It isn't often I have a little lady like you pay me a visit." "I didn't come to see you, suh," she answered, indignantly, as she started toward the gate.

"I came to see May Lilly.

But I nevah would have come inside yo' gate if I'd known you was goin' to hollah at me an' be so cross." She was walking off with the air of an offended queen, when the Colonel remembered that if he allowed her to go away in that mood she would probably never set foot on his grounds again.

Her display of temper had interested him immensely.
Now that he had laughed off his ill humour, he was anxious to see what other traits of character she possessed.

He wheeled his horse across the walk to bar her way, and quickly dismounted.
"Oh, now, wait a minute," he said, in a coaxing tone.