"Yes, you licked him," mused Columbine. "I remember that. And Jack's
hated you ever since."

"There's been no love lost."

"But, Wils, you never before talked this way--spoke out so--against
Jack," she protested.

"Well, I'm not the kind to talk behind a fellow's back. But I'm not
mealy-mouthed, either, and--and--"

He did not complete the sentence and his meaning was enigmatic.
Altogether Moore seemed not like himself. The fact disturbed Columbine.
Always she had confided in him. Here was a most complex situation--she
burned to tell him, yet somehow feared to--she felt an incomprehensible
satisfaction in his bitter reference to Jack--she seemed to realize that
she valued Wilson's friendship more than she had known, and now for some
strange reason it was slipping from her.

"We--we were such good friends--pards," said Columbine, hurriedly and
irrelevantly.

"Who?" He stared at her.

"Why, you--and me."

"Oh!" His tone softened, but there was still disapproval in his glance.
"What of that?"

"Something has happened to make me think I've missed you--lately--that's