The Fighting Chance

ith an expressionless stare, then with a bow, quite perfunctory and non-committa

ock-eh, Blinky?" turning to Lord Alderdene; and again to Siward: "You know all these fellows-Mortimer yonder-" There was the slightest ring in his voice; and Leroy Mortimer, red-necked, bulky, and heavy eyed, emptied his glass and came over, followed by Lord Alderdene blinking madly though his shooting-goggles and showing all his teeth like a pointer with a "tic." Captain Voucher,

s, the orbits of which intersected in the social system of his native city. Indeed, the few qualified to snub him cared nothing about the matter, and it was not likely that anybody else would take t

eat beside Alderdene, who sat biting at a smoky pipe and fingering a tumbler of

," he began; "we bagged nine brace, d'you s

you're all calf and biceps, and it's well e

find native woodcock?" d

hereafter," gr

nts," retorted Ferrall amiably; "Captain Vo

sport is capital-if one ca

Siward with his unholy left barrel. Crack! and," turning to Alderdene, "it's like taking mon

in baggy tweed knickerbockers and heather-spats. Mortimer, industriously distending his skin with whiskey, reached fo

t's expression arrested the glass at his lips. He had already been using the decante

houghtfully; a tinge of colour

a trifle stiffly, feeling in every joint the result of the first day's shooting after all those

ly-all excepting one who may not have seen him-an elderly, pink, soft gentlem

er?" said Siward in a low voi

r his hand, Major Belwether meant to have it, bless your heart! And he fussed and fussed and

he temperature and texture of a newly hatched bird. It had been some time since he h

Major with an arch smile. "Now for

the moon On

Si

hound With his no

ivot-sleeve of Lord Alderdene's shooting-jacket, hooking the other in Siward's reluctant elbow, and driving Mortimer ahead of him, he went

eemed to reveal the absence of certain vocal cords requisite to perfect harmony; and Siward smiled in his listless, pleasant way, and turned off down his corridor, unaware

I forgot," said Siw

ed at him, pa

id coldly, "

th the slightest shrug. And that is all there was to the incident-an anxious, perplexed puppy lugged off by a servan

laid out for him. He felt tired and disinclined for the exertion of undressing. The shades were up; night quicksilvered the window-panes so that the

l, no courage-always putting off the battle, always avoiding concl

ulders disgustedly and got up. A bath followed; he dressed leisurely, and was pacing the

I haven't seen you since that

t?" commented Siw

any difference to Grace or to me, but

are about is how

she was cut

w thousands invading the edges, butting in-half or three-quarters inside-are the people who can't afford to overlook the victim of a

usily, thought again; then:

ers mentioned her name

callow fools who put you up to it?... Never mind if you don't care to tell. But it strikes me they

think

winging busily,

d; "they need not

ng as the Lenox takes no ac

it! what was it? Oh-could you-before dinner-now-just sit down and with tha

Mrs. Ferra

toward him, and, dipping his pen, drew carelessly a gun-shy setter dog rushing franti

over his shoulder. "There! O Lord! but you hav

oking up. But "Wait!" chuckled his host, seizi

e two or three people there-Mrs. Leroy Mortimer, very fetching with her Japanese-like colouring, black hair and eyes that slanted just enough; Rena Bonnesdel, smooth, violet-eyed, blonde, and rather stunning in a peculiar

on, pink and white as a thorn blossom, with the deuce to pay lurking in her grey eyes; Kathryn Tassel and Mrs. Vendenning whom he did not kn

d hand and laid the other above his,

th, "it's because I've a few things to scol

e I know,

. I've a letter to-ni

my m

in two! Will you give me your arm Major Belwether? Howard!"-to her cousin, Mr. Quarrier, who turned from Miss Landis to listen-"will you please try to recollect whom you are

ice. Siward turned to Sylvia Landis with the pleasure of his good fort

ping her rounded, bare arm through the arm he offered. "You can't guess what I've done to-night-nobody can guess except Grace Ferrall and one other per

aid incredulously as

, I made him take my cheque. Now you may draw another for me at your leisure, Mr. Siward. Tell me,

doesn't like

much pleasure it would give me. That is suf

that you

me. Are you trying to spoil my

e the dog, M

ed; "I had no idea

ot had held the brush. Somewhere in the vicinity Grace Ferrall had discovered a woman who supported dozens of relatives by painting that sort of thing for the summ

seeing it, when a burst of laughter from Lord Alderdene made everybody turn. Mrs. Vendenning was laughing; so was Rena Bonnesdel looking over Quarrier'

lf of the drawing and held it up amid a shout of laughter. And, to his excessive annoyance, Siward saw that, unconscious

e forced a smile; but his symmetrical fe

s apprehensively. "Mr. Quarrier dislikes that s

is own dog?" asked S

s Blinky!-that's his notion of humour. Did you ever h

along, and finally, making the circle, returned like a bad penny to Quarrier. He s

s lordship; "I didn'

sh I could," adde

d it?" ran the chor

e, handsome eyes met Siward's for the briefest fraction of a second, then were averted. But int

rapid fire of chatter she

u may imagine how likely I'd be to take any

es him-in a ver

take my word for wh

does not consider such things humourous. He-he is very sensit

didn't

ne; she has always been perfectly possessed to plague him; she seems unable to take him se

d; and for a while he gloomily busied h

way," came a low

as plainly as that?"

