He was an old fool, he declared between violent blowings of his nose,
and clearings of his throat. Was only doing what he thought was his
duty. Didn't mean to make her unhappy. Didn't have sense enough to
bring up a girl. Had tried to, though! Always would try. Only she
mustn't be unhappy; he couldn't stand that. It would kill him if she
dared to be unhappy!
And Miss Lady with her arms about his neck, making futile dabs at his
streaming eyes with her little wet knot of a handkerchief,
passionately declared that she would promise him anything under the
sun, that she was going to be happy, that she _was_ happy!
"Not yet," said the Colonel, with much mopping of his brow; "but you
will be! We'll straighten it out. Soon as I get back, I'll take the
matter up. Sift it clean to the bottom. We'll give Morley every chance
to square himself. But 'til then, you won't see him if you can help
it, or read his letters, if he writes? You don't mind promising me
that much, do you?"
"I promise, Daddy."
Oh! the promises made for a day, and kept through the years, what a
lot of tangled lives they have to answer for!
Miss Lady put the Colonel's things back in his bag, and stooped to
kiss him good night.
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