Page:Middle Aged Love Stories (IA middleagedlove00bacorich).djvu/207

 of these two dear women adding their wit and charm and dainty way of living to his days grew suddenly very vivid to him; he realized that it was an unconscious counting on their continued interest and hospitality that had made the future so comfortable for so long.

With characteristic directness he began:

“Will your Ladyship allow me a half-hour of business with the queen-mother?”

She rose easily and stepped out through the long window to the little side porch, then to the lawn. They watched her as she paced slowly away from them, a tall violet figure vivid against all the green.

“She is a dear girl, isn’t she?” said her mother softly.

A sudden flood of delighted pride surged through the colonel’s heart. If only he might keep them happy and contented and—and his! He never thought of them apart: no rose and bud