At that moment Mrs. Gwynn glanced up from the paper; she had been reading an account of a recent spirited skirmish at the front. "What is the difference between shrapnel and grape-shot?" she asked of the company at large. Baynell, the artillery expert, rejoiced to enlighten her. He turned in his chair and promptly took the word from the others. Few experts can answer any simple question categorically. Not only did he explain the missiles in question, but also how they had happened to be what they were, and the earlier stages of their development. He gave his views on their relative value and the possibility of their future utility,--all while Ashley, who now sat next him, as they had chanced to shift their chairs when Mrs. Gwynn had entered, waited with quiet and polite patience for him to draw. Baynell did this at haphazard at last, and whether it was accident or Fate that the significant card was practically thrust into his heedless hand by the mischievous Ashley, his countenance fell at beholding the prognosis of single blessedness, so palpably, so preposterously, that the jovial Ashley could not restrain his bantering laughter. Baynell instantly presented the cards to him to draw in turn, but either favored by luck or having acquired some surreptitious unfair knowledge of the outer aspect of the card, Ashley avoided the ill-omened pasteboard, and Baynell was at last left with the single card in his hand, while his triumphant friend made the room riotous with laughter, and the three "ladies" bent compassionate, tender eyes upon him, as if they anticipated the conventional gush of tears. They had grown very fond of him, and deeply felt the disaster that had befallen him. "Oh, Captain Baynell, never mind! never mind!" cried the inspirational Adelaide. "_We'll_ marry you! _We'll_ marry you! You needn't be _so_ anxious!" Once more Ashley's ringing merriment amazed the sympathetic "ladies." Lucille cast a burning glance of reproof upon him. Then she held up three fingers to Captain Baynell to intimate that three brides awaited him. "Ha! ha!" laughed Ashley. "Here's a settler for Utah, Judge. That's evidently the place for this fellow 'when this cruel war is over'!" Judge Roscoe smilingly watched the benignant, commiserating little countenances. Adelaide had gone around the table and was hanging on the arm of Captain Baynell's chair as she proffered consolation. "Colonel Ashley wouldn't think it so mighty funny if _he_ had the Old Maid! But _don't_ mind, Captain. Why, _I_ know _Cousin Leonora_ would marry you, if nobody else would,--she always does anything when nobody else wants to."