Col. Anglesea treated his defeated rival with offensive condescension.
Le tried to ignore the colonel's existence, and found his greatest comfort in the company of his little cousins. Their warm, sincere love and sympathy was as balm to his bruised heart.
The children had successfully passed their home examination by the father, and their holidays had already commenced, though it was a full week before Christmas. And thus they were able to give their sailor cousin a great deal of their society.
The mother and father did not interfere. They were glad enough of any comfort or solace they could afford Le, to occupy or amuse his mind, and keep his fingers and his scalping knife off Anglesea's hair.
The children used often to walk over with Le to Greenbushes in the morning, spend the whole day there with their cousin, and return with him in the evening.
But, in consideration for him, they never alluded to the approaching wedding. They only kept their eyes and ears open, like the sharp little foxes that they were.
One day, however, when all three were walking through the wintry woods on their way to Greenbushes, Le himself, for the first time, alluded to the subject.
"How do you like your intended brother-in-law?" he inquired.
"What! that British beer barrel? I mean that English gentleman? I hate him! I detest him! I loathe him! I abhor him! And if there is any stronger word in the English or any other language, I _that_ him!" exclaimed Wynnette, clenching her fist and grinding her teeth.
"I say my prayers three times a day not to hate him; but, oh, dear!" sighed little Elva.
"And I'll tell you what it is, Le. She hates him worse than I do," added Wynnette.
"My child! 'She?' Who?" exclaimed Le, starting, and coming to a dead halt.
"Wynnette, do you know what you are saying, dear?" demanded Le, in great agitation.
They had now reached Chincapin Creek bridge, and all had come to a stop.
"Do you know what you are saying, Wynnette?" anxiously repeated Le.
"Yes, indeed I do. And I know it is true. Odalite hates and scorns and loathes Col. Anglesea!" said the child, speaking in her intense way, with doubled fist, set teeth and gleaming eyes.
"Why should she tell me? No; she never did. But all the same I would pledge my immortal soul upon it that she does."