You have my answer, sir.
Col. Starbottle. Permit me--er--single moment,--a single moment!
Between the er--present moment, and that of my departure--there is
an--er--interval of twelve hours. May I, at the close of that
interval--again present myself--without prejudice, for your final
answer?
Miss Mary (indifferently). As you will, sir. I shall be here.
Col. Starbottle. Permit me. (Takes her hand gallantly.) Your
conduct and manner, Miss Morris, remind me--er--singularly--of--er
beautiful creature--one of the--er--first families. (Observing MISS
MARY regarding him amusedly, becomes embarrassed.) That is--er--I
mean--er--er--good morning, Miss Morris! (Passes by schoolhouse
door, retreating and bowing, and picks up flowers from door-step.)
Good morning!
Miss Mary. Excuse me, Col. Starbottle (with winning politeness),
but I fear I must rob you of those flowers. I recognize them now
as the offering of one of my pupils. I fear I must revoke my gift
(taking flowers from astonished colonel's hand), all except a
single one for your buttonhole. Have you any choice, or shall I
(archly) choose for you? Then it shall be this. (Begins to place
flowers in buttonhole, COL. STARBOTTLE exhibiting extravagant
gratitude in dumb show. Business prolonged through MISS MARY's
speech.) If I am not wrong, colonel, the gentleman to whom you so
kindly pointed out the road this morning was not a stranger to you.
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