And I suppose so it was; the task was really ended when the idea came in. A strong protector for his darling when his own care should fail, had been the longing in Mr. Erskine's heart for many a day, and Magnus Kindred had always been second only to Cherry in his heart. Yet to give her up before the time, and, instead of leaving her, to have her leave him, it was sharp enough. No wonder he knit his brows now and then in the midst of all the gaiety, and almost put out a hand between his child and this youngster who claimed such rights and took them with such assurance. No wonder if he frowned a little now, to-day, as Magnus came whistling up, and throwing himself down on a lower step of the porch, waited for the older man to speak. But for a while the silence was unbroken, as Mr. Erskine made a sort of final examination; obliged to come back to the judgment he had given weeks ago, that Charlemagne Kindred was "a splendid fellow." The critical eyes could find no fault. Very serious the face was now, as he sat there looking off, schooling himself to patient waiting, once in a while almost starting up at some sound of Cherry's voice or step within the house. I am afraid Mr. Erskine took a malign pleasure in keeping him where he was. The malignity was not deep, however, for once, when some scrap of a song floated down from an open upstairs window, there came a look over the face of Cadet Charlemagne Kindred--a sudden light and love and joy--to which the father's eyes gave such sympathetic answer that he was fain to screen them with his hand. "Well, young sir," he began at last, "I suppose you want to know what I have to say to you?" "Yes, sir. Furlough ends next week," Magnus answered, without looking round. "Then back for two years more?" "Back for two years, sir." "Magnus, what sort of an inner life have you lived at West Point? They have made a soldier of you outwardly; we can all see so much; but it is possible for a man to be that, and yet have no soldier's heart within." Magnus coloured deeply. "Yes, sir," he said. "I know it. And that has been true of me a few times, Mr. Erskine. Never but once in any great thing." "There are no little things in right and wrong, boy." "No, sir. I should have said, in what people call great." Mr. Erskine was silent with sudden pain; he had not looked for such an answer. Then Magnus turned round, and sat facing him, looking full up. "I have told Cherry the whole thing, straight through," he said; "and now I will tell you, sir, if you wish." Mr. Erskine drew a breath of relief. If he had told Cherry, it could be nothing very bad; and that he _had_ told her half cleared it away. "No, do not tell me," he said. "If Cherry knows, that is enough. But, Magnus, I never expected _you_ to lack the soldier heart!" The boy's eyes flushed, and his lips were unsteady as he said: "Nor I, sir. You cannot possibly be half so disappointed in me as I was in myself."