The arrow shot in the dark had clearly gone home. The Colonel followed up his advantage.
"Is she in love with you?"
"She's never said so."
"But you think so?"
"Nay, A don't think so," the other answered with all the old violence. "A know it. A've nobbut to reach out ma hand to pluck the flower."
His egotism annoyed the Colonel.
"Seems to me," he said, "we shall all of us soon have something better to do than running round after each other's wives. Seen the evening paper?"
"Nay, nor the morning for that matter."
"And you a politician!"
"A'm two men—same as most: politician and lover. Now one's a-top; now t'other. It's a see-saw."