But now, sitting under the trees and watching her boy from a distance, Mrs. Kindred would sometimes hear, close at hand, some word or sentiment that made her start and look round, with a great wish that the girl's mother were there; and behold, quite often she _was_. Then this mother would get up and change her seat. Small use. Near the new place sat a tall young lady in tennis rig set free, while her waist was drawn in until playing must have been hard work. A game had been on, for Miss Viny's cheeks were flushed, and she still brandished her racket. She was talking over her shoulder to a semi-young officer. "I think you have a great deal too much to do with Captain Chose, Miss Viny," said this gentleman. "You know he is in a very peculiar position with regard to his wife." And the handsome girl, flashing round at him her daring eyes, made answer: "That only makes him the more interesting!" Mrs. Kindred shivered slightly, and once more changed her seat. And _now_ she got among a bevy of girls who were talking of Magnus; they fluttered in and settled down all around her, too eager over their subject to know or care who heard their talk. "I'll get hold of him somehow. I'm bound to do it," said a dark girl in very extreme costume. "I told you I would, and I will." "Not worth the bother," said a plump little damsel in pink. "There are plenty more." "Not plenty with eyes like his; there's not such another pair in the Corps. They're just heavenly." "Yes, aren't they?" said the plump girl. "When he looks at you it makes you feel queer all over." "I was afraid you were going to say, all through," said Miss Beguile; "and you know there isn't any 'all through' to you, Kitten." "Now I call that _too_ bad," said the Kitten. "When I am universally known to be all heart." "Good you are," said Miss Saucy, "for you give everyone a piece and the supply might fail. But there's a good deal of you, such as it is, Kitten. You'll turn the three F's, if you live long enough." "_Some_ people don't think there's too much of me," said the Kitten, pouting. "About half the Corps, I should judge. Now I believe in one grand master passion, don't you know. I think it's dear." "It's a passion for a master--if you're in love with Mr. Kindred," said a fourth girl. "He'll manage you, Bessie. Make you behave." If anybody had had time to notice the quiet little mother sitting there, he would have seen a very perceptible start, and a pair of eyes as indignant as such tender eyes could be. _Those_ girls after her young magnate? Mrs. Kindred was fit to go that moment to headquarters and demand a cordon of red tape to surround her boy. But she could do nothing; could not speak to the girls, could not (alas) even shake them. Then she seemed to remember seeing him bow to these very ones; and with a certain dress-coat air, which now Mrs. Kindred marked as one of the new things about Magnus that disturbed her.