“Quite right,” said Dalton heartily. “Stay right there.” “And perhaps you might feel if any of his bones are broken,” said Adelina severely, flashing an indignant look out of her lustrous eyes at that young man. “Oh, certainly,” said Dalton, grabbing hold of a leg. “That’s all right, eh, Paul?” he inquired, manipulating that member of his anatomy gingerly. “Oh, get out, Dalton. My bones are all right. Nothing wrong with me. I have often been pitched like this before. So have you, Adelina.” “Have seen ’em killed, too,” said Adelina, with a shudder. “But thank Heaven you’re not that,” she added with a little laugh that somehow did not go with her pale face and strained tone of voice. “Now let me up, Adelina. I’m fit enough,” said Paul, raising himself on his elbow. Adelina put her strong arms under his shoulders and helped him to his feet. “Come in and rest for a bit, Paul,” she said. “I don’t think you ought to go on. Besides, there is no one at home to look after you.” But Paul could not bring himself to accept her invitation. Nor would he insult her by seeking to make excuse, for he knew that she knew the reason why he would not enter the Sleeman abode. “I am quite all right, Adelina, and Dalton and I wish to get settled down in our quarters tonight.” Adelina made no reply, but she made little effort to hide her disappointment. “Let me carry the bucket back for you,” said Dalton. “Shall we walk?” he added, taking the bridle of her horse. “No,” said Adelina. “I hate walking. And you don’t need to come.” But Dalton insisted upon riding home with her. “Why didn’t you go in with her, Paul?” said Dalton on his return. “She was quite cut up by your refusal, I could see—quite grumpy with me. I was not on her horizon, in fact. Stunning girl she is, old boy. Who is she, anyway?” “Why, Dalton, I must have had my senses knocked out! That’s Adelina Sleeman.” “What! Old Sleeman’s daughter? Good Lord, what a beastly fix!” “Fix? She is a fine girl, one of the best,” said Paul. “And I’ve got to put the screws to that—to her father tomorrow.” “Let’s go on, Dalton. We will attend to that tomorrow.” “Takes all the satisfaction out of my trip,” grunted Dalton. “Must go over this case again.” “Don’t see why. All you want is justice.” “My dear boy, you haven’t grasped the niceties of the legal profession. There is justice and justice. And there are various methods of obtaining justice. I have been cherishing a fond expectation of seeing that old robber squirm and wriggle like a bug on a pin. But now—well, you can’t get any pleasure from seeing your prospective father-in-law squirm.” “What the deuce are you talking about?” exclaimed Paul.