“Dat’s woman’s rights, yessuh. Mirandy says so!”
The colonel caught the old negro’s eye and shook with silent laughter.
“Mind your own business, you old rogue!” he said shortly, resuming his paper.
He heard Plato’s discreet retirement and then a frou-frou of skirts. Virginia, in the freshest of white gowns, came out. She was very pale, and there was a little line of worry between her brows.
“Anything new, grandpa?” she asked eagerly, looking at his newspaper. “Can they get Leigh out on bail?”
The colonel shook his head sadly.
“Think of a boy like that held for murder! Bless my soul, it seems as if it was only last year when I saw him in rompers and eating a lollypop. I remember perfectly—the stick was in his mouth and the lollypop all over his face. Good Lord! And he’s shot a man!”
“He’s such a nice boy,” said Virginia. “He has such a sweet, dreamy face, and his eyes are beautiful. Haven’t you noticed how he’s grown up?”
“Yep!” the colonel snapped, frowning at space. “I did notice he was getting to be quite a young lady.”
Virginia laughed musically.