Jermyn hurried to the rescue, and was somewhat astonished to see that the gentleman with whom Trixy was talking was the Secretary of War. "Mr. Jermyn!" said the Secretary. Jermyn saluted. "This young lady has been telling me an interesting story. By the way, there are to be some new guns tested at Sandy Hook, New York harbor, in a day or two. It might be of use to some of the classes at the fort if an officer from there were to observe the tests and take back a detailed report. Would your own studies be retarded if you were to remain absent a week or ten days longer?" "Not in the least," Jermyn replied, with the promptness becoming a soldier. "Call at the Department some time this afternoon, then, for your detail. I'll send a copy of it to your commanding officer, and you will report by letter to him, so that you may be recalled if necessary. Will you do me the honor to introduce me to this young lady?" "With pleasure. Miss Highwood, allow me to present the Honorable the Secretary of War." "What a long name!" exclaimed Trixy, with a curtesy. "I'm sorry, Miss Highwood, that my time won't allow me to show you special attention while you are here, but I hope we may meet again. Good day. Mr. Jermyn, I wish you a pleasant trip!" Jermyn hurried the child back to her mother, who said: "I hope, Mr. Jermyn, that you apologized to the gentleman for Trixy's rudeness?" "I hadn't the opportunity," Jermyn replied. "Ladies, I've an interesting announcement to make; I am to accompany you back to New York." "Oh, Jermyn!" exclaimed Kate. "'Tis too good to be true." "Nevertheless, 'tis as true as it is good. The gentleman with whom Trixy was talking was the Secretary of War, and he has ordered me back, for a few days, on duty that will occupy my time for only a few hours a day." "You clever fellow! How did you manage it?" "I didn't. Trixy did it." "Trixy!" echoed both ladies. "Why," said the child, "I only told him all about Mr. Jermyn and Miss Trewman. The lady in the White House told me he was the right man to ask if Mr. Jermyn couldn't go back to New York with us, so I asked him." Then Trixy looked up with the inquiring air she always had when she suspected she had done something wrong, but didn't know what it was. "Bless me!" exclaimed Kate. "I wonder only that she didn't ask the President himself." "That's what I was goin' to do," explained Trixy, "but the lady said the other man was the right one, so I asked him." All three adults stopped and stared fixedly at Trixy, at which the child began to cry; so Trif picked her up and kissed her and told her to "never mind," and Kate stooped and kissed her, and when she lifted her head there were tears in her eyes; so Trif looked hurriedly toward the War Department and said it was good for the public sense of propriety and dignity that the Secretary was out of sight, otherwise it would be just like Kate to kiss him also, as she had kissed the Admiral on a certain occasion.