“Then I fail to understand what the matter is with you. I know you admire Inza Burrage, and she thinks a great deal of you; but I also know that you like Elsie Bellwood just as well, and I think she cares more for you than Inza ever can. Those are not all the ones, either. There are other bright, smart girls whom you admire and respect. You are not engaged to any of them. What are you going to do while you are not in their society? Because you think a great deal of some girl, are you going to shun all others as if you were married and settled down?” “Well, I can’t say that I ever have,” laughed Frank. “No, and it’s too late to begin now. It’s all right for Diamond to do so if he wishes; but I think it is equally right for you to do as you have done in the past. The time will come some day, without doubt, when you cannot do so. Until that time does come, get all the pleasure out of life that you can, and what is more enjoyable than the society of an intelligent, charming and pretty girl?” Frank was astonished by Bart’s words and manner, for it was seldom that Hodge expressed himself thus freely. “That is good logic, old man,” he confessed, “but those musicians have awakened thoughts of a little girl with blue eyes and golden hair, and I don’t think I care for the society of either Miss Mischief or Miss Hazle at present. Let’s stroll down to the shore.” They did so, and found Diamond sitting on some bowlders, looking off over the bay in the track of moonlight which seemed to lead toward Bar Harbor. “There he is,” said Hodge. “Thinking of the girl at Bar Harbor, I’ll bet something.” “How long have you been here, old man?” asked Merry. “Less than a minute,” answered Jack. “Just stopped here. Isn’t the moonlight beautiful on the water?” “It is, but when a fellow gets to watching the moonlight all alone by himself it means something. I think Hattie Hazle was right.” “About what?” asked the Virginian, quickly. “She said you were in love.” Jack said not a word. “And Mabel Mischief settled it. Two nice girls, eh? Jack?” “Do you want my honest opinion of them?” “Certainly.” “Well, you know I am always very careful about what I say concerning the fair sex.” “Yes.” “I would not say this to anyone else, but I know neither you nor Hodge will repeat it. Those girls are bright enough and are pretty, but they are too forward. I think the bicycle is responsible for it, but I notice that girls who ride are likely to be that way.” Immediately both Merriwell and Hodge protested. “Not necessarily,” said Frank. “I know many young ladies who are just as much ladies since they have begun to ride as they were before. If a girl is inclined to be unladylike, it is possible that riding a wheel may give her more opportunities to show her real nature than anything else. But the wheel is not to blame. It simply shows the person’s real nature.