The Girl and her Fortune by L.T. Meade

Mrs Fortescue was busily engaged answering letters which had come to her owing to an advertisement which she had put into _The Times_ and other daily papers to the effect that she wished to mother young orphan girls to whom she could give undying care and devotion. She was emphasising these special qualities in her replies, and looked up with decided annoyance and a frown between her brows when Colonel Arbuthnot appeared. One glance at him, however, caused her manner to change. She by no means wished to make an enemy of the Colonel; although he was poor -- never for a moment pretending to be anything else -- he was quite the most respected person in the whole of Langdale. He was influential, too, and his name as one of her late Majesty's most esteemed soldiers would carry weight in any circle. She wanted to secure him as a reference, and was therefore very mild and gentle when she stood up to give him her cordial greeting.

"Sit down, Colonel; do sit down," she said. "I am so glad to see you. How very fortunate that I was not out. I told Bridget to say that I could not be disturbed this morning, for I am specially engaged; but never to you, dear Colonel; never to you."