Part 65 (1/2)

He stopped, his small eyes twinkling with a softer light.

”I suppose you want me to go,” he said.

We did not reply.

”Oh, I'm going,” he added, fretfully; ”I'm no company for a pair o'

heroes, a colonel, and--”

”Touching the colonelcy,” I said, ”I want to make it plain that I shall refuse the promotion. I did nothing; the confederacy was split by Magdalen Brant, not by me; I did nothing at Oriskany; I cannot understand how General Schuyler should think me deserving of such promotion. And I am ashamed to take it when such men as Arnold are pa.s.sed over, and such men as Schuyler are slighted--”

”Folderol! What the devil's this?” bawled Sir Lupus. ”Do you think you know more than your superior officers--hey? You're a colonel, George.

Let well enough alone, for if you make a donkey of yourself, they'll make you a major-general!”

With a spasmodic effort he got on his feet, seized gla.s.s and pipe, and waddled out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

In the ringing silence a charred log broke and fell in a shower of sparks, tincturing the air with the perfume of sweet birch smoke.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”A STRANGE SHYNESS SEEMED TO HOLD US APART”.]