Fenie looked so astonished, and also so hurt, that Kate called herself a brute. Evidently Harry was safe; the assurance was so exhilarating that Kate lost her own head for a moment or two and began to talk at random. "What a capital fellow Lieutenant Jermyn is!" she said. "Do you know, it was merely Trixy who introduced him to me, yet he at once made me feel entirely at ease with him." "Oh, he's charming," replied Fenie. "He's been very kind to Trif and me. He seems to know every one, and he's made us acquainted with many pleasant people. Indeed, I suppose that is the reason Trif is not with us now; she probably is chatting with people whom Jermyn has introduced." "What a social paragon he must be! I wish he were here now, for I want to ask questions about scores of people whom I am meeting." "The Admiral could answer them, and quite as well, if he were here," said Fenie innocently. "The Admiral?" "Yes." Then Fenie began to tell what a delightful gentleman the old Admiral was. In the meantime Trixy was looking about for the Admiral himself, for it was about the time for the daily inspection of sand-wells and the award of the prize. But Trixy could not see the genial old man anywhere, although she strolled the entire length of the piazza, and then went into the office to ask questions. The Admiral had gone to the club, in the fort, some one said. Well, the fort was but two or three hundred steps away, Trixy knew, for she had been there several times already. She knew, too, where the club was, for Lieutenant Jermyn had taken her there to show her the picture of a distant relation of her mother who had been a soldier. To the club Trixy went, but an elderly officer whom she met said that the Admiral was not there. "That's too bad," said Trixy, "'cause some ladies wants him." Another elderly officer, who was present, admitted that it certainly was too bad, and said that the Admiral would be greatly disappointed. "Mebbe," said Trixy, a happy thought coming to her mind, "mebbe Lieutenant Jermyn is here." "He is in one of the section rooms," replied one of the officers. "He's saying his lessons," added the other "Do you ever have lessons, little girl?" "Yes, indeed," sighed Trixy. "Some of 'em's awful hard, too, though mamma helps me all she can. But do you mean that a great big man like Lieutenant Jermyn goes to school?" "Indeed, I do." "Dear me!" exclaimed the child. Then she thought a moment, and continued: "Do you suppose his teacher would let him out for a while? Other scholars get let out of school sometimes, when somebody needs to see them very much." "I think it doubtful," said one of the officers, but the other, with a wink at his companion, said: "One never knows what can be done until one has tried. Just go over to that door where you see a cat sitting, ask for the teacher, and tell him what you want." "Thank you," said Trixy, trotting briskly in the direction indicated, while one officer said to the other: