"Well, Eben," he said, after a pause, during which the two men smoked energetically, "I hope you'll keep her a while." "You don't think she looks delicate ?" cried the Squire, turning pale.
"Her mother doesn't think so." The Colonel laughed heartily.

"When a girl blossoms out like that there'll be plenty trying the garden-gate," said he.
The Squire flushed angrily.

"Let 'em try it and be damned!" he said.
"You can't lock the gate, Eben; if you do, she'll open it herself, and no blame to her." "She won't, I tell you.

She's too young, and there's not a man I know fit to tie her little shoes." "How's young Prescott ?" "Young Prescott be damned!" The Colonel hesitated.

He had seen with an eye, sharpened with long and thorough experience, Jerome Edwards and Lucina the night of the party.