Muir, you must have some authority here,« Mabel suddenly
arrested her steps to say. »One of your rank would be listened to, at least, by
a corporal!«
    »I do'n't know that - I do'n't know that -« interrupted Muir, with an
impatience and appearance of alarm that might have excited Mabel's attention at
another moment. »Command is command, discipline, discipline, and authority,
authority. Your good father would be sore grieved did he find me interfering to
sully, or carry off the laurels he is about to win, and I cannot command the
corporal, without equally commanding the serjeant. The wisest way will be for me
to remain in the obscurity of a private individual in this enterprize, and it is
so that all parties, from Lundie down, understand the transaction.«
    »This I know, and it may be well; nor would I give my dear father any cause
of complaint, but you may influence the corporal to his own good.«
    »I'll no say that,« returned Muir, in his sly Scotch way; - »it would be far
safer to promise to influence him to his injury - Mankind, pretty Mabel, have
their peculiarities, and to influence a fellow being to his own good, is one of
the most difficult tasks of human nature, while the opposite is just the
easiest. You'll no forget this, my dear, but bear it in mind for your
edification and government - but, what is that you're twisting round your
slender finger, as you may be said to twist hearts?«
    »It is nothing but a bit of cloth - a sort of flag - a trifle that is hardly
worth our attention at this grave moment - If -«
    »A trifle! it's no so trifling as ye may imagine, Mistress Mabel,« taking
the bit of bunting from her, and stretching it at full length with both his arms
extended, while his face grew grave, and his eye watchful. »Ye'll no ha' been
finding this, Mabel Dunham, in the breakfast?«
    Mabel simply acquainted him with the spot where, and the manner in which she
had found the bit of cloth. While she was speaking, the eye of the Quarter
Master was not quiet for a moment, glancing from the rag to the face of our
heroine, then back again to the rag. That his suspicions were awakened was easy
to be seen, nor was he long in letting it be known what