"I know," she answered, as they sank into porch chairs. "Don't let us waste time in explanations, now that they are so utterly unnecessary. Just let us be happy."
The conversation thus begun lasted until near supper time. It is not necessary to report it for the information of any who have been lovers, and as for the rest, they would never understand.
Just before the late supper time Westover suddenly awakened to his duty.
"I must see your father," he said. "Without his permission I have no right to consider myself a guest in his house."
Margaret, knowing her father's perplexed eagerness to see Westover and be reconciled with him, smiled as she answered:
"I'll send for Father."
She did so, and presently the old Colonel came limping into the porch. As he approached, Margaret slipped into the house, leaving the two men alone.
They greeted each other with a cordiality that rendered all explanations and apologies needless, but Colonel Conway insisted upon explaining and apologizing.
"I've been a coward, Boyd! I've been an abject coward."
"I don't know any other man living who would dare say that, Colonel."