"Eve?"
"Eve, darling—is it all right?"
"All right."
And then up shot Mr. Jonstone like a projectile from a howitzer, and he cried aloud, his habitual calmness and lazy habit of speech flung to the winds.
"You're not the only happy men in the world," he shouted. "I'm happier than the three of you put together, I am! Because my Darling is the best and most beautiful of all Darlings, and if any man dares to gainsay that, let him just step outside with me for five minutes—that's all."
Colonel Meredith's hair bristled like the mane of a fighting terrier.
"Do you mean to say," he whispered to Maud in a sort of savage whisper, "that I've got to swallow that insult without protest?"
It was on the tip of Maud's tongue to say that she didn't know what he meant. But how could she say that when she knew perfectly well?
"Only give me the right to answer him," continued the sincere warrior. He rose to his feet. "Is it yes—or no?"
"It's yes—yes," exclaimed Maud and, horrified with herself, she leaned back blushing and full of wonder.