"
MARGOT: "No, don't shut the door, it's so hot and we shan't be
able to talk alone again."
Miss MILLER (relieved and sitting down): "You are very good. ... I
must think carefully over what you have said."
MARGOT: "Anyhow, tell your major that _I_ know your father; he is
really fond of me."
MISS MILLER: "Oh, yes, I heard him ask your father if he would
exchange you for us."
MARGOT: "That's only his chaff; he is devoted to you. But what he
likes about me is my dash: nothing your papa admires so much as
courage. If the major has pluck enough to carry you off to
Edinburgh, marry you in a registrar's office and come back and
tell your family the same day, he will forgive everything, give
you a glorious allowance and you'll be happy ever after! ... Now,
my dear, I must go."
I got up very slowly, and, putting my hands on her shoulders,
said:
"Pull up your socks, Amy!"
I need hardly say the passage was deserted when I opened the door.
I went downstairs, took up the Scotsman and found Sir William
writing in the hall. He was grumpy and restless and at last,
putting down his pen, he came up to me and said, in his broad
Scotch accent:
"Margy, will you go round the garden with me?"
"MARGY": "Yes, if we can sit down alone and have a good talk."
SIR WILLIAM (delighted): "What about the summerhouse?"
"MARGY": "All right, I'll run up and put on my hat and meet you
here."
When we got to the summer-house he said:
"Margy, my daughter Amy's in love with a pauper.
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