“The regiment is almost full; to-day, the first six companies are to be mustered into the United States service for three years or for the war.  Captain Barris of the regular army is the mustering officer.  And on their departure I am to present a set of colours to the regiment.  It is to be quite solemn.  I have already bought the lances, and they are beautiful; the spears are silver gilt, the rings gilded, too, and the flags are made of the most beautiful silk with tassels and fringe of gold bullion.  There are three flags:  the national colours, the state flag, and a purple regimental flag lettered in gold:  ‘3d Regt.  N. Y. Zouaves,’ and under it their motto:  ‘Multorum manibus grande levatur onus.’  I hope it is good Latin, for it is mine.  Is it?

  “AILSA PAIGE.”

To this letter he made no reply, and, after a week, his silence hurt her.

One afternoon toward the middle of May Stephen was announced; and with a sudden sense of foreboding she hastened down to the drawing-room.

“Oh!” she cried. “You—­Stephen!”

But the boy in his zouave uniform was beside himself with excitement and pride, and he embraced her, laughing, and then began to walk up and down the room gesticulating.

“I couldn’t stand it any longer, and they let me go.  I’m sorry for mother, but look at other men’s mothers!  They’re calling for more and more troops every week!  I knew everybody would have to go, and I’m mighty fortunate to get into father’s regiment—­And O Ailsa!  It is a fine regiment!  We’re drilling every minute, and now that we’ve got our uniforms it won’t be long before our orders come——­”

“Stephen—­does your mother——­”

“Mother knows I can’t help it.  I do love her; she knows that perfectly well.  But men have got to settle this thing——­”

“Two hundred thousand are getting ready to settle it!  Are there hot enough without you?—­your mother’s only son——­”

“Suppose everybody thought that way, where would our army be?”

“But there are hundreds of regiments forming here—­getting ready, drilling, leaving on boats and trains every day——­”

“And every regiment is composed of men exactly like me!  They go because the Nation’s business is everybody’s business.  And the Nation’s business comes first.  There’s no use talking to me, Ailsa.  I’ve had it but with father.  He saw that he couldn’t prevent me from doing what he has done.  And old Lent is our major!  Lord, Ailsa, what a terrible old man for discipline!  And father is—­well he is acting as though we ought to behave like West Pointers.  They’re cruelly hard on skylarkers and guard runners, and they’re fairly kicking discipline into us.  But I’m willing.  I’m ready to stand anything as long as we can get away!”

He was talking in a loud, excited voice, pacing restlessly to and fro, pausing at intervals to confront Ailsa where she sat, limp and silent, gazing up at this slender youth in his short blue jacket edged with many bell-buttons, blue body sash, scarlet zouave trousers and leather gaiters.