"Stands to reason," said Rig, "because he's got 'em all over--diffused. In the back of his head, and on his shoulder-straps, and the white stripe down his trousers, and the point of his nose." "That's awfully funny!" said Miss Beguile. "Must make it awfully lively for all of you." "Just does. The only enjoyment he has in life is skinning cadets. So it's 'Skin 'em! Skin 'em!' all the day long. Too much shirt-collar at breakfast, and too little coat above belt at drill." "And too much hair," said Mr. Carr. "I declare, when Towser comes rubbing up and down the back of my head, I feel as if I was a baby getting washed and dressed." The girls clapped their hands in applause. "Such pretty hair, too," said the Kitten, "or would be, I'm sure, if one could see it." Mr. Carr made a profound reverence. "Thank you so much," he said. "Awfully good of you. Wish you'd give Towser a hint." "Wherever did the poor man get such a name?" said Miss Beguile. "Simple and descriptive," said Mr. Carr. "Look here, D. T.," said Rig, "I wouldn't be as funny as I could, not every time, don't you know. You might get the blues for disrespect. He's sure to be round." "And why do you call _him_ 'D. T.'?" demanded another girl. "Doubletimes it every day," said Rig. "Gets a late in the morning, and a cold absence at night." "But what _can_ we do to rouse Mr. Kindred from this awful abstraction?" said Miss Dangleum. "Let's give him homeopathic treatment," said the Kitten. "D. T., double-time it over to the band and bid them play 'Love Not.'" "I'll go," said Rig. "He won't get there till the drum beats. 'Love Not'--I never heard of such a tune in my life." "You will--first time you make love to the wrong girl," said Miss Saucy. "Now go!" "They won't do it for him," said Carr; "they _can't_--unless the Com. or the officer in charge says so. You'll have to go yourself. Towser's in charge." "Send the Kitten," said Miss Dangleum. "That will just fit. Here, Puss, draw in your claws and stretch out your paws, and go get an order for the band to play 'Love Not.'" So the écru dress flitted away, and the others watched with deep interest. "He won't do it," said Randolph. "Yes, he will," said Miss Dangleum. "Puss is a match for the whole canine contingent." And so it proved. The band finished the fantasia they had in hand, took their short rest, and struck off into the old, time-worn air. And now everybody stopped to listen; some because they remembered it so long ago, and some because it was so old that it was new. Magnus Kindred knew it well. The flood of new music had spread but slowly over his own little home region, and this air had always been a favourite with his mother. In the old childish days, before sorrows came, he had many a time heard her sing it. And now, amid the sweet rendering of the band, he seemed to hear her dear voice still, and the old words kept sounding in his ears: "Love not! Love not! The thing you love may change."