your rheumatism and the major's twinges, but how was it with you both
at my age? I can answer for the major. If at that time he knew another
major with such a daughter as blesses his home, his devotion to the
preceding veteran was a little mixed."

"Are you so taken by Miss St. John?"

"I have not the slightest hope of being taken by her."

"You know what I mean?"

"Yes, but I wished to suggest my modest hopes and expectations so that
you may have no anxieties if I avail myself, during my visit, of the
chance of seeing what I can of an unusually fine girl. Acquaintance
with such society is the part of my education most sadly neglected.
Nevertheless, you will find me devotedly at your service whenever you
will express your wishes."

"Do not imagine that I am disposed to find fault. Grace is a great
favorite of mine. She is a good old-fashioned girl, not one of your
vain, heartless, selfish creatures with only a veneer of good
breeding. I see her almost every day, either here or in her own home,
and I know her well. You have seen that she is fitted to shine
anywhere, but it is for her home qualities that I love and admire her
most. Her father is crippled and querulous; indeed he is often
exceedingly irritable. Everything must please him or else he is
inclined to storm as he did in his regiment, and occasionally he
emphasizes his words without much regard to the third commandment. But
his gusts of anger are over quickly, and a kinder-hearted and more
upright man never lived. Of course American servants won't stand harsh