"Roger, we'll set the pace for every city and town throughout our country. We'll equip the company, so it'll be ready to go at the first crack—and Jeb will be a credit!"
"One who'll capture hearts as well as Huns, I'll warrant—if he's not already a helpless prisoner!"
The two old men looked at each other and smiled, and it was while they were in this attitude that Marian and Jeb entered.
She stopped on the threshold, scarcely believing her eyes; and Jeb, looking over her head, was no less mystified. That these two sworn enemies should be standing there, holding hands in all friendliness, surpassed the miraculous.
The men had turned cordially to welcome her, but hesitated at the amazement that was pictured in her face. Their reconciliation had been so spontaneously genuine that it seemed already to be a thing of long standing, and they did not penetrate Marian's embarrassment until she timidly advanced, asking:
"Is it all right for us to come in, Daddy? Were you and Colonel Hampton really shaking hands?"
He approached swiftly and took her in his arms, turning to the Colonel and repeating the girl's question:
"Were we really shaking hands, Roger?"
"By gad, Amos, we've been shaking hands every day for forty years, only we didn't know it!"
"You should have come in before, Roger."