"Then of course it is my duty to beg pardon once more," said the incorrigible. "But you _might_ have been talking on that subject, you know, without any impropriety. The religious aspects of the country are deplorable!" throwing up his hands and eyes in no bad imitation of _Aminadab Sleek_. "Do you not think so, Colonel?" "Sir!" said the Colonel, still more severely, "I had not been thinking of the subject at all!" "Oh yes," the scapegrace went on--"deplorable! War desolating the country--all the restraints of society removed or weakened--no Sabbath at all--gambling and libertinism in the army and infidelity among the officers--Colonel, I really hope you will excuse me! of course I do not mean to make any allusion to the present company--but I repeat that the present religious aspects of the country are deplorable." "And _I_ repeat, sir," spoke the Colonel, with even more severity than before, while Aunt Martha's face began to assume an expression that might easily have deepened into a smile, and Emily had serious trouble to keep from a broad grin--"_I_ repeat, sir, that we were not speaking of the religious aspects of the country at all!" "Pshaw! of course not! How stupid I am!" said the tormentor, who had by this time dropped into a chair a little behind the Colonel's left shoulder, where he could literally talk into his ear. "It was the number that deceived me, as I heard it from the window. I _should_ have known what you were saying, at once. You are right in the remark that had we had only thirty-two States instead of thirty-four, this rebellion might never have occurred. Had South Carolina, with its rampant Calhounism, and Massachusetts with its anti-slavery fanaticism, both been left out of the compact--" "_I_ must beg pardon, now, for interrupting _you_, Mr. Wallace," said Aunt Martha, with the calmest of voices and the smile all smoothed away from her face. "You are mistaken again. We were neither discussing religious nor national affairs, when you were so _kind_ as to come down and join us." (Emphasis on the word "kind," which made the young man wince a little and for the moment predisposed the Colonel to a chuckle.) "Colonel Bancker was saying--" "Really, my dear Madame," put in the Colonel, "it is scarcely necessary to repeat--" "Oh, we have had quite enough of misconceptions," said that estimable lady, with what appeared to be another shot at Wallace. "Let us have the truth at last. I had the impoliteness to ask Colonel Bancker his age, and he had the courtesy to say that he was just turned of thirty-two." "Ph-ph-ph-ph-ew!" came in a long whistle from the lips of the tormentor. The Colonel sprung to his feet in an instant, and looked angrily around. Frank Wallace was quite on the other side of the room, examining a pastel over the mantel, and whistling very slightly, but he was certainly whistling the serenade from "Pasquali." "Sir!" said the Colonel, rage in the word. "Meaning _me_?" asked Wallace, turning around.