Two little girls timidly drew near. Their faces were washed clean and their shining blonde hair gleamed in circles of golden light as the rays of the setting sun caught it.
Lee smiled, took them both in his arms and kissed them.
A tear softened his eyes as he placed them on the ground.
"You're darling little dolls. No wonder your mother loves you."
"Run back in the house now, honeys," the mother said.
The children slowly obeyed, glancing back at the great man who had kissed them. They wondered why their daddy hadn't kissed them oftener.
"What do you think we ought to do, Colonel Lee?" the woman asked eagerly.
"I can tell you what I would do, Madame, in your place—"
"What?"
The husband and wife spoke the word in chorus.