"No? But what is a fellow to do, I should like to know?" "You must go and apologize to your friend for your hasty, ill-timed words," she said. "I'll be hanged if I show the white feather like that!" he cried, violently. "There is no white feather at all. You made a mistake and spoke unjust words to your friend. Now, when you discover your error, you should be man enough to retract your remarks," she answered, indignantly. "I can't see why you take up for Lancaster so vehemently," he commented, straying from the main point. "I'm not taking up for him," warmly. "I only don't want you to make a fool of yourself about _me_!" "Ah!"--shortly. "Yes, that is what I mean, exactly; I don't want my aunt to think I've set you two at odds. She will be prejudiced against me in the beginning. Come, now," dropping her vexed tone and falling into a coaxing one, "go and make it up with your injured Pythias." He regarded her in silence a moment. "Should you like me any better if I did?" he inquired, after this thoughtful pause. "Of course I should," she answered, in an animated tone. "And it would really please you for me to tell Lancaster I was mistaken and am sorry?" "Yes, I should like that, certainly." He tried to look into the sparkling eyes, but they had wandered away from him. She was watching the flight of a sea-bird whose glancing wings were almost lost in the illimitable blue of the sky. "If I do this thing it will be wholly for your sake," he said, meaningly. "For my sake, then," she answered, carelessly; and then he rose and left her. * * * * * Lancaster had been in his state-room reading two hours, perhaps, when De Vere knocked at his door. He tossed back his fair hair carelessly, and without rising from his reclining posture, bade the applicant come in. "Ah, it is you, De Vere?" he said, icily. "Yes, it is I, Lancaster. What have you been doing? Writing a challenge to me?" laughing. "Well, you may burn it now; I have come to retract my words." "To retract?" the frown on Lancaster's moody brow began to clear away. "Yes, I was mistaken, I thought you were my rival in secret, but Miss West has explained all to me. I spoke unjustly. Can you accord me your pardon? I'm downright sorry, old fellow--no mistake." Lancaster gave him his hand. "Think before you speak next time," he said, dryly. "I will. But I was terribly cut up at first, seeing you and her together--like that. How sweet she is! She did not want us to quarrel over her. She confessed everything. It was comical, her hearing everything that night--was it not? But there was no harm done." "No," Lancaster said, constrainedly. "I'm glad we are friends again; but I was so stiff I could never have owned myself in the wrong, only that I promised to do it for her sake," added De Vere; and then he went away, and left his friend to resume the interrupted perusal of his novel. But Lancaster tossed the folio angrily down upon the floor.