The girl stared from one to the other in indignant bewilderment. Lacy was an ideal lover. Sempland looked like a stern master, and she hated a master. She made a half step toward the handsomer and weaker man, and a half turn toward the homelier and stronger. In her heart of hearts she found in that moment which she preferred. And, as love is wayward, in the knowledge came a surprise for her--and it brought shame. Lacy was handsome and gallant and distinguished, in spite of all, but Sempland was strong--a man indeed. "Oh!" she cried, looking at him, "if you only had done something great or--" "What!" he cried, his face alight. But she turned instantly away. In her words Lacy, more subtile and more used to women, read her preference and his rejection. But he smiled bravely and kindly at her in spite of his knowledge. "Major Lacy," she said, giving him her hand, "I esteem you, I honor you, I respect you. I do not believe what this--what has been said about you. But I do not love you." She drew away from him. "You were mistaken. There is no choice between you, for I love neither of you. I do not love anybody. I hate you both!" she flashed out inconsistently. "Now go! I don't want to see either of you again." She buried her face in her hands and burst into tears. "I will do something to deserve your praise," said Sempland, in his deep voice, turning away. "Miss Glen," said Lacy, most graciously,--Fanny Glen's presence seemed to call all that was good in him to the surface,--"no one has respected me, or trusted me, or honored me as you have, for years. Sempland cannot rob me of that, even though he should win you. Good-by, and, if it be not grotesque from me, may God bless you!" CHAPTER III A STRIFE IN MAGNANIMITY "Well, Sempland," said Lacy, with astonishing courtesy and forbearance under all the circumstances, as he overtook the other man plodding along the shaded street, "you don't seem to be in much greater favor with the young lady than I." "Lacy," returned the other, "you did well this evening. You are not good enough for Miss Glen, I still think. Nobody is, for that matter, but you less than others. My opinion of you, you know--" "Faith, all the world may know it apparently!" "That's unjust. I have never mentioned it to any one, and should not have expressed it to Miss Glen had it not been to save her. But you showed the stuff that was in you, that used to be in you, to-night. It was fine. I thank you for having said--" he paused. "What?" asked Lacy. "Why, that about my not having had a chance, you know." "Oh, that was a trifle." "I know. But not many men would have said it at the time."