break a lot of engagements for papa. Here's a speech he promised to make at Wilmington at the laying of the corner-stone of the new orphan asylum. That's to-morrow, and papa can't be there, so we'll send a telegram of congratulation to be read instead. Then he was to preside at a convention of the Old Fiddlers' Association at Goldsboro the next day, and he can't do that. I guess we'd better telegraph and say how sorry he is to be delayed by important official business. And here's--why, I had forgotten about the National Guard encampment, that's beginning now." "Do you mean the state militia?" Ardmore inquired. "Why, of course. They're having their annual encampment over in Azbell County at Camp Dangerfield--they always name the camp for the governor--and father was to visit the camp next Saturday for his annual inspection. That's near your county, where your farm is; didn't you know that?" Ardmore was humble, as he always was when his ignorance was exposed, but his face brightened joyfully. "You mustn't break that engagement. Those troops ought to be inspected. Inspecting his troops is one of the most important things a governor has to do. It's just like a king or an emperor. I've seen Emperor William and King Humbert inspect their soldiers, and they go galloping by like mad, with all the soldiers saluting, and it's perfectly bully. And then there have to be maneuvers, to see whether the troops know how to fight or not, and forced marches and sham battles." "Papa always speaks to the men," suggested Jerry, a little abashed by the breadth and splendor of Ardmore's knowledge. His comparison of the North Carolina militia with the armies of Europe pleased her. "I think the ladies of the royal family inspect the troops, too, sometimes," he continued. "The queens are always honorary colonels of regiments, and present them with flags, which is a graceful thing to do." "Colonel Gillingwater never told me that, and he's the adjutant-general of the state and ought to know." "What's he colonel of?" asked Ardmore gloomily.