"She comes—she comes. Ah, she comes fast. My own—my beautiful. She come—she comes."
"This is real love," said the colonel, and he stepped from the room. Nearly on the landing at the head of the stairs, he met Minna Gray.
"Welcome," he said as he held out his hand to her. "You will find your young friend up and much better."
Minna could only look her thanks. Mrs. Ragg was following her, and as the ascent of stairs was always rather a task to that good Lady, she was making a noise like a stranded grampus in breathing.
"Ah, colonel," she said, "young legs get up stairs faster than old ones, sir, as you see. Well—well, there was a time when first I knew poor dear Ragg, who is of course dead and gone, quite premature."
"Exactly, Mrs. Ragg," said the colonel, as he rapidly descended the stairs.
"Did you ever, my dear, know such a strange man?" said Mrs. Ragg to Minna.
"Who?"
"The colonel, to be sure. So soon as I begin to tell him any little what do you call it. No it ain't nannygoat—that's ridiculous. It's—it's—what is it?"
"Anecdote do you mean, Mrs. Ragg?"