All of these young gentlemen admired Ladybird Conway, and envied Earle Winans because she had shown a preference for him. Accordingly they were eager to take Aura's part, just to humiliate their dangerous rival. The foremost one therefore sprang with fierce agility at Earle just as he was rising from his seat on the grassy bank, and with a stinging blow knocked him backward to the ground. There was laughter--spiteful from Aura, appreciative from the men--but it did not last long. Earle Winans scarcely touched the earth ere he rebounded like a ball, and flew directly at Jack Tennant, his adversary, a big, burly fellow, with fists like iron. Earle was slender, but he was an athlete too, and with a rush he caught his assailant around the waist with both arms, lifted him almost above his head, and hurled him with superb strength far out into the river, firing after him this parting shot: "There, my lad! a cold bath will cool your temper!" Then he turned a scornful smile on the others. "Are there any more who wish to play the rôle of Miss Stanley's brothers?" he sneered. "Oh, no; the quarrel is between you and Jack Tennant," they hastily replied, having no desire to be made ridiculous like their hasty friend, who was now swimming ashore, his picnic toggery, sash and flannels, dripping and ruined, but with his rage not yet cooled, for as he clambered up the bank he exclaimed: "Mr. Earle Winans, I will fight this quarrel out with you now." Earle's handsome face flushed with anger, but, holding in his temper, he answered with cool scorn: "Your pardon, but it would not be quite proper to settle it in a lady's presence. I will send a friend to you to-morrow." "A duel! Oh, Heaven!" cried Aura, in a panic of fear, but no one seemed to notice her as she sank trembling on the grassy bank. Mark Gwinn exclaimed kindly: "I'll drive you home for your dry clothes, Jack, and we can be back in a jiffy." They were all turning away, but Earle Winans arrested them with one stern word: "Wait!" They all turned back to him in impatient surprise. Pale with anger, he pointed to Aura, crouching on the green, flowery bank. "Miss Stanley, you must now repeat to these gentlemen who defended you the words of my insult." Flashing on Earle a glance of sullen resentment, she obeyed. "I dropped his diamond ring into the water--and he said I did it on purpose." "Was that all?" exclaimed a wondering voice. "That was all," Aura answered indignantly, and every one turned away and left Aura alone with the bitter consciousness that they despised her, while as for Jack Tennant, he felt decidedly blue at the prospect of a duel with the fiery Earle Winans for the sake of a girl he didn't care two straws for, as he, like all the others, adored the bewitching Miss Conway.