There was such an air of sincerity--or at least of assumed humility--in the man's tone and manner that Miles felt it unjustifiable to retain his indignation.  At the same time, he could not all at once repress it, and was hesitating whether to fling off from the man or to forgive him, when the sound of many voices, and of feet tramping in regular time, struck his ear and diverted his attention.  Next moment the head of a regiment, accompanied by a crowd of juvenile admirers, swept round the corner of the street.  At the same instant a forest of bayonets gleamed upon the youth's vision, and a brass band burst with crashing grandeur upon his ear, sending a quiver of enthusiasm into the deepest recesses of his soul, and stirring the very marrow in his bones!