“Major, you are pulling ma’s leg,” she said.
“Then, madam,” said the Major—“this is no place for her daughter.”
“You are trying to be funny, Major,” said the young woman huffily.
“Madam, most serious. For, were I to show indignation in my denial I should cast aspersion on a handsome limb; were I to fail in denying the soft impeachment I should entangle the limb in the moralities. You place me in the unhappy position known as the quandary. I can only escape from that position by saying that I have every confidence in your mother, and that it is my habit to keep her comely figure out of the gossip.”
“Lor, Major—I don’t know what you are getting at!”
“That I have pulled nothing,” said the Major solemnly.
“What do you want?”
“Ah, yes,” said the Major—“I came for the apology.”
“Then you don’t get it,” said the young woman tartly.
The Major bowed.