“You are very considerate — if it comes a little late,” he said. And the truth was that Mrs. Staniland had been blaming herself for some time for paying so large a sum without necessity. She had bought with it the right to revenge, but revenge is too perishable a commodity to seem long an equivalent for hard cash.
Meanwhile Babcock was engaging the Colonel, blissfully unaware that he had already inspired that officer with a secret but cordial dislike. “Of course,” he began, “you and I, as men of the world, know what to think of all this tomfoolery; but, unless you put your foot down pretty firmly, I’m afraid, from all I’ve seen today, that your daughter may, ah — allow herself to be impressed by it!”
“You may leave that to me, sir,” said the Colonel, with a little movement of weak irrita
