could not hold back.

Mary's eyes shot fire, and she stamped her foot, exclaiming: "Sir,
this goes beyond all bounds; I will not tolerate your boldness another
moment." I thought she was going to dismiss him, but she did not. The
time had come when he or she must be the master.

It was a battle royal between the forces on the floor, and I enjoyed
it and felt that Brandon would come out all right.

He said good-humoredly: "What, shall you have all the laugh in your
sleeve at my expense? Do you expect to bring me here to win a wager
for you, made on the assumption of my stupidity and lack of social
accomplishments, and then complain when it comes my turn to laugh? I
think I am the one who should be offended, but you see I am not."

"Caskoden, did you tell him?" demanded Mary, evidently referring to
the wager.

"He said not a word of it," broke in Brandon, answering for me; "I
should have been a dullard, indeed, not to have seen it myself after
what you said about the loss of your ten crowns; so let us cry quits
and begin again."

Mary reluctantly struck her flag.

"Very well, I am willing," she said laughingly; "but as to your
boldness, I still insist upon that; I forgive you, however, this
time." Then, half apologetically, "After all, it is not such a
grievous charge to make. I believe it never yet injured any man with