“I——er——willspeakwithher——alone。“
Theroundeyesagainsawthecompletecollapseofauthority，asthetwowomenshrankbackfromthevoice，andsaidhurriedly，——
“Certainly，ColonelStarbottle；perhapsitwouldbebetter，“andingloriouslyquittedtheroom。
Butthecolonel’striumphlefthimhelpless。Hewasalonewithasimplechild，anunprecedented，unheard-ofsituation，whichlefthimembarrassedand——speechless。Evenhisvanitywasconsciousthathisoratoricalperiods，hismethods，hisveryattitude，werepowerlesshere。Theperspirationstoodoutonhisforehead；helookedathervaguely，andessayedafeeblesmile。Thechildsawhisembarrassment，evenasshehadseenandunderstoodhistriumph，andthesmallwomanwithinherexulted。Sheputherlittlehandsonherwaist，andwiththefingersturneddownwardsandoutwardspressedthemdownherhipstoherbendedkneesuntiltheyhadforcedherskirtsintoanegregiousfullnessbeforeandbehind，asifsheweremakingacurtsy，andthenjumpedupandlaughed。
“Youdidit！Hooray！“