The smile faded into a look of seriousness.
"What's the matter?" he asked quickly.
Betty hesitated and the red blood slowly mounted to her cheeks. He led her to a seat, beside his chair, touched her hand gently and whispered:
"Tell me."
"I hope you won't think me presumptuous, Mr. President, if I ask you to tell me why you recalled General McClellan?"
The rugged face suddenly flashed with a smile.
"Presumptuous?" he laughed. "My dear child, if you could have heard a few things my Cabinet had to say to me in this room on that subject! The tender deference with which you put the question is the nearest thing to an endorsement I have so far received! Go as far as you like after that opening. It will be a joy to discuss it with you. Presumptuous—Oh, my soul!"
He caught his knee between his hands and rocked with laughter at the memory of his Cabinet scene.
Reassured by his manner Betty leaned closer:
"You remember the morning you gave me the pass to Alexandria?"