“Come, now, you little puss!” he cried at last. “Don’t freeze me with dark looks and averted gaze. I like you!”
Zonia blushed and dropped her head lower.
“I suggest, Lieutenant,” Mrs. Holland began, “that your remark is a little rude. I trust we are in the presence of gentlemen of culture and refinement.”
Virginia held her breath in painful suspense. She saw the Colonel give a wink aside to his subordinate.
The Lieutenant tossed off his glass of wine, rose, clicked his heels and bowed.
“I assure you, madam,” he said with a laugh, “you do me great injustice. I have been honestly smitten with admiration for the charming and beautiful young lady. We are enemies, but she has conquered. I acknowledge defeat. To show you my sincerity, I will apologize—”
With a quick swing, his sword clanking, he walked around the table and leaned close over Zonia’s shoulders, his reddened eyes searching her frightened face.
“You will forgive me, my dear!” he drawled.
His head touched the girl’s dark hair and she shrank with a little cry of horror.
“Please!”