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〃Oh；　I　don't　　mean　that；〃　said　Peter。　〃I　only　meant　I　only　meantoh；　well；　it　was　nothing…really。〃

〃　It　must　have　been　about　something；〃　continued　Marjory。　She　continued；　because　Peter　had　denied　that　she　was　concerned　in　it。　〃　Whose　fault　？　〃

〃I　really　don't　know。　It　was　all　rather　confusing；〃　lied　Peter；　tranquilly。

Coleman　and　the　professor　decided　to　accept　a　plan　of　the　correspondent's　dragoman　to　start　soon　on　the　first　stage　of　the　journey　to　Athens。　The　dragoman　had　said　that　he　had　found　two　large　carriages　rentable。

Coke；　the　outcast；　walked　alone　in　the　narrow　streets。　The　flight　of　the　crown　prince's　army　from　Larissa　had　just　been　announced　in　Arta；　but　Coke　was　probably　the　most　woebegone　object　on　the　Greek　peninsula。

He　encountered　a　strange　sight　on　the　streets。　A　woman　garbed　in　the　style　for　walking　of　an　afternoon　on　upper　Broadway　was　approaching　him　through　a　mass　of　kilted　mountaineers　and　soldiers　in　soiled　overcoats。　Of　course　he　recognised　Nora　Black。

In　his　conviction　that　everybody　in　the　world　was　at　this　time　considering　him　a　mere　worm；　he　was　sure　that　she　would　not　heed　him。　Beyond　that　he　had　been　presented　to　her　notice　in　but　a　transient　and　cursory　fashion。　But　contrary　to　his　conviction；　she　turned　a　radiant　smile　upon　him。　〃　Oh；〃　she　said；　brusquely；　〃　you　are　one　of　the　students。　Good　morning。〃　In　her　manner　was　all　the　confidence　of　an　old　warrior；　a　veteran；　who　addresses　the　universe　with　assurance　because　of　his　past　battles。

Coke　grinned　at　this　strange　greeting。　〃　Yes；　Miss　Black；〃　he　answered；　〃　I　am　one　of　the　students。〃

She　did　not　seem　to　quite　know　how　to　formulate　her　next　speech。　〃　Er…I　suppose　you're　going　to　Athens　at　once　〃　You　must　be　glad　after　your　horrid　experiences。〃

〃　I　believe　they　are　going　to　start　for　Athens　today；〃　said　Coke。

Nora　was　all　attention。　　〃'They　？'〃　she　repeated。　〃Aren't　you　going　with　them？　〃

〃　Well；〃　he　said；　〃　*　*　Well…〃

She　saw　of　course　that　there　had　been　some　kind　of　trouble。　She　laughed。　〃　You　look　as　if　somebody　had　kicked　you　down　stairs；〃　she　said；　candidly。　She　at　once　assumed　an　intimate　manner　toward　him　which　was　like　a　temporary　motherhood。　〃　Come；　walk　with　me　and　tell　me　all　about　it。〃　There　was　in　her　tone　a　most　artistic　suggestion　that　whatever　had　happened　she　was　on　his　side。　He　was　not　loath。　The　street　was　full　of　soldiers　whose　tongues　clattered　so　loudly　that　the　two　foreigners　might　have　been　wandering　in　a　great　cave　of　the　winds。　〃　Well；　what　was　the　row　about　？　〃　asked　Nora。　〃　And　who　was　in　it？　〃

It　would　have　been　no　solace　to　Coke　to　pour　out　his　tale　even　if　it　had　been　a　story　that　he　could　have　told　Nora。　He　was　not　stopped　by　the　fact　that　he　had　gotten　himself　in　the　quarrel　because　he　had　insulted　the　name　of　the　girt　at　his　side。　He　did　not　think　of　it　at　that　time。　The　whole　thing　was　now　extremely　vague　in　outline　to　him　and　he　only　had　a　dull　feeling　of　misery　and　loneliness。　He　wanted　her　to　cheer　him。

