"Heaven knows!" groaned the Major as he sank into a chair. "Chanced six months' hard labour."
There was silence for a few moments then the Major spoke again:
"I know what I'll do, I'll write."
Miss Maynard was agreeable. Getting pens, ink and paper he sat down and commenced his composition.
"My Dear Sir,
"As an unmitigated idiot and an ungentlemanly ruffian, I am only too conscious that I am an ass----"
"I don't think I would put unmitigated idiot and ungentlemanly ruffian," suggested Miss Maynard mildly. "Perhaps Mr. Roland would not care to marry into a family which contained such characters as that."
"Marry?" said the Major, arresting his pen.
"Yes," replied Miss Maynard. "I think I would put it in this way: 'My Dear Mr. Roland----'"
"But I never saw the man before. I don't know him from Adam."