her troubles, Joan wanted to be fair and give Martin the first turn,
and Martin, equally keen to prove himself the champion of badly
treated men, held himself in, in order that Joan, being a woman,
should step into the limelight. It was, of course, the male member
of the duet who began. A man's ego is naturally more aggressive than
a woman's.

"Do you know," said Martin, arranging himself in a more comfortable
attitude, "that it's over two months since I spoke to any one of
about my own age?"

Joan settled herself to listen. With the uncanny intuition that
makes women so disconcerting, she realized that she had missed her
chance and must let the boy have his head.

Not until he had unburdened his soul would she be able, she knew, to
focus his complete attention upon herself.

"Tell me about it," she said.

He gave her a grateful look. "You know the house with the kennels
over there--the hounds don't let you miss it. I've been wandering
about the place without seeing anybody since Father died."

"Oh, then, you're Martin Gray!"

"Yes."

"I was awfully sorry about your father."