“I should like some music at this festival,” Captain Rayburn went on.  “Is the orchestra out of practice?”

“We haven’t played for six weeks,” Charlotte said.  “And Celia’s first violin—­”

“You couldn’t play, bolstered up?”

Celia shook her head.  “I should be tired in ten minutes.”

“I’m not so sure of that, but we’ll see.  Anyhow, I’ve the old flute here—­”

“Oh, fine!” cried Charlotte.

“Suppose we ask Doctor Forester out, and your young doctor here next door, and two or three of your girl friends, and a boy and girl or two for Jeff and Just.”

“What a funny mixture, Uncle Ray!  Doctor Forester and Norman Carter, Just’s chum, and Carolyn Houghton?”

“Funny, is it?” inquired Captain Rayburn, undisturbed.  “Now do you know, that’s my ideal of a well-planned company, particularly when all the family are to be here.  Invite somebody for each one, mix ’em all up, play some jolly games, and you’ll find Doctor Forester vying with Norman Carter for the prize, and enjoying it equally well.  It sharpens up the young wits to be pitted against the older ones, and it—­well, it burnishes the elder rapiers and keeps them keen.”

“All right, this is your party,” agreed Charlotte, and she went back to her duties.

“You’re not afraid it will be too much for you, little girl?” Captain Rayburn asked Celia, whose smile had faded, and who lay with her head turned away.

“Oh—­no.”

“Mercury a little low in the tube this morning?”

“Just a little.”

“Any good reason why?”

“N-no.”

“Except the best reason in the world—­heavy atmospheric pressure.  Knee a trifle slow to become a solid, capable, energetic knee, such as its owner demands.  Owner a bit restless, physically and mentally.  Plans for the winter upset—­second lieutenant winning spurs while the colonel lies in the hospital tent, fighting imaginary battles and trying to keep cool under the strain.”

Celia looked round and smiled again, but her head went back to its old position, and tears forced themselves out from under the eyelids which she shut tightly together.

“And a little current of anxiety for the inhabitants of New Mexico keeps flowing under the edge of the tent and makes the colonel fear it’s not pitched in the right place?”

Celia nodded.

“Well, that’s not warranted in the face of the facts.  Latest advices from New Mexico report improvement, even sooner than we could have expected.  Then at home—­Lanse is conquering the situation in the locomotive shops very satisfactorily.  Doctor Churchill told me yesterday that he’s won the liking of nearly all the men in his shop—­which means more than a girl like you can guess.  Jeff and Just are prospering in school, according to Charlotte, who is herself working up in her new profession, and whose last beefsteak was broiled to a turn, as her critical soldier guest appreciates.  As for Celia—­”