Paul was going to see Clarice, whom he found in hysterics, while her mother was in a state of collapse, with several lady friends in attendance. They had heard of Jack’s arrival and the scene at the hotel. Of this the most extravagant stories had been told them. That Jack was intoxicated went without saying. Another story was that he and Paul had fought like wild beasts, rolling together on the hotel piazza. A third, that without the slightest provocation Jack had flown at Paul, knocked him down, broken his arm and further disabled him. This seemed probable, as Paul did not come at the time he was expected, and a messenger was about to be sent to the Ralston House to inquire for him when he appeared. At sight of him Clarice redoubled her sobs, while Paul tried to quiet her, assuring her he was not harmed and making light of the matter. When she grew calm he began to relate the particulars, and as he talked and heard the expressions of sympathy for himself and indignation against Jack, his temper began to rise again, and he said many things not very complimentary to Jack,—threatening things natural in themselves under the circumstances, but which came up afterward as proof against him. Clarice was the most excited, declaring that Jack should not come there and begging Paul to find him and keep him away. This Paul promised to do, although shrinking from another encounter with the enemy. The summer day was drawing to a close and the sun was setting when he left the Percy cottage and started for home. As he crossed the causeway between Lake Wenona and Lake Eau Claire he saw Jack turning into a cross road on the Heights, and guessed that he had started for his mother’s cottage, though why he should go that way, which was longer, he could not guess. Dreading the result for Mrs. Percy and Clarice if Jack went to them in a state of intoxication, as he probably was, he decided to overtake him and if possible persuade him to turn back. The quickest way to reach the oaks in which he had disappeared was to cross the open space between Miss Hansford’s cottage and the woods. Seated on the steps and piazza were three or four of the lodgers, together with Miss Hansford. They had all heard of the encounter at the hotel and were discussing it when Paul came rapidly up the path from the avenue. His face was flushed and he looked excited and flurried, and seemed unwilling to be stopped. “Hallo, Ralston,” one of the young men called out to him. “Glad to know you are alive. Come here and tell us about it. Heard first your leg was broken, then your arm. Why didn’t you smash his head for him?” “I’d like to,” Paul said, “but I can’t stop now. I am looking for him. He is up this way somewhere, and I must find him. Have any of you seen him?” No one had seen him, and Paul passed on hurriedly, while one of the party on the steps remarked, “I don’t believe the trouble is over yet. Ralston was pretty well wrought up for him.”