"Magnus, don't you want to run upstairs and get papa's tray? He must be done with it by this time." "Why, of course," said Cadet Kindred. "Only--this is the second time you have sent me to him,--and as I remarked the other night----" "I declare!" Cherry exclaimed, giving him a good sight of the fire sparks. But then she turned and darted away up some back staircase so fleetly and softly that he could not even tell by which way she had gone. And when the pursuer by ordinary routes had reached the room, Cherry was in calm conversation with her father. Mr. Erskine was sitting by the window, and certainly looked rather surprised at the headlong style in which Magnus rushed in; but smiled and shook hands very cordially. "Cherry sent me to get your tray, sir," the young man explained; "and she was so high-strung over my seeming hesitation that, after that, I stumbled upstairs as fast as I could." "I see--chaffing each other as usual," said Mr. Erskine. "Papa," Cherry put in, safely ensconced now behind her father and her work basket, "you must not believe one word these cadets say." "These cadets!" Magnus retorted. "Please to be more personal in your remarks. I stand up for the veracity of the Corps." "And represent it, no doubt." "I wonder who is wandering into fib-land now," said Magnus. "Mr. Erskine, if you take her at her word, and never believe anything I say, I shall live to see the day when, with tears in her eyes, she will assure you of my perfect truth and reliability." "Indeed you will not," said Cherry. "Unless you live to be a hundred and ten." Mr. Erskine laughed heartily. Just so had those two been sparring ever since they were in leading strings; perfect inseparables, but never together ten minutes without getting up a skirmish of some kind. "I am sorry this is one of your bad days, sir," Magnus went on; "but the sun is very bright, as you can see, sir, and the air is soft--you can _feel_ that. I like to back up my words when I can. And perhaps you will kindly take hold of my arm, sir, and judge if it is likely to give way under the weight of your hand down the hill." "All which means," said Mr. Erskine, "that I am expected by the dear people down there?" "Yes, sir. And I think mother will be disappointed if you don't come--but I'll scoot down and get a note from her to say so. And Rose will cry out, 'Oh, dear!' and Violet will exclaim, 'Dear me!' At least," said Magnus, correcting himself, "it will be something like that. Even warped surfaces cannot always help a man to know just what a woman will say." And Cadet Kindred stood back with the air of one who, having just sent a shell from the siege battery, and seen it hit the mark, feels that he deserves well of his country. "Why 'warped surfaces'?" said Mr. Erskine, laughing up at the handsome young fellow, whom he loved next to his own daughter. "Uncertain, sir. And incomprehensible. Greatest puzzle I know," said Magnus.