"We've had a most amusing conversation, Mr. Howard," she said. "I don't

know when I've been so interested--or so tempted."

"Tempted?" He looked at her with a slow, expectant smile.

"Oh, yes," she murmured, turning her eyes upon him with a half-mocking

light in them. "You have forgotten that you have been talking to a

woman."

"I don't deny it," he said. "It's the finest compliment I could pay

you. But--after?"

"And that to a woman your account of your hero-friend is--a

challenge."

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He nodded and paused, with his cigar half-way to his lips.

"I'm greatly tempted to accept it, do you know!" she said.

He laughed.

"Don't: you'll be vanquished. Is that too candid, too--brutal?" he

said.

"So brutal that I _will_ accept it," she said. "Is that ring of yours a

favorite?"

"I've had it ever since I can remember. It was my mother's," he said,

rather gravely.

She held out her hand, upon which the costly gems glittered in the

sunlight.

"Choose one to set against it," she said quite quietly.

Howard, roused for once from his sleepy cynicism, met her gaze with

something like astonishment.

"You mean--?" he said, in a low voice.

"I mean that I am going to try to meet your iceberg. You will play

fair, Mr. Howard? You will stand and look on and--be silent?"

He smiled and leant back as if he had considered her strange, audacious

proposal, and felt confident.

"On my honour," he said, with a laugh. "You shall have fair play!" She

laughed softly. "You have not chosen my stake," she said meaningly.

"Ah, no. Pardon! Let me see." He took her hand and examined the rings.

"This--I think it's the most valuable."

"It does not matter," she said. "You will not win it. May I look at

yours?"

He extended his hand with an amused laugh; but without a smile, she

said: "Yes, it is a quaint ring; I like quaint things. I shall wear it on my

little finger."

She dropped his hand quickly, for at that moment Stafford rode round

the bend of the drive. His face was grave and almost stern in its

preoccupation, but he caught sight of them, and raised his hat, then

turned his horse and rode up to the terrace.

"Good-morning, Stafford," exclaimed Howard. "Where have you been?

Hallo! Anything happened? You're coated all over with mud: had a fall?"




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