, and that neither of them--"

"I know, my love, I know," interposed the Governor, waving his hand. "I
have myself heard the good doctor commit the same error of judgment. But,
remember, it is easy to convince a man who already thinks as you do; and
since the Major has gone over to the Democrats, the doctor has grown
Whiggish, you know."

Mrs. Ambler flushed. "I'm sure I don't see why you should deny that you
have a talent for oratory," she said gravely. "I have sometimes thought it
was why I fell in love with you, you made such a beautiful speech the first
day I met you at the tournament in Leicesterburg. Fred Dulany crowned me,
you remember; and in your speech you brought in so many lovely things about
flowers and women."

"Ah, Julia, Julia," sighed the Governor, "so the sins of my youth are
rising to confound me," and he added quickly to Betty, "Isn't that some one
coming up the drive, daughter?"

Betty ran to the window and drew back the damask curtains. "It's the Major,
papa," she said, nodding to the old gentleman through the glass, "and he
does look so cold. Go out and bring him in, and don't--please don't talk
horrid politics to-night."

"I'll not, daughter, on my word, I'll not," declared the Governor, and he
wore the warning as a breastplate when he went out to meet his guest.

The Major, in his tight black broadcloth, entered, with his blandest smile,
and bowed over Mrs. Ambler's hand.

"I saw your firelight as I was passing, dear madam," he began, "and I
couldn't go on without a glimpse of you, though I knew that Molly was
waiting for me at the end of three cold miles."

He put his arm about Betty and drew her to him.

"You must borrow some of your sister's blushes, my child," he said; "it
isn't right to grow pale at your age. I don't like to see it," and then, as
Virginia came shyly in, he held out his other hand, and accused her of
stealing his boy's heart away from him. "But we old folks must give place
to the young," he continued cheerfully; "it's nature, and it's human
nature, too."

"It will be a dull day when you give place to any one else, Major,"
returned the Governor, politely.

"And a far off one I trust," added Mrs. Ambler, with her plaintive smile.

"Well, maybe so," responded the Major, settling himself in an easy chair
beside the fire. "Any way, you can't blame an old man for fighting for his
own, as my friend Harry Smith put it when he lost his leg in the War of
1812. 'By God, i