"Aye to be sure, dear boy!" she answered, kissing him. "Only now I must go!"
"Go, Betty?"
"To him!" she sighed. "I must find out—just how and what he thinks of me."
"Gad's my life, Bet!" sighed his lordship ruefully as he followed her to the door, "I do think thou wert ever the braver of the two of us."
III
"Consequently Tom, dear lad," the Major was saying as he walked the rose-garden arm in arm with the Viscount, "feeling for thee as I do and because of the years that have but knit our affections the closer, I am bold to ask thee what hath moved thee to run so great a risk o' thy life—a life so young and promising."
"Why nunky," answered the Viscount, pressing the arm within his own affectionately, "in the first place I'll confess to a pronounced distaste for the fellow."
"Yes, Tom?"
"His air of serene assurance displeases me."
"Quite so, Tom."