The episode caused talk. A half-dozen men had witnessed it, and by the next afternoon various accounts of it had reached John’s friends and acquaintances, and it was being generally discussed, for John was a public character whose affairs interested the entire university. It became known that he had been Phillip’s guest during the holidays, and various and wonderful were the theories evolved to account for the quarrel. Phillip gained not a little notoriety; he was pointed out as “the fellow who slugged John North”; but beyond his small circle of personal friends, who, despite that he had vouchsafed to them no explanation of the affair, stood by him loyally, he was looked upon with disfavour and voted “darned fresh.” John spoke of the affair to none save David. The latter heard of it with mingled dismay and delight, and when John had finished surprised him by the decision he rendered. “Don’t take any more notice of him,” he said. “I don’t know any more than you what the boy’s got against you, but you may depend that it’s something he considers serious. Phil’s honest, John, whatever else he is. I suppose it’s all some silly misunderstanding, but it’s quite evident that Phil takes it very much in earnest. I suppose nothing happened down in Virginia that he could have taken exception to? Nothing about his sister, eh?” “What do you mean by that?” demanded John angrily. “I mean,” answered David undisturbedly, “that there was nothing――look here, to be plain, did you get into any flirtation down there? Did you do anything that Phil might construe into a slight against his sister?” “If you don’t shut up I’ll smash you,” John threatened. “By which I presume you mean me to understand that there was nothing of the sort? Well, the next question is, does Phil _think_ there was anything?” John’s wrath gave way to thoughtfulness. Finally he said: “I can’t see how he could, Davy, honestly. There was not a thing―――― Look here, Davy, I asked his sister to marry me and she refused. There was nothing wrong with that, was there?” “Nothing, I should say, except her decision,” answered David. “I’m sorry she turned you down, old man, if you really care for the girl. But, to tell the truth, it seems to me you’re rather fortunate not to marry into such a fire-eating family. I suppose the girl couldn’t have told Phil any yarns that――er――――” “David!” “Oh, well, I don’t know her, of course. Women are damned strange, though, just the same. I’ve got two sisters of my own, if you remember.” He smoked in silence awhile and John sat scowling crossly at him through the smoke. Then, “Well, I give it up, Johnnie. Let him alone; maybe he’ll have the grace to apologize and explain things.” “He may apologize until he’s blue in the face,” said John wrathfully, “for all I care. But I would like to know what in thunder it all means!” David shook his head sadly. “Children are contrary and exasperating things,” he said, “and the guardian’s lot is not all roses.”