“It’s seven miles,� said Colonel Royall, speaking for the first time, “and the roads are bad. I think he is merely scrupulously honest, Diana,� he added; “I was watching his face.�
Diana flushed under her father’s eye. “I suppose he is,� she said reluctantly, “but, pshaw—six cents! He could have handed it to a servant.�
“Do you send the servants there?� Colonel Royall asked pointedly.
“No,� she admitted reluctantly, “I suppose he rarely sees any one from here, but there was Kingdom at the door.�
“Who insisted on his seeing you, you remember,� objected her father; “the soul of Kingdom-Come is above six pennies.�
“Well, so is mine!� exclaimed Diana pettishly.
“Seven miles in red clay mud to see you,� mocked Jacob Eaton, smiling at her.
“Nonsense!� she retorted.
“I don’t see why you take that tone, Jacob,� warned his mother a little nervously. “I call it bad taste; he couldn’t presume to—to—�
“To walk seven miles?� her son laughed “My dear lady, I’d walk seventeen to see Diana.