“Although,” she pursued, after a short pause, “we women are supposed to know nothing of those matters, it would be difficult, in a small place like this, to be ignorant of what is going on.  Hence it is that I have long since remarked, with pain and sorrow, the little animosity which exists between Headley and yourself—­(I will not introduce Mr. Elmsley’s name, because what I have to say has no immediate reference to him), and the almost daily widening breach.  Now, Ronayne, I would appeal to your reason.  Place yourself for a moment in my husband’s position.  Consider his years, nearly double your own—­his great responsibility and the peculiar school of discipline in which he has been brought up.  Place yourself, I repeat, in his position, and decide what would be your sentiments if, in the conscientious discharge of your duty, you thought yourself thwarted by those very men—­much your juniors both in years and military experience—­on whose co-operation you had every fair reason to rely.”

“You have, my dear Mrs. Headley, put the case forcibly yet simply.” returned the ensign, who had listened with marked deference to the whole of her remonstrance.  “In such a case I should feel no slight annoyance, but why imagine that I have sought to thwart Captain Headley?”

“Was it not apparently to thwart him—­bear in mind I speak to you dispassionately and as a friend—­to refuse in the presence of the whole garrison this morning to account for your absence of last night, which might have been easily explained, had you been so disposed?”

“But, my dear Mrs. Headley, why is it persisted in, that I was absent—­and even if such were the case, might not I have had a good reason for refusing to commit myself by the avowal.”

“Admitting this, could you have maintained your position without, in a measure, setting his authority at defiance —­thus encouraging the men to do the same.  Was this right, I ask?  Was this officer-like?”

“Well, no, perhaps not.  I blush not to make the admission to you, for indeed, there is no resisting so bewitching a master in petticoats.  Yet, what would you have me do?”

“Ah, now, I begin to entertain some hope of you,” she replied, in a gayer tone, placing her hand at the same time familiarly on his shoulder and looking approvingly in his face.  “Ronayne, you are engaged—­perhaps will shortly become the husband of the noble girl, whom I love even as though she were my own daughter—­yes,” she repeated energetically, as she felt his grateful pressure of her hand, “even as though she were my own daughter—­nay, you know I like yourself for your open, although rather too impetuous character.  Do you then think that feeling this it can be any other than a source of deep pain and vexation to me, to see those in whom I feel so much interest, alienated from each other—­in some degree even mutually hating and hated?”

“Yet, what would you have me to do, my dear Mrs. Headley?  Some concession I suppose, must be made.  Any thing in honor and in reason will I do for your sake,” returned the young officer, deeply touched by her manner and language.