An added wave of colour flew to Carolina's face, and she hid her face in the boy's shoulder, when, to her surprise, she heard the voice of Col. Wayne Yancey saying:
"Bob, my boy, if she should promise you, you'd have to fight me, and fight me to the death."
Bob looked at him, and stiffened.
"Are you after her, too?" he cried, angrily.
"I've been after her longer than you have. And I'm not the only one."
Bob turned despairingly to his father.
"How many does that make?" he roared.
The laughter of the grown people passed unheeded.
"Never mind, son," said his father. "Colonel Yancey's name completes the list. There isn't another bachelor or widower left in South Carolina. It's just the way the girls used to treat me, son, but afterward I met your mother and she made everything all right."
The boy flew to his father's side, and hid his head.