“My dear Holly, what has that to do with it?”
“Well, you see,” Holly had responded, demurely, “I’m not married myself, and when you put two people together who are not married, why, something may happen.”
“Holly!” protested Miss India, in horror.
“Oh, I was only in fun,” said Holly, with a laugh. “Do you reckon, Auntie dear, that I’d marry a Northerner?”
“I should certainly trust not,” replied Miss India, severely.
“Not if he had millions and millions of money and whole bushels of diamonds,” answered Holly, cheerfully. “But is he married, Auntie?”
“I’m sure I can’t say. The Major believes him to be a man of middle age, possibly fifty years old, and so it is quite likely that he has a wife.”
“And he is not bringing her with him?”
“He said nothing of it in his letter, my dear.”