The girl was standing with her back to the dining-room door, her hands clasped over her heart, her face uplifted and radiant as light, her eyes glowing through a mist of tears, her voice low and vibrant with the passion of her love. As she uttered these last words the dining-room door was opened and in it stood Paul, with the others close behind him. The girl, following her mother’s horrified gaze, faced swiftly about and stood aghast. A rush of crimson dyed her face, her neck, her bosom, then faded, leaving her pale, shrinking, overwhelmed, speechless. As her eyes found Paul’s face she drew herself erect, with head thrown back, waiting. For one instant Paul stood motionless, his eyes devouring her lovely face, then, with swift steps, he was at her side, on his knees, her hand clasped in both of his, his lips pressed to her fingers. “Peg, dear, dear Peg,” he murmured. “Is it true? Can it be true that you love me?” She stooped low over him. “Yes, Paul, dear Paul, with all my heart I love you,” she said, lifting him to his feet, her voice low, sweet, but reaching to every ear in the room. The little Colonel was the first to recover speech. “My God!” he cried, in a voice shaking with amazement and anger. “What does this mean? What—what can I say, Guy?” Pale to the lips, but with the cool steadiness with which men of his race have been wont to meet shattering disaster, the Englishman made answer. “What is there to say, sir? The last word is with Peg, and she appears to have said all that is necessary.” Then walking slowly toward the girl he offered his hand. “May I wish you all the joy in life?” he said, bowing low over her hand. A moment he hesitated, then offered his hand to Paul. “You have already the best of luck, the sweetest girl in the world. And I believe you will be good to her.” Tall and very straight Paul stood, with one arm around the girl at his side, his head held high, his face grave, his blue-grey eyes steady upon the little Colonel. His voice came firm and clear in a quaint mingling of dignity and boyish candour. “I love Peg. I can’t help loving her, Uncle Colonel. I have always loved her, I think. I never knew till tonight how much. And, before God Who hears me now, I pledge myself to love her and serve her all my life.”