Nora　laughed　again。　〃　Why；　you're　a　regular　little　kid。　Do　you　mean　to　say　you've　come　out　here　sulking　alone　because　of　some　nursery　quarrel？　〃　He　was　ruffled　by　her　manner。　It　did　not　contain　the　cheering　he　required。　〃　Oh；　I　don't　know　that　I'm　such　a　regular　little　kid；〃　he　said；　sullenly。　〃　The　quarrel　was　not　a　nursery　quarrel。〃

〃Why　don't　you　challenge　him　to　a　duel？　〃　asked　Nora；　suddenly。　She　was　watching　him　closely。

〃　Who？〃　said　Coke。

〃　Coleman；　you　stupid；〃　answered　Nora。

They　stared　at　each　other；　Coke　paying　her　first　the　tribute　of　astonishment　and　then　the　tribute　of　admiration。　〃Why；　how　did　you　guess　that？〃　he　demanded。

〃　Oh；〃　said　Nora。；　〃　I've　known　Rufus　Coleman　for　years；　and　he　is　always　rowing　with　people。〃

〃That　is　just　it；〃　cried　Coke　eagerly。　〃That　is　just　it。　I　fairly　hate　the　man。　Almost　all　of　the　other　fellows　　will　stand　his　abuse；　but　it　riles　me；　I　tell　you。　I　think　he　is　a　beast。　And；　of　course；　if　you　seriously　meant　what　you　said　about　challenging　him　to　a　duelI　mean　if　there　is　any　sense　in　that　sort　of　thing…I　would　challenge　Coleman。　I　swear　I　would。　I　think　he's　a　great　bluffer；　anyhow。　Shouldn't　wonder　if　he　would　back　out。　Really；　I　shouldn't。

Nora　smiled　humourously　at　a　house　on　her　side　of　the　narrow　way。　〃I　wouldn't　wonder　if　he　did　either　〃　she　answered。　After　a　time　she　said　〃　Well；　do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　have　definitely　shaken　them？　Aren't　you　going　back　to　Athens　with　them　or　anything？　〃

〃　I…I　don't　see　how　I　can；〃　he　said；　morosely。

〃　Oh；〃　she　said。　She　reflected　for　a　time。　At　last　she　turned　to　him　archly　and　asked：　〃Some　words　over　a　lady？〃

Coke　looked　at　her　blankly。　He　suddenly　remembered　the　horrible　facts。　〃　No…no…not　over　a　lady。〃

〃　My　dear　boy；　you　are　a　liar；〃　said　Nora；　freely。　〃You　are　a　little　unskilful　liar。　It　was　some　words　over　a　lady；　and　the　lady's　name　is　Marjory　Wainwright。〃

Coke　felt　as　though　he　had　suddenly　been　let　out　of　a　cell；　but　he　continued　a　mechanical　denial。　〃No；　no　*　*　It　wasn't　truly　*　*　upon　my　word　*　*　〃

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Nora。　〃　I　know　better。　Don't　you　think　you　can　fool　me；　you　little　cub。　I　know　you're　in　love　with　Marjory　Wainwright；　and　you　think　Coleman　is　your　rival。　What　a　blockhead　you　are。　Can't　you　understand　that　people　see　these　things？〃

〃　Well…〃　stammered　Coke。

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Nora　again。　〃Don't　try　to　fool　me；　you　may　as　well　understand　that　it's　useless。　I　am　too　wise。〃

〃　Well…〃　stammered　Coke。

〃　Go　ahead；〃　urged　Nora。　〃　Tell　me　about　it。　Have　it　out。〃

He　began　with　great　importance　and　solemnity。　〃Now；　to　tell　you　the　truth　*　*　that　is　why　I　hate　him　*　*　I　hate　him　like　anything。　*　*　I　can't　see　why　everybody　admires　him　so。　I　don't　see　anything　to　him　myself。　I　don't　believe　he's　got　any　more　principle　than　a　wolf。　I　wouldn't　trust　him　with　two　dollars。　Why；　I　know　stories　about　him　that　would　make　your　hair　curl。　When　I　think　of　a　girl　like　Marjory　〃

His　speech　had　become　a　torrent。　But　here　Nora　raised　her　hand。　〃　Oh！　Oh！　Oh！　That　will　do。　That　will　do。　Don't　lose　your　senses。　I　don't　see　why　this　girl　Marjory　is　any　too　good。　She　is　no　chicken；　I'll　bet。　Don't　let　yourself　get　fooled　with　that　sort　of　thing。〃

