Then, after the decent delay of an hour, the poor boy would go up to the house and bashfully ask for the colonel, and when admitted to his presence stand respectfully, cap in hand, and inquire:
“If you please, sir, have you heard from——”
“Miss de la Vera?”
“Yes, sir, please.”
“I have. She is well, and sends her kind remembrance to you,” would Colonel de Crespigney reply.
(Now this was not at all what little Glo’ sent. She sent her “love to dear David Lindsay.” But Colonel de Crespigney exercised the guardian’s prudence and privilege in translating the message sent through him.)
On hearing this, the boy would twist his little torn hat in his hand and say, timidly, hesitatingly:
“If you please, sir, when you write—would you please to say I thank her very much for thinking of me, and I send her my——”
“Respects.”
“Yes, sir, please.” (Now this was not at all what the poor boy meant to say; for he really wished to send his “best love to her.”)