There was no question of Mrs. Atchison's complete surprise now.
"Your second husband, child?"
"My second husband, Mrs. Atchison. Life is short at best, and I was told by my old mammy when I was a little child—she turned out afterward to be a real voodoo woman—that I should be married twice. I am very superstitious and that made a great impression on my mind. It is not in keeping with my ideas of life, Mrs. Atchison, to be long a widow, so that I think it perfectly right to choose a second husband even before I am quite sure that I have chosen wisely for my first."
"Has the military person weak lungs?"
"No; but his mind is not strong. Anything sudden like apoplexy would be sure to go hard with him."
"Then you should be careful not to shock him. It would be almost criminal to break your engagement with him."
"That rests entirely with him, Mrs. Atchison. The man I love must be brave, tender and true. After our present difficulties are over I shall know whether Rutherford Gillingwater is the man I believe I am going to marry in October."
"But you spoke a moment ago of Tommy's official position. Is this arrangement a matter of general knowledge in North Carolina?"