The Fighting Chance

ds to whom trays were sent, was served in the English f

n any language except his own. Which is partly why Alderdene and Voucher were there. And this British sideboard breakfast was a concession wrung from him

nted human bric-? -brac decorating halls and corners; no exotic pheasants hustled into covert and out again; no fusillade at the wr

rtunity to express to the casual foreigner his personal opinions on field sport. "You'll load your own guns and you'll use your own legs if you shoot with me; and your dogs will do

ds, and comfortably in love with his wife. And if some considered his vigour in business to be lacking in mercy, that vigour was always exercised within the law. He never transgressed the rules of war, but his headlong energy some

consuming peaches that matched her own complexion; Marion Page, always more congruous in field costume and belted jacket than in anything else, and always, like her own hunters, minutely groom

bic opinions of Miss Page. Her twin brothers, Gordon and Willis, shyly consuming oatmeal, listen

lected a chilled grape fruit as his breakfast. Opposite him Mortimer, breakfasting upon his own dreadful bracer of an apple soaked in port, raised his heavy inflamed eyes with a significant leer at the iced grape fruit. For he was always ready to make room upon hi

derdene was explaining, "is an incoming ph

nipe twist is worse," grunted Mortim

d Miss Pag

in the short pines; isn't that the

glanced out through the leaded casement

ely balanced in his gloved fingers, strolled near enough to be within ear-shot; and when Sylvia's inattention to Major Belwether's observations became marked to the verge of rudeness, he came forward and spoke. But whatever it was

he saw him on the terrace and gave him a bright nod of greeting, so close to

include Siward in an animated conference with the big, scraggy, head keeper. "You know, Mr. Siward, t

leated over gaiters and little thick-soled shoes. He had never cared very much to see women afield, for, in a rare case where there was no affectation, there was something else inborn that he found unp

g his restless setters, explaining the ceremony with which

f picnic, Miss; the guns is in pairs, sixty yards apart in line, an' the rules is, walk straight ahead, dogs to heel until first cove

that walks straight ahea

heon at one, Miss-an hour's rest-then straight on over hill, valley, rock, and river to the rondyvoo atop Osprey Ledge. You'll see the poles and the big nests, Sir. It's there

y'?" he asked, t

ou wa

ition the night before; perhaps also for Quarrier, who had naturally expected to act as her gun-bearer in emergencies. But the gaily veiled malice of the one had annoyed her, and the cold assumption of

, looking smilingly, straight into S

aw for position? Very well then"; and he drew a sl

ut to the starting line, Mr. Siward. All the positions are mark

y your gentleman ain't drawed the meadows an' S

ncing among the impatient setters, saw one white, heavily feathered dog,

, side by side, the man, the girl, and the dog were strolling off to the starting line where already people were gathering i

ly, pointing out the red disc bearing their number, seven, where

"There's only one rougher line, and you're in for thorns a

good?" as

the legs and Sylvi

noy me. And I will bet you now," she add

, laughing, "we may

, I'll wager wh

against a cigarette

a Bonnesdel, Marion Page followed by Alderdene, Mrs. Vendenning and Major Belwether and the Tassel girl convoyed by Leroy Mortimer. Farther along the line, taking post, she saw Qua

who sat her horse like a boy, the white flag lifted high in the sunsh

ent the white flag; the far-ranged line started

rk spots moving along the Fells boundary, to the two couples traversing the salt mead

"probably a snipe. Hark! he

k spots floated up from the marsh and went swinging over his head. Crack

r Stephen. Lord Harry! how that ma

d sat silent, grey eyes fixed on the distant figures of

ast night?" she as

up-stairs. When I went into his room he lay on the bed as if he'd

"it is going to alter him some

n-like M

eroy was al

igh-road Mrs. Ferrall said: "Do you know

r husband indiff

cean, grave grey eyes brightening with s

ha

orts of th

errall, looking around at he

Siward-now that you've hooked Quarrier for h

sband spurred to her side, and without turning her head she continued: "Of course Sy

expect with Howard

. "The curious thing is,

es h

ings for expressions of a cultivated personality. Then she remembered how close she came to running off with that cashiere

dled

... She may marry him-I don't know-but if you think an

's im

know what a terrific capacity for mischief there is in Sylvia. Some day she's going to love somebody. And it isn't likely to

, boyish face turned back toward him over her shoulder; "you're prese

t know why I meddled

for another woman to keep it up for the rest of his lifetime. What does Sylvia want with a man who possesses the instinc

f herself with Stephen Siward?

ou th

e wrong man; and she's already sorry for this one. I'

make someth

Mortimer; she isn't like most girls of her sort. You men think her a rather stunning, highly tempered, unreasonable young girl, with a reserve of sufficiently train

