"'I should resign,' she said, serenely; then, realizing what she had said, she lost her self-possession for a second, and cried: 'No, indeed! I should fight to the bitter end! I mean--' "'What?' I asked, lingering over my revenge. "'I mean,' she said, slowly, 'that your black pawn would never have the chance--never! I should take it immediately.' "'I believe you would,' said I, smiling; 'so we'll call the game yours, and--the pawn captured.' "'I don't want it,' she exclaimed. 'A pawn is worthless.' "'Except when it's in the king row.' "'Chess is most interesting,' she observed, sedately. She had completely recovered her self-possession. Still I saw that she now had a certain respect for my defensive powers. It was very soothing to me. "'You know,' said I, gravely, 'that I am fonder of Jack than of anybody. That's the reason we never write each other, except to borrow things. I am afraid that when I was a young cub in France I was not an attractive personality.' "'On the contrary,' said Daisy, smiling, 'I thought you were very big and very perfect. I had illusions. I wept often when I went home and remembered that you never took the trouble to speak to me but once.' "'I was a cub,' I said--'not selfish and brutal, but I didn't understand school-girls. I never had any sisters, and I didn't know what to say to very young girls. If I had imagined that you felt hurt--' "'Oh, I did--five years ago. Afterwards I laughed at the whole thing.' "'Laughed?' I repeated, vaguely disappointed. "'Why, of course. I was very easily hurt when I was a child. I think I have outgrown it.' "The soft curve of her sensitive mouth contradicted her. "'Will you forgive me now?' I asked. "'Yes. I had forgotten the whole thing until I met you an hour or so ago.' "There was something that had a ring not entirely genuine in this speech. I noticed it, but forgot it the next moment. "Presently she rose, touched her hair with the tip of one finger, and walked to the door. "'Good-night,' she said. "'Good-night,' said I, opening the door for her to pass. XIX "The sea was a sheet of silver tinged with pink. The tremendous arch of the sky was all shimmering and glimmering with the promise of the sun. Already the mist above, flecked with clustered clouds, flushed with rose color and dull gold. I heard the low splash of the waves breaking and curling across the beach. A wandering breeze, fresh and fragrant, blew the curtains of my window. There was the scent of sweet bay in the room, and everywhere the subtle, nameless perfume of the sea.