"Why, all of us--Uncle John, Aunt Eleanor, the children, and--and Cousin Rob." "Oh, no, you're not! You're going to stay here." "Who said so?" "I say so," replied George, mischievously. "Can't I go out of the Fort?" "No." "We'll see," said Beatrice, tossing her head. She ran to the gate, but he was there before her and effectually barred the way. "Let me pass," she said icily. "I'm sorry, Miss Manning, but you can't go without permission from the Captain. You are under military orders, and no soldier or citizen is to leave the Fort without a guard. After sunset no one but the sentries can pass the gates." "For how long?" demanded Beatrice. "Till the Captain orders otherwise." "And I'm to stay here, then, without a hat, or even a clean handkerchief, until His Majesty sees fit to let me go to my own home in broad daylight!" The colour flamed in her cheeks, and her eyes snapped dangerously. The Ensign was enjoying the situation hugely, and thought Beatrice was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. In fact, he was on the point of saying so, but, fortunately, thought better of it. "You can go if I go with you," he suggested. "Then I'll stay here," announced Beatrice, with unconcealed scorn. She walked away from him with her head high, and went straight to Captain Franklin. "Gone to see if I lied to her," laughed Ronald to himself. "She's a mettlesome damsel--devilish mettlesome." "That is my order," said the Captain, in answer to her question, "and it must be obeyed." "Can't I go home at all?" "Certainly, for a few minutes at a time. Ask Ensign Ronald to go with you this afternoon." The Captain turned away, and Beatrice gazed at his retreating figure with fire in her eyes. "Fool!" she said aloud, stamping her foot; "I won't ask him. I'll stay here till I die before I'll ask him!" Captain Franklin's house immediately became offensive to her, and she knew Robert was at Katherine's, teaching the children. The parade-ground was odious, because Ronald was walking briskly around it for exercise. Her uncle passed her with the coolest kind of a nod, remembering what she had said about Robert the night before, and she began to wish she had never left Fort Wayne. Only the stables remained, and she went there to see the friend who never failed her. Queen pranced in her stall and tapped with her dainty hoofs impatiently. "I can't take you out, Beauty," she said sadly, "because they won't let us leave the Fort." Queen put her nose into the girl's neck and was immediately slapped. "You're not allowed to do that," said Beatrice, sternly, turning away. Queen whinnied and Beatrice understood that the offender was very sorry and very lonely, and would never do it again, so she went back. "I'll take you around the Fort if you'll be good," she said. Her saddle was hanging there, but she preferred to ride without it, so she replaced the halter with a bridle and went out, mounted, hoping Ronald was not there.