"I suppose John would have a right to call me
out, Miss Warwick," said Tryon, when he had been
formally introduced and had shaken hands with
Warwick's sister, "for taking liberties with the
property and name of a lady to whom I had not
had an introduction; but I know John so well
that you seemed like an old acquaintance; and
when I saw you, and recalled your name, which
your brother had mentioned more than once, I felt
instinctively that you ought to be the queen. I
entered my name only yesterday, merely to swell
the number and make the occasion more interesting.
These fellows have been practicing for a
month, and I had no hope of winning. I should
have been satisfied, indeed, if I hadn't made
myself ridiculous; but when you dropped your
handkerchief, I felt a sudden inspiration; and as soon
as I had tied it upon my lance, victory perched
upon my saddle-bow, guided my lance and sword,
and rings and balls went down before me like chaff
before the wind. Oh, it was a great inspiration,
Miss Warwick!"

Rena, for it was our Patesville acquaintance fresh
from boarding-school, colored deeply at this frank
and fervid flattery, and could only murmur an
inarticulate reply. Her year of instruction, while
distinctly improving her mind and manners, had
scarcely prepared her for so sudden an elevation
into a grade of society to which she had hitherto