"I have sometimes thought it
was why I fell in love with you, you made such a beautiful speech the first
day I met you at the tournament in Leicesterburg. Fred Dulany crowned me,
you remember; and in your speech you brought in so many lovely things about
flowers and women."
"Ah, Julia, Julia," sighed the Governor, "so the sins of my youth are
rising to confound me," and he added quickly to Betty, "Isn't that some one
coming up the drive, daughter?"
Betty ran to the window and drew back the damask curtains. "It's the Major,
papa," she said, nodding to the old gentleman through the glass, "and he
does look so cold. Go out and bring him in, and don't--please don't talk
horrid politics to-night."
"I'll not, daughter, on my word, I'll not," declared the Governor, and he
wore the warning as a breastplate when he went out to meet his guest.
The Major, in his tight black broadcloth, entered, with his blandest smile,
and bowed over Mrs. Ambler's hand.
"I saw your firelight as I was passing, dear madam," he began, "and I
couldn't go on without a glimpse of you, though I knew that Molly was
waiting for me at the end of three cold miles."
He put his arm about Betty and drew her to him.
"You must borrow some of your sister's blushes, my child," he said; "it
isn't right to grow pale at your age. I don't like to see it," and then, as
Virginia came shyly in, he held out his other hand, and accused her of
stealing his boy's heart away from him.
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