“I wish people would mind their own affairs,” wailed Mrs. Rayner, peevishly.

“So do I, Kate; but they never have, and never will, especially with an engaged girl.  I have more to complain of than you, but it doesn’t make me forlorn, whereas you look fearfully worried about nothing.”

“Who says I’m worried?” asked Mrs. Rayner, with sudden vehemence.

“You look worried, Kate, and haven’t been at all like yourself for several days.  Now, why shouldn’t I go to the hospital with you?  Why do you try to hide your going from me?  Don’t you know that I must have heard the strange stories that are flitting about the garrison?  Haven’t I asked you to set me right if I have been told a wrong one?  Kate, you are fretting yourself to death about something, and the captain looks worried and ill.  I cannot but think it has some connection with the case of Mr. Hayne.  Why should the Clancys—­”

“You have no right to think any such thing,” answered her sister, angrily.  “We have suffered too much at his hands or on his account already, and I never want to hear such words from your lips.  It would outrage Captain Rayner to hear that my sister, to whom he has given a home and a welcome, was linking herself with those who side with that—­that thief.”

“Kate!  Oh, how can you use such words?  How dare you speak so of an officer?  You would not tell me what he was accused of; but I tell you that if it be theft I don’t believe it,—­and no one else—­”

There was a sudden footfall on the porch without, and a quick, sharp, imperative knock at the door.  Mrs. Rayner fled back along the hall towards the dining-room.  Miss Travers, hesitating but a second, opened the door.

It was the soldier telegraph-operator, with a despatch-envelope in his hand: 

“It is for Mrs. Rayner, miss, and an answer is expected.  Shall I wait?”

Mrs. Rayner came hastily forward from her place of refuge within the dining-room, took the envelope without a word, and passed into the parlor, where, standing beneath the lamp, she tore it open, glanced anxiously at its contents, then threw it with an exclamation of peevish indignation upon the table: 

“You’ll have to answer for yourself, Nellie.  I cannot straighten your affairs and mine too.”  And with that she was going; but Miss Travers called her back.

The message simply read, “No letter in four days.  Is anything wrong?  Answer paid,” and was addressed to Mrs. Rayner and signed S.V.A.

“I think you have been extremely neglectful,” said Mrs. Rayner, who had turned and now stood watching the rising color and impatiently tapping foot of her younger sister.  Miss Travers bit her lips and compressed them hard.  There was an evident struggle in her mind between a desire to make an impulsive and sweeping reply and an effort to control herself.

“Will you answer a quiet question or two?” she finally asked.