Ramona met Arthur Ridley face to face just outside of the post-office.
"You dandy boy!" she cried, and held out both hands to him. Her eyes were shining. The gifts of friendship and admiration were in them.
He could not find a word to say. A lump rose in his throat and choked him.
"It was just fine of you--fine!" she told him. "I was so glad to hear that a friend of mine did it. You are still my friend, aren't you?"
"If you'll let me be," he said humbly. "But--I haven't done anything to deserve it."
"Everybody's praising you because you stayed with that Dinsmore man and saved his life at the risk of your own--after he had treated you so mean too. I'm so proud of you."
"You needn't be," he answered bluntly. "I wanted to slip away and leave him. I--I proposed it to Jack Roberts. But he wouldn't have it. He laid the law down. One of us had to go, one stay. I hadn't the nerve to go, so I stayed."
"I don't believe it--not for a minute," came her quick, indignant response. "And if you did--what of it? It isn't what we want to do that counts. It's what we really do!"
He shook his head wistfully. He would have liked to believe her, but he felt there was no credit due him.
"I fought because I had to if I was going to save my own skin. I haven't told any one else this, but I can't have you thinking me game when I know I'm not."
"Was it to save yourself you flung yourself down in front of father and let that awful man Dinsmore shoot at you?" she demanded, eyes flashing.
"A fellow can't stand by and see some one murdered without lifting a hand. I didn't have time to get frightened that time."
"Well, all I've got to say is that you're the biggest goose I ever saw, Art Ridley. Here you've done two fine things and you go around trying to show what a big coward you are."
He smiled gravely. "I'm not advertising it. I told you because--"
"--Because you're afraid I'll think too well of you."
"Because I want you to know me as I am."
"Then if I'm to know you as you are I'll have to get a chance to see what you really are. Dad and Auntie and I will expect you to supper to-morrow night."
"Thank you. I'll be there."
Casually she enlarged her invitation. "I don't suppose you'll see that very shy young man, Mr. Roberts."
"I might."
"Then, will you ask him to come too? I'm going to find out whether you acted as scared as you say you did."