"Will you promise me one thing, Guardie?" she asked, tenderly.
The anger faded from the strong face, and his voice sank low.
"I'm afraid I've never been able to refuse you anything, child. It's on your account, I think, I'm most angry with Norman to-day."
"You promise?" she repeated.
"Yes, what is it?" he said, bending to kiss her smooth, white forehead.
"Promise to put all anger out of your heart and talk to Norman as a father, not as an enemy—won't you?"
"An enemy?" the Colonel slowly asked.
"Yes. I thought you were going to strike him once. It would have been horrible. I never could have forgiven you for that. You've always been my hero, Guardie—I never saw you give way to anger before. I don't like it. You'll talk to him lovingly and tenderly as a father, won't you?"
"Yes, dear, for your sake, I will," he answered.
"Then I'll tell him to come. I asked him to wait outside until I saw you."