Then came a morning when Dick walked across the barrack yard, thinking of how thoroughly he had obliterated himself from the memory of all who knew him, and the past from his own. But, as he approached the lieutenant's quarters, he drove these thoughts away and ascended the stairs, to stop on the landing, for he could hear a voice talking loudly. "Company!" thought Dick, and he was about to turn back, but the voice rose higher, and he became aware of the fact that there was what an Irishman would call "a one-sided quarrel" going on. As he came close to the door this became more evident, for he could hear the lieutenant, striding about the room, storming angrily. "Joe Todd seems to have fetched himself hot water this morning," said Dick to himself, for Lacey was calling his servant by every name suggestive of stupidity that he could think of, but all in the most calmly, dignified manner. "I beg your pardon, Smithson," he said, as the man left the room. "I ought not to go on like that, but the fellow really is beyond bearing. I can't trust him to do a single thing. He either forgets or does it wrong. He burns my wet boots; he folds my clothes so that they are always in creases; he leaves the stopper out of my scent; upsets the scented bear's grease over my dress-clothes; and--and--Oh, I can't think of half the mischief he has done! Oh, dear me! there never was a man worried as I am.--Now, about this duet, Smithson. Do you think we can manage?--the fact is, I want it for a serenade on Friday night." "If you will only play it as well, sir, as you did at the last lesson, it will be all right," said Dick, smiling to himself. "Think so? I'm afraid I must seem very stupid to you, Smithson--such a musician as you are. Really, you are a mystery to me." Dick made no reply. "There, I beg your pardon, Smithson; it's just as if I were trying to pump you about your past, and I assure you I did not mean to. It would be so ungentlemanly." "Lieutenant Lacey is always gentlemanly to me," said Dick, quietly. "Well, so are you to me, Smithson. Really, I begin to look upon you as quite a friend." "It is very kind of you, sir." "Well, it's your way, Smithson. Never had lessons in music before without the fellow I took them of trying to make all the money he could out of me, bothering me to buy pieces of music, or instruments, or something. Well, let's begin. But one moment, Smithson; you really are keeping this a profound secret--I mean about the serenade?" "I wish you would have a better opinion of me, sir," said Dick. "I couldn't--I couldn't, really, Smithson," cried the lieutenant; "but the fact is, I am so nervous about it. If it were known in the regiment, I should never hear the last of it." "It will not be known through me, sir," said Dick, quietly, as he arranged a couple of pieces of music on the stands.