"Grey, Zane - Betty Zane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grey Zane)

"It has been such an ugly day, so disagreeable altogether, that I have
remained indoors."

"You missed something," said Lydia, knowingly.

"What do you mean? What did I miss?"

"Oh, perhaps, after all, it will not interest you."

"How provoking! Of course it will. Anything or anybody would interest me
to-night. Do tell me, please."

"It isn't much. Only a young soldier came over with Major McColloch."

"A soldier? From Fort Pitt? Do I know him? I have met most of the officers."

"No, you have never seen him. He is a stranger to all of us."

"There does not seem to be so much in your news," said Betty, in a
disappointed tone. "To be sure, strangers are a rarity in our little village,
but, judging from the strangers who have visited us in the past, I imagine
this one cannot be much different."

"Wait until you see him," said Lydia, with a serious little nod of her head.

"Come, tell me all about him," said Betty, now much interested.

"Major McColloch brought him in to see papa, and he was introduced to me. He
is a southerner and from one of those old families. I could tell by his cool,
easy, almost reckless air. He is handsome, tall and fair, and his face is
frank and open. He has such beautiful manners. He bowed low to me and really I
felt so embarrassed that I hardly spoke. You know I am used to these big
hunters seizing your hand and giving it a squeeze which makes you want to
scream. Well, this young man is different. He is a cavalier. All the girls are
in love with him already. So will you be."

"I? Indeed not. But how refreshing. You must have been strongly impressed to
see and remember all you have told me."

"Betty Zane, I remember so well because he is just the man you described one
day when we were building castles and telling each other what kind of a hero
we wanted."

"Girls, do not talk such nonsense," interrupted the Colonel's wife who was
perturbed by the colloquy in the other room. She had seen those ominous signs
before. "Can you find nothing better to talk about?"

Meanwhile Colonel Zane and his companions were earnestly discussing certain
information which had arrived that day. A friendly Indian runner had brought