Then he rejoined the party at the waiting-room of the station, and Mrs. Rayner noted instantly that all the cheeriness had gone and that a cloud had settled on his face.  She was a shrewd observer, and she knew him well.  Something more serious than a mishap to a squad of soldiers had brought about the sudden change.  He was all gladness, all rejoicing and delight, when he clasped her and his baby boy in his arms but ten minutes before, and now—­something had occurred to bring him serious discomfort.  She rested her hand on his arm and looked questioningly in his face.  He avoided her glance, and quickly began to talk.  She saw that he desired to answer no questions just then, and wisely refrained.

Meantime, Miss Travers was chatting blithely with two young gallants who had returned to her side, and who had thrown off their heavy furs and now stood revealed in their becoming undress uniforms.  Mr. Ross had gone to look over the rooms which the host of the railway hotel had offered for the use of the party; the baby was yielding to the inevitable and gradually condescending to notice the efforts of Mr. Foster to scrape acquaintance; the kitten, with dainty step, and ears and tail erect, was making a leisurely inspection of the premises, sniffing about the few benches and chairs with which the bare room was burdened, and reconnoitring the door leading to the hall-way with evident desire to extend her researches in that direction.  Presently that very door opened, and in came two or three bundles of fur in masculine shape, and with them two shaggy deer-hounds, who darted straight at the kitten.  There was a sudden flurry and scatter, a fury of spits and scratching, a yelp of pain from one brute with lacerated nose, a sudden recoil of both hounds, and then a fiery rush through the open door-way in pursuit of puss.  After the first gallant instinct of battle her nerve had given out, and she had sought safety in flight.

“Oh, don’t let them hurt her!” cried Miss Travers, as she darted into the hall and gazed despairingly up the stairway to the second story, whither the dogs had vanished like a flash.  Two of the young officers sped to the rescue and turned the wrong way.  Mrs. Rayner and the captain followed her into the hall.  A rush of canine feet and an excited chorus of barks and yelps were heard aloft; then a stern voice ordering, “Down, you brutes!” a sudden howl as though in response to a vigorous kick, and an instant later, bearing the kitten, ruffled, terrified, and wildly excited, yet unharmed, there came springing lightly down the steps the young man in civilian dress who was their fellow-traveller on the Pullman.  Without a word he gave his prize into the dainty hands outstretched to receive it, and, never stopping an instant, never listening to the eager words of thanks from her pretty lips, he darted back as quickly as he came, leaving Miss Travers suddenly stricken dumb.