"To marry her, I suppose, or to ask her to marry Mr. Brown," snapped
Kitty.

"Perhaps he wants to ask my good word toward marrying you,"
suggested Dora, coloring deeply.

"No such good luck as that, eh, Kitty?" said Karl with a laugh.

"Good luck! I'm sure I'm in no hurry to be married; and, though I
haven't had Dora's chances of seeing all sorts of men, I dare say I
shall get as good a husband in the end," replied Kitty loftily.

"But, contemplating for one moment the idea that it may not be an
offer of marriage that Mr. Thomas Burroughs means by a 'matter of
importance,' let us consider what else it can be," said Karl with a
quizzical smile.

"Perhaps he wants your ideas upon the campaign in Western Virginia,
and a report of the general's real motives and intentions,"
suggested Dora gayly.

"Perhaps he wants to engage his winter's butter; though I don't
believe Dora is the one to ask about that," said Kitty.

"Now, Kitty! I'm sure I made up the last, and you said it was as
nice as you could do yourself."

"Yes; but you turned all the buttermilk into the pig's pail instead
of saving it for biscuits."