'The dear sort of girl!' And I presume the young goose thought he had given a vivid picture." She turned to Major Darrett's note: a charming note it was to turn to.

He had the gift of making himself very real--and correspondingly attractive--in those notes.
A few days before she had been telling Ann about Major Darrett.

"He's a bachelor," she had said, "and a joy." Ann had looked vague, and Katie laughed now in seeing that her characterization was broad as "the dear sort of girl." It was probable Major Darrett would relieve one of the officers at the Arsenal.

He touched it lightly.

"Should fate--that part of it dwelling in Washington--waft me to your Island, Katie Jones, I foresee a summer to compensate me for all the hard, cruel, lonely years." Kate smiled knowingly; not that she actually knew much to be knowing about.
She wondered why she did not disapprove of Major Darrett.