"Are you really quite—quite sure, Dale, that you will never——"
"Oh, hang it all!" said Dale, and he kissed her.
"Dale! the door's open."
Dale shut it, and the rest of the conversation became inaudible, and remains unknown.
The guests had gone. Mrs. Hodge and Nellie, who were to keep the Colonel company for a little while, had walked down to Denborough to tell Mrs. Roberts all about the event of the day; and the Colonel was bustling about, getting the presents packed up, and counting, with some surprise, the empty champagne bottles. He was thus engaged when the door of the little room opened, to let Janet and Dale out.
"Dear me! I thought you'd gone. Nellie asked me, and I told her so."
"I am just going, Colonel Smith," said Janet.
"So am I," said Dale.
The Colonel watched them go together.