"It is evident you do not know him very well, Mr. Marline," she said, severely. "Frank Merriwell never gets the swelled head." Marline was somewhat embarrassed, but, with the utmost suavity, he bowed to her, smoothly saying: "It is possible I do not know him very well, as you say; but I am sure almost any fellow might be in danger of getting a touch of swelled head had he done the things Mr. Merriwell did to-day." He said this so gracefully that Inza's threatened anger was averted, and she fell to chatting with him, much to his satisfaction. They were standing close together, talking earnestly, Marline supporting himself by leaning on the back of a chair, when Frank left the parlor, saying to Miss Gale that he must hasten to catch a train back to New Haven. The library door opened into the hall, and Frank saw Inza chatting with Rob Marline in a manner that seemed very friendly and familiar. The sight gave him a start, and the hot blood rushed to his cheeks. Inza knew Frank had seen them, but she did not turn to look at him. She began to laugh in her most bewitching manner, as if amused very much at something Marline had said, and leaned a little nearer her companion. Frank seemed dazed. The sight of Rob Marline in that house chatting thus with Inza seemed a revelation to him. All at once, he fancied he understood the situation--fancied he knew why Inza had not wished him to play on the Yale football team. "We shall be in New Haven the last of the week, Mr. Merriwell," said Miss Abigail. "She'll get over it by that time, and we'll call. It's nothing but a foolish whim." She spoke the words just loud enough for Frank to hear, but he did not seem to understand. Like one in a dream, he took his cap from the rack and turned toward the door. "Good-day, Mr. Merriwell," called the old maid. "Eh? Oh! Good-day!" Frank paused at the door and looked back; then he spoke, loudly enough to be heard in the library: "I shall be pleased to see you at any time, Miss Gale, but, if you call on me, perhaps it would be well not to bring a certain person with you. It might be embarrassing and unpleasant. Good-day." Bounding down the steps, Frank walked swiftly away. There was a hard, set look on his face, which had grown singularly pale. "Yes," he muttered, "I understand it all now. She would not tell me why she did not wish me to play on the eleven, but I know now. Somewhere she has met Rob Marline, and she is stuck on him. He wanted to play full-back for Yale, and she aided him all she could by inducing me to promise that I would not play. I see through the whole game! She was playing me for a fool! I did not think that of her, but it is as clear as crystal." And Marline had cut him out with Inza! He felt sure of that. "Well," he grated, "I have been easy with that fellow. Now we are enemies to the bitter end! Let him look out for me!" CHAPTER XXXIX. THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY.