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that—I haven’t any ‘position’ that I’m aware of, though it is true that we look at things from a slightly different angle. But I realize now that I’ve seemed to you stupid, and . . . snobbish, and priggish, preaching at you as I’ve done. But it wasn’t meant like that. Don’t you remember that first day, when you let me ride on Nigger, I told you that I knew you were kind and honest and brave? Docsn’t that include every good quality in human nature?”

“I think you told me then, too, that I was obstinate and self-willed.”

“Well, aren’t we all that?’ He did not answer, and she went on: “Why are we quarreling? Life’s too short for petty anger and bitterness, and in our hearts I believe we’re both rather fond of one another.”

“Not fond enough,” he returned.

“No, perhaps not fond enough to . . . to live out our lives together, but surely fond enough to keep some feeling of friendship and respect for one another.”

There was silence for a moment, and then he said rather gruffly:

“I’m sorry I was . . . rude. I saw you with Holmes today. And then this evening knowing that you were sitting out there with Waring———”

“But what difference can it make to you, if I do flirt with other men?”

“You say you want to think the best of me. Well, perhaps I’ve got that same feeling about you.”

“Of course if you put it like that, it doesn’t sound rude at all.”

“Let’s leave it at that then.”

This apparently constituted an armistice, for they now walked on, discussing less controversial subjects—