But in our walk of life it's the man's fault if the woman falls out of the ranks." "That's not what I mean," said Walter.
"What do you mean, then, if you mean anything at all ?" "I mean this, father.

She marries Percy Fitzroy in three weeks; so if I fix my affections on her up to the date of the wedding, shall I not be tempted to continue, and will not a foolish attachment to another man's sweetheart end in a vicious attachment to another man's wife ?" Once more was the Colonel staggered for a moment, and, oh--as the ladies say--is it not gratifying to find that where honest reasons go for nothing, humbug can obtain a moment's hearing?
The Colonel admitted there was something in that; but even humbug could not divert him long from his mania.

"The only thing to be done," said he, "is to cut him out between this and then.

Why, he stands five feet nothing." "That's the advantage he has over me," suggested Walter; "she is five feet eight or thereabouts, so he is just the height of her heart." The Colonel burst out laughing.

"You are no fool," said he; "that's the second good thing you have said these three years.