"Why, my lord," answered the man, "you will please to inquire of Dr. Tierney, as she has been living in his family, as cook, my lord."
Lord Worcester immediately paid a visit to the doctor, from whom he learned that the young woman was clean, honest and trustworthy.
"Sir," said Lord Worcester, as soon as he could find Colonel Quintin, "I have inquired the character of the young woman, and she is very good, sir."
"Good! for what, pray?" asked the colonel, forgetting all about Sergeant Whitaker's little private consarn.
"Oh, sir," continued Worcester, almost ready to laugh, yet, in some confusion, "she is good, sir, I believe, for everything; at least Doctor Tierney says she is a very steady, clean woman."
"And vat sal I do vid dis clean voman vat you talk to me about?" asked the colonel impatiently.
"Oh, sir, you are not to do anything with her; only you desired me to inquire the character of the young woman Sergeant Whitaker wishes to marry."
"Ah true—reight—vel—veri vel, I have no objecshuns; only tell him he is von grate fool to his pains."
Away galloped Worcester quite delighted to get rid of the sergeant's "little private consarn."
"My lord, I wants very bad to be married," said Sergeant Whitaker once more, a few days after Worcester had obtained the colonel's permission.