Straight through the sallyport the Western dame led her two girls, passing grey coats on the way across the area, and meeting others at the guard-house; nodding to one, hailing another, but giving no introductions; until after making known her wishes to the magnificent officer of the day, she turned to her girls, and presented Cadet-Captain Trueman. Then panted up the narrow staircase to the visitors' room, which was hot, and not magnificent. [Illustration: PARADE REST IN CAMP] Mrs. Ironwood and her fan at once absorbed the window, the two girls stood shyly behind her; and back and forth before their eyes went the slim grey figures in the area. Some who knew Mrs. Ironwood and doffed their caps to her gave just a swift second glance at the two new faces. For a cadet never stares, or does it so surreptitiously from under his visor that nobody knows. But the minutes seemed long. Mrs. Ironwood's fan plied back and forth, the girls stood watching. "What makes them all look just alike?" said Violet. "I should say that man has been across six times already." Mrs. Ironwood laughed. "Maybe he has," she said. "You'll bring the chaos to order in a day or two. Look very monotonous, don't they? I suppose you'll not even know Magnus when he comes." But a little cry from both the girls answered that. Another grey figure came hurrying across the open space, swung his cap high in air beneath the window, and came tearing up the stairs. After the first words, Mrs. Ironwood went back to her seat, and left them to themselves, interviewing at more length some of her friends below; but then she made a move. "We must get out of here," she said. "There come more bonnets, and there'll be more cadets, and we shan't have standing room." "When the bugle blows," said Magnus. "I can't leave here till four o'clock. But it's close on that now." "And then we can have you all the rest of the afternoon," said Violet. "No, little peach blossom, you cannot. There's a review on hand. I'll take you down to the seats. There it goes--" And the sweet four o'clock call rang out in front of barracks, repeated then at different points, and answered by soft echoes from the hill. The little party made their way out, and down among the old trees by the officers' row, where already the seats were filling up. But Magnus found them a good place, and himself stood in front; mounting guard over his treasures with a joy and pride it was pleasant to see. He quite ignored the suggestive looks that came from other men in grey. Just now, he wanted his sisters all to himself. And the way they gazed at him could not be told. To see how he knew by instinct when an officer came by; instantly whirling around to salute, to note how very often that cap came off to some embodiment of fashion and finery, was a great study. For Magnus was on tiptoe, and put in all the flourishes the law allowed. Only at the sound of the first drum did his exalted state come down.