“I don’t know,” Virginia replied honestly. “She’s pretty--but there’s something I can’t describe. She’s like a wild bird just put in a gilt cage. It’s a terribly trite simile, but it fits her. She’s beating her wings.” “That’s poetry, Jinny,” said the colonel, chuckling. “It’s because she’s young and pretty. If she’d been a man, with that kind of an eye, we would have said something about beating his hoofs--I mean cloven ones. She sings like a bird, dances like a fairy, and behaves--well, I remember that Mrs. Payson called her something in French. What was it, eh? Maybe it takes French to express her.” Virginia flushed. “She called her a little _étourdie_. Of course she does queer things; she’s not well-bred, and she seems like a bundle of impulsive whims, but she’s rather captivating in all of them, and fascinating in some.” “Humph!” The colonel pulled his mustache thoughtfully. “I see you’re determined to like her, Jinny.” “I want to--yes.” “You can’t,” said the colonel gently, laying his hand on her shoulder. “It’s a case of sugar and salt, you can’t mix ’em. Don’t try too hard, Jinny. Leave her alone.” Something in his tone made Virginia look up quickly. “Why, sir?” Colonel Denbigh hesitated; then he blushed like a girl. “I don’t talk scandal, Jinny, you know that, but I hear some. Let her alone.” “Oh, that dance--” He shook his head. “No, not the dance. That only unloosed tongues. You spoke of that man, Caraffi’s manager--what was his name?” “Corwin. A horrid creature,” said Virginia, suddenly recalling Fanchon’s face when she saw him in the waiting-room of the hall. The colonel nodded. “Corwin--that’s the name. Well, William’s wife knows him, she’s been seen walking with him. There’s talk about it. It may be all false, but I’d rather you kept away.” Virginia had grown very thoughtful. “I remember now, grandfather. She seemed afraid of him, poor girl. He’s a terrible creature, I’m sure--I wonder if he isn’t doing it on purpose? Starting the talk, I mean.” “Very likely,” said the colonel dryly; “but he’d have to have something to start on. When there’s so much smoke, there’s some fire. I don’t like her, and yet”--he smiled--“what a pretty creature!” “She’s not twenty, I’m sure. I think it’s wicked to talk so about her.” Virginia flushed generously. “Why are people so cruel?” The colonel smiled. “Jinny,” he said gently, “that little woman wouldn’t raise her finger to save you from the gallows.” Virginia’s blush deepened. “That doesn’t matter, grandfather!” The old man looked at her proudly. She was standing beside him, her tall young head nearly level with his own, and her charming profile toward him. She had a look that was better in his eyes than mere beauty--a look of noble purity. He had never known her, even in childhood, to tell a falsehood. He patted her shoulder.