One afternoon when the Colonel came in from the chicken yard where he and Uncle Jimpson had constituted themselves a salvage corps, he surprised Miss Lady sitting in the dusk on the floor before the empty fireplace, with suspicious traces of tears upon her face. “Make a light,” blustered the Colonel; “you mustn't sit around in the dark like this, you know. Where's my pipe?” She sprang up and found the missing article, and with a great show of cheerfulness lit the lamp and held the match out for him to light his pipe. “What's the matter?” asked the Colonel; “sort of trembly, ain't you?” “Me? Watch me!” She held the match very straight and very tight, then as it wavered, blew it out and dropped it down his sleeve. “There's some mail over there on the table for you, Daddy dear. Noah brought it down from town in his buggy.” She said it very carelessly, and even enumerated the contents as she handed it to him: “Two circulars, a letter from the seed man, the _Confederate Veteran_ and the newspapers.” “Nothing for you?” “Nothing.” Under his scrutiny Miss Lady's eyes fell, and she turned abruptly to the window, while the Colonel, mouth open, pipe in hand, watched her. He had never seen his girl like this in her life! What business had her lip to tremble in the middle of a sentence, or her eyes to brim with sudden tears, making her turn her back on her adoring Dad, and busy herself with the window curtain? Of course it is upsetting to have a friend, whom you have been seeing daily for a couple of weeks, get into trouble such as young Donald Morley had fallen into. It made even the Colonel feel bad, he didn't deny it. But what business had the kitten to be taking it all so to heart? Why was she called upon to champion this young stranger's cause so hotly, to resent every insinuation, and to contend! passionately that he would be able to explain everything? Morley had not explained. Three days had dragged past and nothing had been heard from him. Nothing probably would be heard from him! The Colonel wanted to feel victorious, but he did! not. Instead, he cast anxious and sympathetic glances at the back of his daughter's head, and surreptitiously wiped his small snub nose on the corner of his red-bordered handkerchief. He had a good mind to give up his trip to Virginia! To be sure, he had looked forward for months to celebrating Founders' Day at the old college. If it weren't for seeing all the old boys, he would stay at home. By George! the little girl came first; he would stay at home anyhow! “Those gloves,” he burst out by way of breaking the news; “the thin ones I told you to mend. Well, you needn't mend them.” “I haven't,” said Miss Lady, “but I'll do it now.” “Needn't mind. Won't need 'em. Fact is, I ain't going.” “Yes you are,” said Miss Lady, adding inconsequently, “Why not?”