Two days later, Lieutenant Manning was at the officers' mess at the
quarters of the 100th Regiment. The fact that he had only recently been
transferred, and that he was still on the convalescent list, made his
temporary absence unnoticed. He ran his eye quickly over the faces of
the men who greeted him by nod or word, for he was already a favorite.
But he saw nothing unusual. The secret evidently was not out, and of
this he was glad; for the Colonel could now receive the news directly
from himself and not from officers' gossip.
They were talking of the prospective trip, and in the absence of Sir
George, with more freedom than usual.
"Will you be ready, Manning?" Lieutenant Smith asked across the table.
"The Colonel says we start in twelve days."
"So soon as that!" the young man exclaimed with a start. A lump had
suddenly jumped into his throat. Pulling himself together before any one
could observe, he went on: "Yes; but I thought we were to sail by the
_Challenger_, which does not leave port until a week later."
"That was the first order," said Captain Cummings from the other end of
the room; "but it had to be changed yesterday, for the _Challenger_ on
examination was found unseaworthy."
"And by what ship do we sail now?"
"By the _North King_, one of the best men-of-war in the navy. It is
large, too, and leaves port a week earlier."
How Lieutenant Manning got through mess and the next two hours' official
duties, before he could see the Colonel, he did not know. Never before
did minutes appear so much like hours. Even when he lay in the trenches
at Badajos, with a slice out of his leg, and could hear his comrades'
cheers amid the din of cannonading, time seemed to pass more quickly.
At last, Sir George, accompanied by an orderly, crossed the barrack
yard, and entered his office. But there were other visitors ahead of
Manning, and the day was well advanced before his opportunity came.
Finally the last one departed, an orderly opened the door and Harold
entered.
"Lieutenant Manning, glad to see you," said Sir George in answer to
Harold's salute. "I suppose you are as strong as ever, and ready for
another march."
There was tone of inquiry in his voice; for it was unusual for the
younger officers to visit him, except on special business.
"Yes, sir," replied Harold, coloring. "A soldier should always be ready
for orders."
"There's not much time to lose," was the next comment. "Our men of the
100th go aboard the _North King_ not many days hence, and sail from the
London docks on the 24th. What's the matter, lad? Is there anything I
can do for you?"
"I came to make a confession, sir," stammered the Lieutenant, his face
remaining red in spite of himself.
"What, been gambling? You young fellows are always at it."
"No, sir! It is not that," replied the young man indignantly; while, at
the same time, the utterance of the calumny seemed to relieve the mental
pressure. "The fact is, Colonel, I've been getting married."
"Getting married, you idiot!" and Sir George fairly jumped off his seat
in amazement. "Are you mad?" and his eyes glared fiercely at Harold. "Do
you know what that means? Rank insubordination; complete separation for
years from the silly woman who has taken you for a husband! Zounds, man,
I thought you had more sense!"
By this time Harold's excitement had subsided. He was cool again.
"I am prepared to take the consequences, sir, whatever they may be. I
only ask for the liberty of explanation."
"Explanation indeed! That should have come before, not afterwards," and
with another angry growl, Sir George settled himself in his chair again.
"My wife," said Harold--the Colonel winced--"is willing to endure any
length of separation that is necessary. But I want to say about her that
her father and mother are dead. She is provided for, however, and lives
with her uncle and aunt. What's more, she's a beautiful woman and is
just as brave as she is good."
"That's all very well, sir, but why did you bluster along at this
infernal speed?"
"For two reasons, sir." Harold had prepared himself for the fight.
"First, because I understood my stay in Canada would be a long one; and
second, because you said I might have the command of a fort there, some
day."
"Yet you tell me when too late to stop a silly move that will upset the
whole business."
"It would have been too late, sir, if I had spoken. A soldier never
disobeys orders."
"Humph! If I were to report this at headquarters, it would check at once
your chances of promotion, and probably your march to Penetang as well."
"That is the very point, sir, I was going to ask. I wish you would
report me, together with the request that my wife be allowed to
accompany us to Canada. It need be no expense to the war department, as
she is able personally to defray all the cost."
"This scheme is just as mad a one as getting married. Do you know what
you ask, sir? We are going out there in the winter, when the frost is
often 25 degrees below zero; and on landing start at once on a tramp of
a thousand miles; not over the prairies and along the roads, but through
the woods and swamps, and over lakes covered with ice and snow two feet
thick or more. Then, on account of the war with the United States, our
road will be straight through the northern country, away from all towns
and settlements. It will be like a tramp through Siberia in winter. No
lady could stand it, sir."
"She will have to remain at home, then," returned Harold, dejectedly.
"But it will be a severe disappointment to her. She says she can stand
anything and will give no trouble if you will permit her to go. She
would not be the only woman with us, either. The officers at mess were
saying to-day that the wives of Corporals Bond and Jenkins and Private
Hardman have all received orders to be ready."
"That's true," replied the Colonel, angrily. "But these women are not
ladies; they are used to roughing it, and will do the charing for the
men while the fort is being built. They've been through camp life in the
European wars for years. There's no use talking; the thing can't be
tolerated for a moment. You will have to leave your wife behind you. I
look upon the whole thing as a breach of discipline. Still as your dead
father's friend, and more for his sake than yours, I shall keep silent
upon the subject, so as not to check your promotion. Give this despatch
to Captain Payne as you go out. Strict discipline will be required from
all now until we sail. So remember, you can only be absent from quarters
during authorized hours."
"Very well, sir." Lieutenant Manning saluted and withdrew.
The young wife waited the return of her husband that night with much
anxiety. She had often heard that Sir George was a stern man, and
whether he would condone with a junior officer's marriage without his
knowledge or consent, was a very doubtful question. As for the journey
with the troops to Canada, she was determined to go with them if she
could; but to do so the Colonel's consent must be obtained, and she was
prepared to leave no stone unturned in order to accompany her husband.
Harold told her it would be three years at least before he could return
to England; and rather than remain that length of time away from him,
she was willing to endure whatever vicissitudes an overland military
journey in midwinter might bring. How little she knew what such an
undertaking involved!
"What news, Harold?" was her first question, as he stooped to kiss her
upon his arrival.
"Several things," was his reply, as he tried to smile serenely. "First,
we sail on the 24th."
"So soon as that! What else?"
"Sir George was angry at our marriage without consent."
"And he will not let me go?"
"I fear not, dearest."
"Oh, do not give up hope yet," was the passionate response, as with pale
face and quivering lip she led the way to their own room.