"That is all right," said Maureen. "You must see that I cannot help loving you. I hope you do not mind that."
"Well—upon my word," replied Colonel Herbert, "I did not know that any one living loved me."
"Oh! but I do most truly. You see that you are a great soldierly man, and my father was your friend and the bravest of all brave soldiers. You see, dear Colonel, we are really close together. I, the daughter of a soldier; you, a soldier your very self. I cannot help loving you and feeling close to you, and I hope—I do hope that you do not mind—I want you to love me oh! so dreadfully badly, and I—well, I love you with all my heart."
The stern old Colonel never felt tears nearer to his eyes.
"Keep it up, child. I do not mind; in fact, I—I rather like it," he said.
"And may I call you 'dear Colonel'?"
"Yes, young 'un, yes."
"How, please, I have been in your house a long time."
"Since the summer," said the Colonel. "A matter of close on six months."