Page:Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Volume 2.djvu/203

Rh to this task, and thus they came to the lonely little station at Albano.

Amanda had ordered the carriage to meet her; but it was not there, and she was forced to wait till all her fellow passengers were gone. All but the gallant officer, who decorously remained outside, marching to and fro as if on guard, till his servant came with his horse. Then he begged to be allowed to see why the carriage did not come, and Amanda consented, for night was falling, and two miles of mud lay between her and home.

Away dashed the servant, but his master did not follow: standing in the doorway he declared that he must remain as the Signorina's protector, for no trains were due for hours, the depot man was gone, and it was too late for any lady to stay there alone. Again, Amanda gratefully consented, wondering what would be the end of her adventure. And again, the stately Colonel resumed his march outside, singing as he tramped, and evidently enjoying the escort duty that gave him so good an opportunity of displaying not only his gallantry, but his fine voice and handsome figure.

Down rattled the carriage at last, accompanied, to