She drew herself up indignantly to her full height and said, "We
have been discussing the fact that I am quite grown up. I will thank
you to note the change, also."

"Why, so I do," he replied, regarding her with undisguised
admiration; "and old Father Time has touched you only to improve you
in every respect."

"Very well, then," she replied, coldly, "I cannot help the touch of
Father Time, but I wish it understood that I am no longer a child."

"Neither am I, sweet cousin, and I like you as a woman far better."

She left the room abruptly to assist her aunt.

"Jove! uncle, but she has grown to be a beauty. How these girls
blossom out when their time comes! Can it be that I have been absent
a year?"

"Yes, and your last visit was but a flying one."

"And so I fear this one must be. The Yanks are on the move, perhaps
in this direction, and so are we. It was one of their scouting
parties that we ran into. Their horses were fresher than ours and
they separated when once in the shadow of the woods. They won't be
slow, however, in leaving these parts, now they know we are here.
I'm going to take a little well-earned rest between my scoutings,
and make love to my cousin. Olympian humbugs! how handsome and
haughty she has become! I didn't think the little minx had so much