?" asked Ferrall. "That's the way

pinion about running off with Cavendish, and that boy and girl escapade with Rivington; nothing at all except high mettle, the innocent daring lurking in all thoroughbreds, and a great deal of very red blood racing through that superb young body. But," Ferrall reined in to listen, "but if ever

w," he said, amu

or her. It seemed a pity-Howard with all his cold, heavy negative inertia....

changed yo

ches of his master-vice. Would you mate what she inherits from her mother and

all dryly, "we're not in t

t to be. If they were, inherited vice wou

t inherit sm

ry weakness in everything. We pay the greatest attention to the production of all offspring except our own. L

abandon several business enterprises and take to the lecture platform, I'm afraid people are going to be wicked enough to marry whom they like, and the huma

ear grey eyes and met her husband's gaze, gay, humourous, and with

I'm righ

ave the world off our hands for

, grave, thoughtful, preoccupied with a new prob

gic mothers use with children. And Sylvia lay there, chilled, nerveless, silent, ignorant why her sleeplessness had turned to restlessness, to loneliness, to an awakening perception of what she lacked and needed and began to desire. For that sad void, peopled at intervals through her brief years with a vague mother-

and the whispered reassurance and the caress she had never before endured. Yes, now she craved

her shoulders, caught her in her arms with a little laugh and sob and drew her to her breast, to soo

ashamed, barely enough to shadow forth the something stirring her toward an awakening in a new world, where with new eyes she

possibilities before her; of the man she was to marry, and her new and unexpected

d thereafter the murmured burden of the theme was Siward, until one, heavy eyed, turned from the white dawn silvering the windows, sighed, and fell asleep; and one lay silent, head half buried in its tangled gold, wide awake, think

had Mrs. Ferrall

naturally lavish; for the first time had she attempted confidences, failing because

Through the early slanting sunlight the elder woman, leaning on one arm, looked down at her, grey eyes very grave and tender-wise, sweet e

s to convey it. There was nothing he need understand exce

saddle with a pretty g

need me may come to me. Now l

're going to stand back and let this abando

epent. The mischief t

Come on

ou suppose Stephen Siward

? Nonsense! All's well with Siwa

their score, and were now advancing through that dimly lit enchanted land of tall grey alders where, in the sudden twilight of the leaves, woodcock after woodco

thers in his mouth. Siward took the dead cock, passed it back to the keeper who f

e," he said to Sylvia-"that is,

twittering whirr takes me by surprise-it's all so charmingly sudden-and my heart seems to sto

his ground ahead, had stopped, rigid, one leg

y he is-like a statue in white and blue-veined marble. You may talk, Miss

don't do something!" whispered the girl. "Look, Mr. Siw

ground," nodded Siward; "

on the ground," she breathed. "Do

adowy browns and greys of wet earth and withered leaf. And after a while, cautiously, h

arm," he said, "as though

is shoulder; a stray strand of

e dead leaves. Do you see?... Don't you see that big woodcock sq

and an exquisite little shock tightene

k and stare, seeing it all the while and not knowing that you see it. Then in a flash it is there, motionless

won't s

ht I sit here a mo

g the dead leaves; he sank into pla

the dog," he sa

Siward to do this for my pleasure. Oh

e sudden pigmy defiance thrilled her. "Brave! Brave!" she exclaimed, enraptured; but at the sound of her v

his bill points," s

a twittering shower of sweet notes, soft wings beating almost in their

llow of his left arm, he turned to the girl besid

e, Mr. Siward,-my very

that and the Shotover Cup,"

you me

e I do, v

the price of a cup is the life of that brave little bird, I had

at the traps once, just after she had killed her seventh pigeon straight, 'pulling it down' from overhead, you know-very clever-the little thing

didn't love her any more, M

Crack! Crack! Whirling over and over through a cloud of floating feathers, a heavy weight struck the springy earth. There lay the b

n and tossed the dead weight of ruffled plumage toward him. Then he broke his gun, and, as the empty shells flew rattling backwar

rl in a low voice. "I wonder what your c

k to the traps," he assent

id thoughtfully, "what I

flying-tick, wet nests or mink, owl, hawk, weasel or man. But the death man deals is

rd. I am asking you whether the death men deal i

there can be only one answer to the mystery

d

n," he said,

before them. She moved forward, light gun swung easily across her leather-padded shoulder; and on the wood's s

little," he said, coming up

? No, Mr.

silence, then leaned back luxuriously, rounded

gly new to me,"

Not the

nd the champagne inadequately chilled. I have endured that sort of hardship sever

t us? Look at Sagamore nosing the air in that droll blind mole-like way. He knows

ed, cautiously; a fluffy ringed tail unfolded; the rounded furry back humped up, and the animal

ed somewhere deep in the yellowing woods; black-capped c

the wild laws of life and death governing the great out-world 'twixt sky and earth. Sunlight and shadows moving, speech and silence, waxed and waned. A listless contentment l

he 'Lesser Children'?"

