new house for a blessing."

"No," said Moya. "We will let sleeping stones lie!"




VII


MARKING TIME

There was impatience at the garrison for news that the hunters had
started. Every day's delay at Challis meant an abridgment of the
bridegroom's leave, and the wedding was now but a fortnight away. It began
to seem preposterous that he should go at all, and the colonel was annoyed
with himself for his enthusiasm over the plan in the first place. Mrs.
Bogardus's watchfulness of dates told the story of her thoughts, but she
said nothing.

"Mamsie is restless," said Christine, putting an arm around her mother's
solid waist and giving her a tight little hug apropos of nothing. "I
believe it's another case of 'mail-time fever.' The colonel says it comes
on with Moya every afternoon about First Sergeant's call. But Moya is
cunning. She goes off and pretends she isn't listening for the bugle."

"'First Sergeant or Second,' it's all one to me," said Mrs. Bogardus. "I
never know one call from another, except when the gun goes off."

"Mamsie! 'When the gun goes off!' What a civilian way of talking. You are