"I was tremendously interested in your talk tonight," she said, coolly dismissing the subject. "Thank you for giving us the pleasure. It is just such adventures as you have had that makes me wish more than ever that I had not been born a girl." He bowed gallantly. "What would the world be like if God had neglected to create the rose?" "Bravo!" cried Mr. Mavity, slapping him on the back. "Spoken like a knight of old." "Good night, Mr. Thane,--and thank you again," she said. Nodding to Mr. Mavity, she turned to leave the group. Again the parson intervened. "My dear Alix, I can't let you go without saying a word about your splendid defence of David Strong. It was fine. And you, sir, were--ah--what shall I say?--you were most generous in saying what you did. David is a fine fellow. He--" "I should have said the same about any doctor who was up at the front," said Courtney simply. "Is he an old friend, Miss Crown?" "I have known him ever since I can remember," she replied, and he detected a slight stiffness in her manner. "Ahem! Er--ah--" began Mr. Mavity tactfully. "David was born here, Mr. Thane. Well, good night, Alix,--good night." When she was quite out of hearing, the flustered parson lowered his voice and said to Courtney: "They--er--don't get along very well, you see. I couldn't explain while she was here. Something to do with money matters,--nothing of consequence, I assure you,--but very distressing, most distressing. It is too bad,--too bad." Mrs. Pollock overheard. "They're both terribly set in their ways," she remarked. "Stubborn as mules. For my part, I think Alix is too silly for words about it. Especially with his mother living in the same house with her. Now, mind you, I'm not saying anything against Alix. I love her. But just the same, she can be the most unreasonable--" "They haven't spoken to each other for over three years," inserted Angie Miller. "When they were children they were almost inseparable. David Windom took a fancy to little David. The story is that he was trying to ease his conscience by being nice to a blacksmith's son. You see, his own daughter ran away with a blacksmith's son,--and you've heard what happened, Mr. Thane. David was in my class for two years before he went up to High School, and I remember he always used to get long letters from Alix when she was in England. Then, when she came home,--she was about twelve I think,--they were great friends. Always together, playing, studying, reading, riding and--" "Everybody used to say old David Windom was doing his best to make a match of it," interrupted Mrs. Pollock, who had been out of the conversation longer than she liked. "Up to the time the old man died, we used to take it for granted that some day they would get married,--but, my goodness, it's like waving a red flag at a bull to even mention his name to Alix now. She hates him,--and I guess he hates her."