itudes, under the

thers of our

ut my head a

nd thous

es not even ra

ven, hiding, fl

and saw the

me as nothing

now what

ries of song t

ed long m

stand?" she a

seen in the hi

wer, was

plea for mercy on the lesser children who die all day to-d

sermon?" he inqu

or the prosecution. The prisone

said. "The prisoner move

," she interru

holding a noisy session, and she told him tha

rse," she continued. "I wonde

to you," he s

tenced you to

I'd a

the tribunal o

self upon the me

do you care for bird murder? Very much? Is there anything you care

enge of her gaze: "The court is incompetent to c

Mr. Si

f is already compromised

my-engagemen

ving me of my shooting. There could

she asked, c

inual comp

ave it, Mr

. The season lasts t

continuous vaudeville for thr

rtl

h those many days of murder?" she

e doubly empty," he said so seriously tha

tter be about that matter of the cup you prize so highly. Are you ready

allenge had aroused him, and he ma

if you insist on taking away-" he turned and looked about him throug

ve nothing in exchange to offer...

say so,"

he court is already engaged

emind you?" he asked w

utiful hostile eyes. "What do you mean, Mr. Siward? Are you taking

ely that a flash of resentment brought h

we to go?" she

ward, the dog ranging ahead through a dense growth of beech and chestnut, over a high brown ridge, then down, al

are going to obey instructions and go straight

d up his hip boots, and pointed out a line of a

o wade?" asked t

n I seen Miss Page go through it like a scared deer-the young lady, sir, that took last season's

e laugh between them. She stepped daintily across the stones to

d chair you over,

air-under

ong as you go straig

a chair with their hands, and, bearing the girl between them, they

in the sun; a diver, distantly afloat among the lily pads, settled under th

his thighs; then the faint pressure relaxed as they thrashed shoreward through the

the sun, shaking the drops from water-proof breeches and gaiters, o

mpt for my sporting accomplishments has not decreased. I'm sorry;

s the shallows: "Miles, you may carry m

ir quivered under the winnowing rush of heavy wings. Siward flung up his gun, heading a big quartering bird; steadily the glittering barrels swept in the arc of fire, hesitated

ilenced in the gusty thunder of heavy wings, began beating too fast. For the ringing crack of a gun shot could have spoken no louder to her than the glittering silence of the suspended barrels; n

nloading the weapon, scarcely understandin

d across the uplands, and agains

said Siward. "I believe we lu

c, recounting adventure by flood and field; Rena Bonnesdel tired and frankly bored and decorated with more than her share of mud; E

ess-like question or two, then went over to inspect their b

ike Coney Island, but Rena's guide says the ferns are full of rabbits that way, and Major Belwether can't hit fur afoot. You," she added frankly to Siw

"I don't believe I shall shoot very steadily this afternoon," he said, turning

r knew." And she raised her glass to him, frankly, and emptied it wit

er Cup-if you wish it." And as other glasses sparkled aloft amid a gay tumult of voices wishing him success, Sylvia dropped her voi

to the noisy generous toasts; he turned and looked at Sylvia when

a phrase to end it in good taste. And, in the little gust of hand-clapping and laughter, he turned again to S

nearer: "You mean that

es

not fai

y n

use I do not

now that I kn

ard, I-m

at them, and there was a hint of amused surprise in Eileen Shannon

cool certainty vaguely irritated Sylvia, who had never liked her. Besides, the girl sho

ps in his khaki vest, "what do you call fair shooting at these

shooting," answered Siward. "

said Marion Page with a hostile glanc

mmer in hard wood or short pines." He smiled to himself, adding: "A drove o

at once. "It was pitiable," she nodded gravely to Marion; "

nced at her i

like the chasseurs of T

er my hat, monsi

ructing his crestfallen lordship very plainly: "You fire too quickly, Blinky; two seconds is

ndshake with Siward; the twins followed, convoying Eileen and Rena, neither maiden excitedly enthusiastic. And so the luncheon party, lord and lady, twins and maidens, guides and dogs, trailed away across the ridge, distant silhouettes pre

edge of the thicket; Miles resumed his game sack and her fow

side her into the dappl

twice the whirring twitter of woodcock start

ardon,

" with a gli

. Siward. Both marked down forty yard to

ntly, "I had my chance

d and froze, and Siward, far to left, wheeled at the muffled and almost noiseless rise. For an instant the slanting barrels wavered, grew motionless; but only a stray sunbeam glinting struck a flash of cold fire from the muzzle, only the feathery whirring whisper bro

iward aloud, "

leaves, the dappled sunshine playing o

things happen. I'm all in. Come over her

fited keep

nt luminary to scintilate

ir

How do I

Cup is easy yours, sir!" eagerly; "Wot's a miss on a old drummer, Mr. Siward? Wot's twice over-shootin' coc

