Colonel Ryan agreed with great gravity.
Virginia waxed forceful. “Those old ladies should be made as happy as these soldiers,” she argued. “Isn’t a woman as good as a man, Colonel Ryan?”
The Commandant by his silence refused this challenge to a discussion upon woman’s rights.
“Those old ladies should have everything that these men have,” maintained the girl, with great emphasis.
“Including tobacco?” suggested the Colonel solicitously.
“Of course not.” Blue eyes snapped indignantly.
The boyish look was back in the Colonel’s face. “I only wanted to be sure,” he explained soberly. “It has a very important place here.”
“Oh, Colonel Ryan, you will joke, and I am so in earnest.” Her eyes were dark and tender and a soft pink flushed her cheeks. “A concert at the Lucinda Home would be a wonderful thing if I could get your band.”
“You can,” the Colonel promised, laconically, “and it won’t cost you a cent.” He became enthusiastic, “It will be a fine treat for the old ladies and my boys will enjoy it, too. I’ll have to warn the old rascals about flirting,” he chuckled. “They think that they are regular devils among the ladies. I think that I will have to come along myself to keep the old boys from breaking any ancient hearts.”
“Will you come, Colonel Ryan?”