read you-

nice of you

ic

at me-now

resentfully, "do

t you know," he

er that interests women. But you are not grateful to anybody for anything; you are indifferent, and you can't hel

rable

ay what never will en

mean

h your own affairs, from which listlessly congenial occupation, when drawn, you ar

ndictment you draw

placed beside you at dinner; I told her I hadn't had half enough of you on the cliff. Now wh

of his own inimitable laughter as a running accompaniment to the story of Quarrier and his dog in North Carolina, until he had everybody, as usual, laughing, not

ing of chairs, a lingering word or laugh, and the colour vanished fro

sly, resumed his preprandial dog story to Captain Voucher; Belwether buttonholed Alderdene and bored him with an interminably facetious t

ps of a Southdown ram-and he's got the wits of one. Look her

, read the newspapers

s lordship unabashed. "All I meant was-a

ood. I'm not d

t reminds me of a good one-" He sat down and lighted a cigar, then, vainly attempting to control his

wit. The sycophant of the outer world seldom even awaited his first w

given place to the buck rabbit; his smooth baby-pink skin and downy white side w

nt attention and sufficient laughter to make a very respectable noise. This, being the major's cue for an exit, he rose, one sleek hand raised in sprigh

nd pattering about the room in his big,

ed the decanter, mechanically considering its

e, Cap

aid Captain Vo

e gun-room," observed Ferrall-"unle

," observed that young man,

e together, very much engaged with one another, the sealed pack lying neglec

. Mortimer were immersed in the game, alread

and watching the cards-among them Sylvia Landis, hands loosely clasped behind

y head for an instant, smiled in silence,

supposing Siward was lingering somewhere waiting to join her. And she was just a trifle surprised and dis

that moment to his hostess: "I shall be very glad

p sends for me. He has a lot of letters to attend

course," he re

t sketch you made proved a great success, d

ht Mr. Quarrier

you know, that the very sight of his pointed beard and pompad

or the stick next time," said Siwa

shoulders: "By the way"-she sai

now the very incarnation of delicate mockery with her

tell me I

sor

pretty,

sulkily; "I wis

time now-but I haven't. Kemp has business letters: he'll be furious; so I've got to take hi

alice, turned to enter the house, and met

whispered; "aren

n the starlight, divined perhaps something of her hostess' meaning,

for a moment," she

o. You a

f man," she returned

iously: "You always pick out exa

nto the hall, the hostess' arm lin

stinctively freeing her arm, her str

r-and for him." The obstinate downward trend of the brows, the narr

ng with Mr. Siw

There was

town. I know i

ably; then: "For goodness' sake, Sylvia, don't cross e

ve made him

se, and presently Mrs.

aid Sylvia quietly; "

heard that he has been foolish, and because he's so young, so likable,

f that

after Siward, generation after generation you know-" She bit her lip, thinking a moment. "His grandfather was a friend of my grand-parents, brilliant, handsome, generous, and-doomed! His own father was found dying in a dreadful resort in London where he had wandered when stupefied-a

er's gaze was upon her, but her thoughts, remot

g people, not to drop him. The gregarious may be shamed, but if anything, any incident, happens to drive him outside by himself, if he should become solitary, there's not a c

ed up: "Grace, may I as

" she answer

what you have said about this

woolgathering, and she shot a startled,

he matter of he

little sermon on the dangers of heredity-the danger of being ignorant concerning

d Mrs. Ferrall composedly. "Your unc

f my race loved they usually found the way-rather unconventionally. There was, if I understood you, enough of divorce,

lvi

first solidly suitable marriage offered-seizing the unfortunate Howard with both hands for fear he'd get away and leave me alone with only a queer family record for company! Very well! Now then,

via,

ey talk about that boy out there!" She

already broken

! For I adored him-I did! I did! and you know it. And look at my endless escapes from compromising myself! Can you count them?

owly, "you don't think Mr. Siward is g

hinted-no, not even that-but has somehow m

beside her-now very lovely and fl

rry somebody else. So why become quite so a

e him if I

O

black veil, am I?"

l your husband ought to have something to

own friends-and afterward, too," she murmured to herself, as her h

ands I'll warrant. Let me remind you that your uncle can make it unpleasant for you yet,

it clash with mine,"

n't be silly; don't for an impulse, for a caprice, break off anything desirable on account of a man for whom you really c

ndure interference from anybod

't let loose impulses that you and I know about, knew about in our school ye

ued; they'll a

es, as long as you

ling in the younger girl's cheeks, they laughe

the gun-room. Miss Landis looked after her, subdued, vaguely repentant, the consciousn

ides that I've neglected Howard shamefully!" She was walking slowly, her thoughts outstripping her errant feet, but it seemed that neither her thoughts nor he

iward, who sat alone, rather limply, one knee crossed above the other. He looked up by c

