"You know, Reynold, how long this proposed marriage has been a favourite scheme of ourselves and the Warrenders," she urged, gently.
"But you were—pardon me, Winny, dear—too officious or energetic; and Cosmo has been most reprehensibly rash!"
"Ah, don't say so!"
"I must! Had you left the girl to herself, this romantic fancy for her early playmate had soon been forgotten, or merged in a woman's love for Cosmo, and his proposal had been accepted, as I hope it yet shall be. Women change, don't they, sometimes?" he added, with a sly twinkle in his eyes.
"Yes; but there must be reasons," said she, hesitatingly.
"Of course—of course."
"From the hints that Cosmo gave of what he had seen or overheard, I deemed it right to interfere."
"An error, I think; couldn't you let the young folks alone? Heaven knows, many a girl I kissed, in my first red coat and epaulettes," said Rohallion, while knocking the gravel about with his silver-headed cane.
"But Cosmo does so love that girl."
"Love her?" said Rohallion, laughing.