JERMYN hurried back to his post of duty with such mental rapidity that neither train nor steamer could keep pace with him. He told himself that he was a fool; that he had not known Kate Trewman a week, and that in the first half of that same week he had imagined himself in love with Trif's sister, yet, after everything that he could say against himself, the fact remained that he was so interested in Miss Trewman that he had all sorts of fears as to what might happen to his during his absence.  
He told himself that probably she was already engaged to some other man, for such women were so scarce that he could not understand how one of them had thus far escaped matrimony. He also reminded himself that he had been admiring fine women all his life, and that quite a number of them had married other men, generally before he had been able to interest them in himself. Still, what did that prove? Merely, that good men, like great men, thought alike. He would not make a fool of himself; he really wasn't in love, but he certainly would endeavor to become better acquainted with Miss [Pg 121]Trewman, and if she were not already promised to another, he would make her his own, unless she objected.
 
The first thing necessary, however, upon reaching Old Point, was to report to his superior officer. He, therefore, hurried to the fort; then, on his way back to the hotel, he dropped into the club, merely to see who was there, or had been there, and in an instant he was buttonholed by the Admiral, who drew him aside, and said:
 
"Tell me all about it! Facts first and explanations ."
 
"There's nothing to tell," Jermyn replied, "except that Mr. Highwood has that letter. Is there anything new at the hotel?"
 
"Nothing except that Miss Trixy—what a genius for that child has!—Trixy has made a coolness in some way between the Highwoods and Trewmans. Miss Trewman acts all the while as if there was something on her mind that was worth being indignant about, and I assure you that the entire situation is extremely uncomfortable for a certain old gentleman who wishes nothing but the best to all parties."
 
Jermyn frowned and said:
 
"I suppose the sooner I try to find out what it all is about, the better it will be for my peace of mind."
 
"Be very careful, I beg of you, my dear boy," exclaimed the Admiral, as Jermyn started away. "Miss Trewman is a most estimable young woman, but she has a mind of her own."
 
"So much the better. It probably will teach her to have proper respect for other peoples' minds."
 
 
"But mayn't I suggest——"
 
"Perhaps—when I return."
 
With that reply, the Admiral looked and undecided, and he finally persuaded some one to join him at a game of checkers, which to that day he had thought the last refuge of an adult mind which also was diseased.
 
Jermyn hurried toward the hotel, to take whatever misfortune might come to him, rather than be annoyed by more accidents. As to Trixy—Jermyn had always liked children, and years before, he had made a reputation on a western bound train, and afterward in the service, by caring all night for a fretful child so that the infant's mother might get some needed rest. He wished he might have charge of Trixy for a few days; she was Trif's child, and Trif was to him the ideal woman, and it was impossible that the child should not have inherited some of her mother's estimable qualities; but if Trixy had been making new and unexpected trouble for him, he wished there might be excuse for putting her into the most remote casemate of the fort, locking the door, and losing the key.
 
As he thought and , he entered the hotel and made his way through office and toward the ball-room, where every one who did not dance to look at every one who did. He nodded to several acquaintances, but his thoughts were about Trixy until he was recalled to better command of himself by the sound of a well-remembered voice:
 
"Oh, Mr. Jermyn! What an unexpected pleasure! We were told that you would be away several days."
 
 
"I am glad to say that I am not so unfortunate," Jermyn replied.
 
"Hello, Mr. Jermyn," piped a small voice from somewhere behind Miss Trewman, and then the young man saw Trixy, looking as innocent and as if nothing whatever had happened which could trouble her mind or her conscience.
 
"Trixy!" exclaimed Jermyn, advancing menacingly upon the child. "I met your father yesterday, and he told me to give you a thorough shaking for him"—here he picked up the child and acted according to Phil's orders—"and," he continued, "I suppose he would have sent you a kiss also if I hadn't left him in haste, so I'll give you one on suspicion."
 
"That is a very interesting child," said Kate, as Trixy hurried away to find her mother and aunt and report Jermyn's return, "but I do think she can make more trouble than any other child I ever heard of."
 
"Such offences must be , I suppose," replied Jermyn, too happily surprised by his reception to harbor ill-will against any one.
 
"What a forgiving mood—for a soldier!" said Kate, who imagined Jermyn knew something of the mystery she was trying to .
 
"Soldiers are often compelled to learn that those who do most harm mean least," Jermyn repl............