"You may well say if. But you'll be gone yourself, then."
"Maybe I shall not let them come at all. There are too many girls here now." And Magnus cast cynical eyes towards several free-and-easy damsels who were sauntering across the plain, well attended.
"There they go," he said; "men and girls and parasols. And the parasols are the only things in the lot with a grain of sense. Just hear that pink girl laugh! She's got Duncy in tow, telling him: 'Oh, Mr. Duncy! you are _so_ amusing!'"
"Shouldn't wonder if she wasn't. I think he is, sometimes, myself," said Rig.
"Come, now, Kin, you're out of humour," Rig said soothingly. "You'll feel better after dinner."
"No I shall not," Magnus answered crossly. "Last Thursday I had chicken pie and apple fritters."
"Well," he said, "it can't be helped, so eat all you can. And there goes the drum."
The two set off for barracks, but if Magnus had eased his mind, he had certainly given his heart an extra load.
"Kindred's as glum as a post," remarked a smart first classman. "Easy to see his girl's gone back on him."
Magnus caught the words, but then came a thrill of joy. No, _that_ could never be true; and his girl was the very best in all the world. The sights and sounds about him grew indistinct; and with thoughts two thousand miles away, Cadet Kindred finished his dinner and never knew what it was. Only "Company A, rise!" awaked him from his dream.
Pray to God, but continue to row to the shore.
But work did come hard! The reveille gun was such an impertinence after the lazy summer mornings at home. Every officer figured as an enemy, every drill was an unmitigated bore. And despite what people say about changed seasons, it rained Saturday afternoon then, as it always does now; while if it rained other days too, yet it was sure to clear up in time for drill--or the cadets thought so, which did as well.
Such meals, too, three times a day! Fair enough in ordinary, and easily disposed of by the healthy young appetites, whetted with hard work and open air; but thrown into utter disgrace just now by the background of "mother's" dainties and "home" cream. They were sober enough, these furlough men. But it is hard for even quiet steeds to go calmly back from pasture into the traces; some other fiery young coursers were simply rampant. A good deal of mischief went on in those first weeks in barracks.