absent glance at the dog, and moti

lready a trifle tired. Twigs will do in short cover; use a

d started, Siward, unlocking his gun, drew out

metallic click of the locked b

do this, M

eally I am hones

not be b

he said, too seriou

," in quick

es

your amusements c

so gaily that a reluctant

le-if you don't feel as I do about killing thi

iece cradled in his left arm. "Shall we sit here a

im; his vague smile w

art for Osprey Ledge," she suggested; "otherwise, what r

on-she leaned against the tree beside which he stood. And

leaves are dry e

rs which might, if discussed, give her at least the privilege of yielding. However, to discuss a triviality meant forcing emphasis where none was necessary. She seated h

ance a little," he said,

s count on you for civil platitudes wh

ount on stirring

ap yourself in a brown study, leaving everybody outside to consider the pointed flattery of your withdr

indefinable charm of breeding in voice and attitude, something now was lacking. And after a moment she concluded that it was his attention. Certain

time, her eyes returning always to the beauty of the subdued light where all about them silver-ste

her breath. "Surely an enchant

bserved, "u

u are the dreamer here. Your eyes are full

en the little, restless hand swept near to his, almost touching it; and then instinctively he took it in his own, curiously, lifting it a little to consider its nearer loveliness. Perhaps it was the unexpectedness of it, perhaps it was sheer amazement that left her hand lying idly relaxed like a white petalled blossom in his.

the contact disconcerted her; she withdr

no chance?

question at first escaped her; then, like its own echo, came

chance for me

n anger came, quick and hot; then pride. She deliberated, choosi

ance. Can you

? For what?"-very

r y

sudden ringing confusion seemed to deafen her, throug

chance ask for it sometimes-

of bright colour; the blue of her

y distinctly and slowly, "I

desperate indeed,"

imagine-" Her

g under his tan. "I supposed women dismisse

ute she strove

-stricken contrition; "I didn't mean that, Mr. Siward! I-I never thought of that! It had no weight, it was not in my thoughts. I meant

f why I risk everything to say this

ave I ever-" she began trembl

N

e I

ming about when you asked me. I was afraid I might do this too

ready decided. Why will you take what I say so dreadfully different from the way I intend it? Listen to me. I-I believe I am not very ex

ably soon-never without some preliminary of some sort, so that I could foresee, be more or less prepared.... But you gave me no warning. I-if you had, I would have k

y studying the sun spots glowing, waxing, wan

ment of your sincerity; it is rather nice to be a girl who can awaken the romance in a man within a day or two's acquaintance.... And that is all it is-a romantic impul

sidering her, forcing t

riends than ever," sh

tter tha

bilities now, Mr. Siward. I shall expect you to spend the greater part of your life in devotedly doing things for

nod

eet, flushed, smili

re we the very ideals

ery id

out both gloveless hands. He held them, she

hout malice?

out m

afterth

afterth

content?" p

se not,"

t you m

he repeated

u are!

ake me unhappy not

or-do you desire

e golden light. She might easily have brought the matter to an end; and why she did

ghing uncertainly back into

y w

u are co

can

t is unkind, i

t; I am t

turning her left hand in his so that the

see

d y

d y

th composure, "is sheer

id it was: a hop

unnerving her-yet she made no motion to withdraw her hands. "How can you

ly lik

ossible!" with a twist

to you?" he asked

toward him and he caught her. An instant, a minute-more, perhaps, she did not know-she half lay in his arms, her untaught lips cold against his. Lassitude, fa

to breathe, to summon strength and common-sense, find out what had been done, what reasonless madness she

d without the disproportion of emotional exaggeration. After all, she had only been kissed. Besides she was a novice, which probably accounted, in a measure, for the unreasonable emotion coincident with a caress to which she was unaccustomed. Without looking up at him she found herself saying coolly enough to surprise herself: "I never supposed I was capable of that.

of this irresolute young man who stood so silently considering her. Strange that she should be ashamed of her own innocence, willing that he believe her accomplished in such arts, enchanted that he no longer perhaps suspected genuine emotion in the swift, confused sweetness of her first kiss. If only all that were truly hidden from him, if he dare not in his heart convict her of any

said, laughing and studying him, cert

ghtly?" he asked,

You don't expect to marry

up at that, gri

asons, you know-reasons for any girl to marry the man I am going to marry. Does my cynicism shock you? What am I to do?" with a shrug. "Such marriages are reasonable, and far likelier to be agreeable than when fancy is the sole motive-certainly far more a

y walked on, side by side, through the fading sp

houette against the sky. And beyond him they saw the poles crowned with the

; and she looked away suddenly, lest he read her ere she had dared turn the first page in the book of self-ere she had studied, pried, probed among the pages of a new chapter whose familiar title, so long meaningless to her, had taken o