Coke　was　unaware　of　his　incautious　expressions。　He　floundered　on。　while　Nora　looked　at　him　as　if　she　wanted　to　wring　his　neck。　〃　No…she's　too　fine　and　too　good…for　him　or　anybody　like　him…she's　too　fine　and　too　good…〃

〃　Aw；　rats；〃　interrupted　Nora；　furiously。　〃You　make　me　tired。〃

Coke　had　a　wooden…headed　conviction　that　he　must　make　Nora　understand　Marjory's　infinite　superiority　to　all　others　of　her　sex；　and　so　he　passed　into　a　　pariegyric；　each　word　of　which　was　a　hot　coal　to　the　girl　addressed。　Nothing　would　stop　him；　apparently。　He　even　made　the　most　stupid　repetitions。　Nora　finally　stamped　her　foot　formidably。　〃Will　you　stop？　Will　you　stop　？　〃　she　said　through　her　clenched　teeth。　〃　Do　you　think　I　want　to　listen　to　your　everlasting　twaddle　about　her？　Why；　she's…she's　no　better　than　other　people；　you　ignorant　little　mamma's　boy。　She's　no　better　than　other　people；　you　swab！　〃

Coke　looked　at　her　with　the　eyes　of　a　fish。　He　did　not　understand。　〃But　she　is　better　than　other　people；〃　he　persisted。

Nora　seemed　to　decide　suddenly　that　there　would　be　no　accomplishment　in　flying　desperately　against　this　rock…walled　conviction。　〃　Oh；　well；〃　she　said；　with　marvellous　good　nature；　〃　perhaps　you　are　right；　numbskull。　But；　look　here；　do　you　think　she　cares　for　him？〃　

In　his　heart；　his　jealous　heart；　he　believed　that　Marjory　loved　Coleman；　but　he　reiterated　eternally　to　himself　that　it　was　not　true。　As　for　speaking　it　to；　another；　that　was　out　of　the　question。　〃　No；〃　he　said；　stoutly；　〃　she　doesn't　care　a　snap　for　him。〃　If　he　had　admitted　it；　it　would　have　seemed　to　him　that。　he　was　somehow　advancing　Coleman's　chances。

〃'Oh；　she　doesn't；　eh　？〃　said　Nora　enigmatically。

〃She　doesn't？〃　He　studied　her　face　with　an　abrupt；　miserable　suspicion；　but　he　repeated　doggedly：　〃　No；　she　doesn't。〃

〃Ahem；〃　replied　Nora。　〃　Why；　she's　set　her　cap　for　him　all　right。　She's　after　him　for　certain。　It's　as　plain　as　day。　Can't　you　see　that；　stupidity　？〃

〃No；〃　he　said　hoarsely。

〃You　are　a　fool；〃　said　Nora。　〃　It　isn't　Coleman　that's　after　her。　It　is　she　that　is　after　Coleman。〃

Coke　was　mulish。　〃　No　such　thing。　Coleman's　crazy　about　her。　Everybody　has　known　it　ever　since　he　was　in　college。　You　ask　any　of　the　other　fellows。〃

Nora　was　now　very　serious；　almost　doleful。　She　remained　still　for　a　time；　casting　at　Coke　little　glances　of　hatred。　〃　I　don't　see　my　way　clear　to　ask　any　of　the　other　fellows；〃　she　said　at　last；　with　considerable　bitterness。　〃　I'm　not　in　the　habit　of　conducting　such　enquiries。〃

Coke　felt　now　that　he　disliked　her；　and　he　read　plainly　her　dislike　of　him。　If　they　were　the　two　villains　of　the　play；　they　were　not　having　fun　together　at　all。　　Each　had　some　kind　of　a　deep　knowledge　that　their　aspirations；　far　from　colliding；　were　of　such　character　　that　the　success　of　one　would　mean　at　least　assistance　to　the　other；　but　neither　could　see　how　to　confess　if。　Pethapt　it　was　from　shame；　perhaps　it　was　because　Nora　thought　Coke　to　have　little　wit　；　perhaps　it　was　because　Coke　thought　Nora　t