"No, only me in front," said Magnus with a gleam of his bright eyes. "You don't suppose I am going to worry through the last two years here without a sight of you all? Wouldn't pay to bone rank if nobody came to see my chevrons. Just as well go on and get rattled like some of the rest of them." "But my dear!" said poor Mrs. Kindred. "'Rattled' and 'bone' you've said twice. And you called your studies 'beastly.' I thought they taught English at West Point." How Magnus laughed! "There are Tacs over yonder," he said, "with a party of summer girls; and one of the girls offered me a lot of boodle. And the Com.'s out riding, and the Supe's gone to town, and the Arch-fiend is at the seaside." "Now Charlemagne, stop!" said Mrs. Kindred. Magnus gave her another delighted hug. "Oh mammy!" he said; "this is you, and no mistake. I didn't quite believe it was at first." And kissing first one hand and then the other, Magnus put them both back in her lap, and laid his cheek down upon them. The mother got one hand away and softly stroked the fine head. "I do not understand about your hair, yet," she said. "Regulations." "And why do you wear such a thick coat this warm day, Magnus?" "Regulations." "Why my dear! Well, you might unbutton it at least," said Mrs. Kindred. "Regulations." Mrs. Kindred was silent a minute. "I took my dinner in Poughkeepsie," she said, "because I was not sure of getting here in time for yours; and I know it is not good for you to wait." "No ma'am, it isn't--here," said Magnus. "But we can have supper at any time you like." Magnus, without raising his head, gave a groan and wished they could. "Well, we can," said Mrs. Kindred. "I can wait till late, or have it early, Magnus, just as suits you. What do you mean by sighing like that? What is in the way?" "Regulations." "Oh well!" said the mother, trying to smother her disappointment; "you have some other thing on hand? Never mind, dear, then we'll be together at breakfast." "No, we sha'n't." "Why not?" "Regulations. We cannot have one single meal together while you are here, mammy." And now, indeed, Mrs. Kindred had no more to say; the bands of red tape seemed to be winding all about her heart, and drawing very tight indeed. She had so pictured to herself the joy of once more handing her boy his cup of coffee. But it must be best for him, she said bravely to herself; or else they would not make such rules. And, whatever was best for him-- "What _can_ you do, dear?" she said aloud, but with a plaintiveness that went to the boy's heart. He sat up and took her in his arms. "I can do lots, mammy!" he said. "Never you worry one bit. I can't do it for breakfast, and I can't do it to-night, but some other day I'll cut supper, and we'll have it down here together. And we'll have picnics instead of dinner. And I'll walk with you every minute of release from quarters."