“There’s only one man among them who is capable of it, Allan McLeod.”
“Nonsense, child. He is not one of her suitors,” she protested warmly.
“Then why does he hang around the house with such dogged persistence?”
“He has always had the run of the house. His father committed him to the General when he died on the battle field.”
Her face clouded, and then a great pity for his sorrow filled her heart. She stooped and kissed him.
“Come, Charlie, you must cheer up. If she loves you, it’s everything. You will win her.”
“But what rankles in my soul is that I have been treated like a dog. If he objected to my poverty that was as evident the first day he welcomed me to his house as the day he dictated to her his brutal message, refusing me a word. He welcomed me to his house, and gave Miss Sallie his approval of our love while I was there. There could be no mistake, for she told me so.”
“I can’t understand it,” she interrupted.
“Now he suddenly shows me the door and refuses to allow me to even ask an explanation. If he thinks he can settle my life for me in that simple manner, I’ll show him that I ’ll at least help in the settlement.”
“Good. I like to see your eyes flash that fire. Don’t forget your resolution. Your enemies are your best friends.” She said this with a ring of her old aristocratic pride. “Come,” she continued, “I’ve a nice warm breakfast saved for you. You don’t know how much good you have done me in my lonely life.”