That put a crimp in me worse than the look of her eyes, even. I stared at
her a minute, and then laughed right out. "The game's yours, Miss King,
and I take off my hat to you for hitting straight and hard," I said. "Must
the feud descend even to the second generation? Is it a fight to the
finish, and no quarter asked or given?"

I had her going then. She blushed--and when I saw the red creep into her
cheeks my heart was hardened to repentance. I'd have done it again for the
pleasure of seeing her that way.

"You are taking a good deal for granted, sir," she said, in her loftiest
tone. "We Kings scarcely consider the Carletons worthy our weapons."

"You don't, eh? Then, why did you begin it?" I wanted to know. "If you
permit me, you started the row before I spoke, even."

"I do _not_ permit you." Clearly, my lady could be haughty enough to
satisfy the most fastidious.

"Well," I sighed, "I will go my way. I'm a lover of peace, myself; but
since you proclaim war, war it must be. I'm not so ungallant as to oppose
a lady's wishes. Is that gate down there locked?"

"Figuratively, it's _always_ locked against the Carletons," she said.

"But I want to go through it _literally_," I retorted. And she just looked
at me from under those lashes, and never answered.

"Well, the air grows chill in King's Highway," I shivered mockingly. "If