She woke with a dream of a battlefield where shells of monstrous size were exploding upon every side, each one missing her by inches; nor was this surprising for, upon opening her eyes, she soon became aware that stones were being hurled into the room. "It can't be Sidney," she murmured sleepily. "He wouldn't wake me so roughly, even though I am late. Goodness--that's a rock!" It was not Sidney. It was George, as she discovered by one swift glance. He frowned like an artillery man while adding to his stock of ammunition. "Stop it! You've broken the water jug, and my room is flooded," she cried. "So I've got you up at last! You threw your bag into my window last night, so I throw stones into your window this morning. It's what they call the _lextalionis_." "Please go away! I'm not dressed yet," she called. "I'm waiting to hear your explanation, and I'm going to stand here, in this very same place where I was first beguiled by your deceitful face at the window, when you sat and worked a sewing machine, like that lady in the Bible who got pushed out and trodden underfoot," said George wrathfully; for during the night a suspicion of the truth had reached him. "I'd better get it over at once," Nellie murmured. Then she wrapped herself in the quilt and approached the window. "Here I am!" she said brightly. "What a nasty, hostile, ungrateful expression. And you ought to be in a white sheet instead of that scarlet quilt," said George bitterly. "Well, you shouldn't be so rude as to throw stones at me. They were not pebbles either." "It's my house and my window. Why have you come back?" "Because I wanted to." "That's a woman's answer. Did you give your address to that wicked little girl who answers to the name of Teenie?" "I might have." "That's another woman's answer. Did that young man who wallows in vice write to you?" "A young gentleman known here as Sidney Brock did write to me." "That's the sort of confession a woman does make. And you actually replied? You had no shame whatever?" "I sent an answer." "Then came!" "And saw and conquered," she murmured happily. "What are you muttering about?" "I suppose you would call them my sins. But, if you speak to me again like that, I shall shut the window," Nellie replied with spirit. "I'm blest if she isn't going to argue," George mumbled. "I don't want to be hard upon you, young woman, but I can't have this sort of thing," he went on sternly. "You desert my dear old aunt, and come back here, and rush into bad company, and you don't even ask my permission. I'm a liberal and broad-minded chap, but I can't stand that." "How are you going to prevent it?"