st time, she stepped across the thr

n to the rocks?" he asked

n't thin

ing a moment to t

where at sea,

ry fine-t

" he laughed; "it is an unfrien

ffs, he fell into step beside her; t

fted her skirts enough to clear the grass, heedless that her silk-shod feet were now soaking. Then at the c

eaned a trifle too far over the star-lit gulf and, r

, "no swimmer could e

t l

ere be no

t o

scinated, stirred, by the sp

e not taken matters into his own keeping without apology. Another thing; the pressure of his hand over hers remained a sensation still-a strong, steady, masterful imprint lacking hesitation or vacillation. She was as conscious of it as though her hand still tightened under his-and she was conscious, too, that not

tual danger?" sh

t was too much resp

break my neck I am to ple

don't mind," h

shoulder, walking back th

ly, "is not what I said a

y a few moments

would not leave a-a certain

man who is goin

tide of intimacy she had never dreamed of risking-nor had

grass, the stars overhead sparkling magnificen

me," he

o

r eyes were very sweet, very clear-cl

e steps a little while

ows on knees, rounded white chin in her palms, the starlight giving her bar

collectively, she began wrong by telling him of her engagement-perhaps to emphasise her pure disinterestedness in a crusade for principle only. Which naturally dampened in him any nascen

upon youthful notions of right and wrong. As she had not read very widely, she supposed that she had discovered this religion for hers

ophy she helpfully dispensed for Siward'

ssed, for the spell of her beauty counted something, and besides, he had recently formulated for himself a

y in the very middle of a plea for sweetness and light and simple

gined you we

n thinking about?" she ask

never for one i

ed yourself with supposing anything? Why indu

w, but I did

'd known me for about thre

Quarr

ad talked too much anyway. Something in her, something about her had loosened his tongue. He had made a plain ass of himself-that was all,-a garrulous ass. And truly it seemed that t

thinking!" she said in a fierce

ean?" he asked

nyway? Their friendship concerns each other and-nobody else!" She was letting herself go now; she was conscious of it, conscious that impulse and emotion were the curren

reaction from all confidences exchanged? What if that miserable French cynic did say that never was he more alone than after confessing to a friend? He di

ce she bent her face, brilliant with colour, and very

s that concern you? Is it because the confidence is one-sided? Is it because you have given and I have listened and given nothing in r

e you need of sympat

, and if you must stare through it all your life, sword in h

?" he said i

ut there are things to combat-impulses, a recklessness, perhaps something almost ruthless. What els

re in

hesitated, stopped short, leaning forward, peering at him through the dusk

ed and danced. She watched it, fascinated, then of a sudden the storm broke

ou? At myself? At my poor philosophy in shreds and tatters? Is it some infernal mir

laughing at?" he repeated. "

o, Mr. Siward. I do not desire to laugh at anyth

n't i

orant of deep, of violent emotion, when I had just in

u say all that

aughed and made me l

then?" he asked

f it, or too ignorant of it to know what I'm talking about

'm s

e y

o be anywa

ble laughter seemed to bewitch them, ho

ship between us would not be at all good for me. Things pass too swiftly-too intimately. There is too much mockery in

N

itude, the words, slackening to a trailing sweet

e said. "I suspect normal people are. You know bet

have confessed?" she asked

say-only perhaps you

wh

nalysis, f

meaning in the g

rs," he added, thinking of Quarrier. And, thinking of him, glanced up to see

of something that had a grotesque resemblance to a situation. A few minutes later they return

ippers you had better change, Mr. Siward," sh

g her standing there with Qua

had finished his business corresponde

ts you to see," he said. "Read

e kicked off his wet pumps and found dry ones. Then moved about, whistling a gay air from some recent vaude

ilaration. Even her engagement to Quarrier added a tinge of malice to his interest. Besides he was young enough to fee

or all things and anything. Add to these her few years, her beauty, and the wholesome ignorance so confidently acknowledged, what man could remain unconcerned, uninterested in the development of such

t take care of itself; meanwhile, their sudden and capricious intimacy had aroused him from the morbid reaction consequent upon the cheap notoriety whic

lish sermon which he knew had been preached at him through his mother's favourite missionary, Grace Ferrall. What was the use of dragging in the sad old questions again-of repeating his assurances of good behaviour, of reiterating his promises of moderation and watchfulness, of explaining his own self-c

in any suggestion from anybody, but rather hoping to s

ntly too preoccupied to notice him; so he strolled into the gun-room, which wa

nd five cards spread in the centre of the green explained the nature of their game; and Mortimer, raising his heavy inflamed eyes and seeing Siward unoccupied,

s dwindled or toppled within the half-hour, and Mortimer grew redder and redder, and Major Belwether blander and blander, and Alder

f Siward's presence, and an emotionless raid upon his neighbour's resources

overmanicured fingers caressing his silky beard, the symmetrical pompadour

g people hear, the annoying contempt in Quarrier's woman-like eyes. He felt that he was making a fool of himself, very noi

er for an explanation of that sneer which he found dist

d to-the careful perusal of his

indeterminate interval he fo

his blurred eyes to a focus. But he could make nothing of it-nor of his toilet either, nor of Ferrall, who came in on his way to bed having noticed the electricity still in