We first endure, then pity, then embrace."
This time both ladies laughed outright, and even Seth Williams could not restrain a smile, while the corporal wondered what in the world could be the matter with them.
"Your version is no better than mine," said Seth Williams.
"Oh! Corporal Diggs, you are too cute, you made that mistake on purpose," laughed Miss Temple.
The corporal, hearing his witty blunder praised on all sides, concluded to pretend it was an intentional joke, originating from his own fertile brain; Miss Temple smiled on him, Miss Noddington declared him charmingly cute, and the corporal felt himself quite a hero.
After further favoring the company with choice selections, he launched out on history, which he brought down to the present time by allusions to his adventures since he had been in the army.
"Have you ever been in any engagement, corporal?" asked sweet Miss Temple.
"Yes, Miss Temple, I have been where bullets flew thicker—hem, hem!—than hail stones; replied Corporal Diggs.
"Where was it?" asked the blonde.