"Oh, _Nina_!" said Miss Beguile, in soft expostulation. "We also wanted her to see yours," said Miss Nina daringly. "She doesn't believe cadets have any under those caps." Magnus doffed his own particular cap, as in duty bound, but the view Miss Beguile got of his eyes was very short and unsatisfactory. "Now find us a nice seat," said Miss Dangleum. "We've got lots of boodle." "Certainly--at any other time," began Magnus, "but now----" "You don't mean to say you've got a previous?" cried the girls. "Very previous, indeed. I am just going to meet my mother." "Your mother?" said Miss Beguile with the sweetest air of interest. "How charming!" "Dear me, where does _she_ come from?" drawled Miss Fashion. But now Mr. Kindred's eyes came to the front and declared themselves. "She comes from _home_," he said. "Excuse me, I am late"; and with another touch of his cap Magnus sprang away up the path about as fast as a man could go and not run. "He has magnificent eyes," said Miss Beguile. "Yes, but no use," said Miss Dangleum. "I cannot bring that man to terms, do what I will." "Flinty, is he?" said Miss Beguile. "Well, I mean to get hold of him, girls, I give you notice. He's the sort of man I like." "Is there any sort you don't like, Bessie?" said Miss Fashion. "Oh, it's always great fun to have men round, no matter what sort they are," confessed her friend. "But the unapproachable is my dearest choice, every time." XVIII HIGH SUMMER Far through the memory shines a happy day. --LOWELL. Magnus meanwhile went speeding on; leaping over space, and chafing at the lost minutes in terms not very flattering to his fair disturbers. But he was in good time, after all. The stage had waited for a West Shore train, and when Magnus reached the furthest and nearest point to which he might go, the horses with their light load were but just nearing the riding hall. Slowly, slowly--how that stage did creep along. Magnus crossed the road, went back again, darted from one point to another; if only he could get a good glimpse inside! Now the lumbering thing turned a little; ah, it was just empty. No; surely that was a bonnet on the further seat; and now at this window looking out for him! And surely if ever a forage cap went high in air, one went then. But the moment it was within reach again Magnus pulled it far down over his own eyes. He had been at West Point more than a year, looking at tactical officers, professors, dignitaries of all sorts; with wild cadets and all kinds of girls; and now this was his mother's face, and like nothing else in all the world. The boy's heart gave a bound fit to burst something less elastic than a young heart always is.