"That's good. Who with?"

"With Don Morley."

The smile that had returned to the Colonel's face during this
conversation contracted suddenly, leaving his mouth a round little
button of disapprobation.

"What in thunder is he doing up here anyhow; why don't he go on back
to town where he belongs?"

"Don?" Miss Lady pretended to effect a part in the few straggling
hairs that adorned his forehead. "Why, he's staying over to the
Wickers' while he looks around for a farm. Here's a gray hair, Daddy!
I'd pull it out only there are two more on that other side now than
there are on this."

"Buying a farm, is he?" The Colonel waxed a deeper mahogany. "Well,
this place is not for sale. I should think he could find something
better to do with his time than hanging around here. For two weeks I
haven't been able to sit on this porch for five minutes without having
him under my feet! What's the sense of his coming so often?"

Miss Lady caught him by the ears, and turned his irate face up to her
own.

"He comes to see me!" she announced, emphasizing each word with a nod.
"He likes horses and dogs and me, and I like horses and dogs and him.
But I like you, too, Daddy."