What if he _was_ a candidate? Men had to be, when they first came, he supposed. And what if he _did_ mean to hold up the flagstaff? who had a better right? Magnus looked up defiantly, and made a profound reverence to the Stars and Stripes. All the same, he edged away as he saw another party of girls approaching, and went and sat down on a long iron seat among the tree shadows. One thing was certain: his sisters--and Cherry--should never set foot here, if he could help it. He had been thinking--if only they could get money enough--how fine it would be to have them all come and see this beautiful place. Such walks as they could take! But West Point just _swarmed_ with girls already. And at this point of his meditations Magnus was quite sure that he heard "candidate" again, from another jocund voice. "Say, let's find out." "What for?" said a pink vision. "Fun," said the white one: "Oh, I know the regulation questions." And but half under her breath, the pretty tones sang out: "See where he hails from-- What is his name; Who was his 'pred.,' And why he came." "Who cares?" said the other girl, hurrying her along. "Come, we are late." That party passed, followed, it must be owned, by some rather fierce looks from Magnus. Then, slowly strolling down the pathway, came two more: a girl, in the height of every fashion, and a tall fellow in close-fitting grey coat and the whitest of unwrinkled trousers. Over his head he carried the girl's scarlet and lace parasol, shielding himself as carefully as if she had brought it for that express purpose. As perhaps she had: who knows? At all events, the little lady gazed up at the dark sunburnt face, with its vivid background, as if nothing could be too good to screen such a complexion. And he looked down at her--well, women never get just what they give, but he did look very admiringly; as if the delicate face needed nothing, not even a parasol. Whatever was the reason, this couple made Magnus more irate than any that had gone before. There was an instant antagonism to the tall cadet. His uniform was so becoming, and fitted so well; the glancing buttons were so attractive; the gold bars on the upper arm had such a distinguished look; the young stranger set him down at once for a coxcomb. But there was a little envy in it all. How cleverly he cut down the military stride to keep step with the girl's mincing feet; a difficult thing, as Magnus knew. "Taking care of his own precious face, and letting hers burn!" quoth the young civilian; but all the same, he would have given more money than he was likely to have soon to be in just such guise himself, with Cherry by his side. He'd show that fellow a thing or two.