Nemesis, written upon a face. And there were others who might be taken.
Aladdin came in for a moment to give her the news. He was nervous with enthusiasm, and had been working like a horse. His regiment was to leave Friday for the front; he could stay but a minute; he had only dashed in on his way to drill. Would she care to come? Quite right; there was nothing much to look at. He talked as cheerfully and as rapidly as a mountain brook runs. And then he gave his best piece of news, and looked almost handsome as he gave it.
"Peter's here," he said. "He's outside talking to the senator. He looks simply stunning, and he's a whole lot of things on a staff—assistant adjutant-general with the rank of a colonel; and he's floated up here on a dash against time to say good-by to us."
Aladdin's face puckered.
"You and Peter and I, Margaret," he said, "Lord, what a muddle!"
"I'm terribly blue, old man," said Mar-
