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'With whom； I am led to understand； we are on a footing of
rivalry？' I asked。 'Yes； I have seen her。'
'And I was just seeking her；' he replied。
I was conscious of a certain thrill of temper； so； I suppose； was
he。 We looked each other up and down。
'The situation is original；' he resumed。
'Quite；' said I。 'But let me tell you frankly you are blowing a
cold coal。 I owe you so much for your kindness to the prisoner
Champdivers。'
'Meaning that the lady's affections are more advantageously
disposed of？' he asked； with a sneer。 'Thank you； I am sure。 And；
since you have given me a lead； just hear a word of good advice in
your turn。 Is it fair； is it delicate； is it like a gentleman； to
compromise the young lady by attentions which （as you know very
well） can come to nothing？'
I was utterly unable to find words in answer。
'Excuse me if I cut this interview short；' he went on。 'It seems
to me doomed to come to nothing； and there is more attractive
metal。'
'Yes；' I replied； 'as you say； it cannot amount to much。 You are
impotent； bound hand and foot in honour。 You know me to be a man
falsely accused； and even if you did not know it； from your
position as my rival you have only the choice to stand quite still
or to be infamous。'
'I would not say that；' he returned； with another change of colour。
'I may hear it once too often。'
With which he moved off straight for where Flora was sitting amidst
her court of vapid youths； and I had no choice but to follow him； a
bad second； and reading myself； as I went； a sharp lesson on the
command of temper。
It is a strange thing how young men in their teens go down at the
mere wind of the coming of men of twenty…five and upwards！ The
vapid ones fled without thought of resistance before the Major and
me； a few dallied awhile in the neighbourhood … so to speak； with
their fingers in their mouths … but presently these also followed
the rout； and we remained face to face before Flora。 There was a
draught in that corner by the door； she had thrown her pelisse over
her bare arms and neck； and the dark fur of the trimming set them
off。 She shone by contrast； the light played on her smooth skin to
admiration； and the colour changed in her excited face。 For the
least fraction of a second she looked from one to the other of her
pair of rival swains； and seemed to hesitate。 Then she addressed
Chevenix：…
'You are coming to the Assembly； of course； Major Chevenix？' said
she。
'I fear not； I fear I shall be otherwise engaged；' he replied。
'Even the pleasure of dancing with you； Miss Flora； must give way
to duty。'
For awhile the talk ran harmlessly on the weather； and then
branched off towards the war。 It seemed to be by no one's fault；
it was in the air； and had to come。
'Good news from the scene of operations；' said the Major。
'Good news while it lasts；' I said。 'But will Miss Gilchrist tell
us her private thought upon the war？ In her admiration for the
victors； does not there mingle some pity for the vanquished？'
'Indeed； sir；' she said； with animation； 'only too much of it！ War
is a subject that I do not think should be talked of to a girl。 I
am； I have to be … what do you call it？ … a non…combatant？ And to
remind me of what others have to do and suffer： no； it is not
fair！'
'Miss Gilchrist has the tender female heart；' said Chevenix。
'Do not be too sure of that！' she cried。 'I would love to be
allowed to fight myself！'
'On which side？' I asked。
'Can you ask？' she exclaimed。 'I am a Scottish girl！'
'She is a Scottish girl！' repeated the Major； looking at me。 'And
no one grudges you her pity！'
'And I glory in every grain of it she has to spare；' said I。 'Pity
is akin to love。'
'Well； and let us put that question to Miss Gilchrist。 It is for
her to decide； and for us to bow to the decision。 Is pity； Miss
Flora； or is admiration； nearest love？'
'Oh come；' said I； 'let us be more concrete。 Lay before the lady a
complete case： describe your man； then I'll describe MINE； and Miss
Flora shall decide。'
'I think I see your meaning；' said he； 'and I'll try。 You think
that pity … and the kindred sentiments … have the greatest power
upon the heart。 I think more nobly of women。 To my view； the man
they love will first of all command their respect； he will be
steadfast … proud； if you please； dry； possibly … but of all things
steadfast。 They will look at him in doubt； at last they will see
that stern face which he presents to all the rest of the world
soften to them alone。 First； trust； I say。 It is so that a woman
loves who is worthy of heroes。'
'Your man is very ambitious； sir；' said I； 'and very much of a
hero！ Mine is a humbler； and； I would fain think； a more human
dog。 He is one with no particular trust in himself； with no
superior steadfastness to be admired for； who sees a lady's face；
who hears her voice； and； without any phrase about the matter；
falls in love。 What does he ask for； then； but pity？ … pity for
his weakness； pity for his love； which is his life。 You would make
women always the inferiors； gaping up at your imaginary lover； he；
like a marble statue； with his nose in the air！ But God has been
wiser than you； and the most steadfast of your heroes may prove
human； after all。 We appeal to the queen for judgment；' I added；
turning and bowing before Flora。
'And how shall the queen judge？' she asked。 'I must give you an
answer that is no answer at all。 〃The wind bloweth where it
listeth〃： she goes where her heart goes。'
Her face flushed as she said it； mine also； for I read in it a
declaration； and my heart swelled for joy。 But Chevenix grew pale。
'You make of life a very dreadful kind of lottery； ma'am；' said he。
'But I will not despair。 Honest and unornamental is still my
choice。'
And I must say he looked extremely handsome and very amusingly like
the marble statue with its nose in the air to which I had compared
him。
'I cannot imagine how we got upon this subject；' said Flora。
'Madame； it was through the war；' replied Chevenix。
'All roads lead to Rome；' I commented。 'What else would you expect
Mr。 Chevenix and myself to talk of？'
About this time I was conscious of a certain bustle and movement in
the room behind me； but did not pay to it that degree of attention
which perhaps would have been wise。 There came a certain change in
Flora's face； she signalled repeatedly with her fan； her eyes
appealed to me obsequiously； there could be no doubt that she
wanted something … as well as I could make out； that I should go
away and leave the field clear for my rival； which I had not the
least idea of doing。 At last she rose from her chair with
impatience。
'I think it time you were saying good…night； Mr Ducie！' she said。
I could not in the least see why； and said so。
Whereupon she gave me this appalling answer； 'My aunt is coming out
of the card…room。'
In less time than it takes to tell； I had made my bow and my
escape。 Looking back from the doorway； I was privileged to see；
for a moment； the august profile and gold eyeglasses of Miss
Gilchrist issuing from the card…room； and the sight lent me wings。
I stood not on the order of my going； and a moment after； I was on
the pavement of Castle Street； and the lighted windows shone down
on me； and were crossed by ironical shadows of those who had
remained behind。
CHAPTER XXIX … EVENTS OF TUESDAY： THE TOILS CLOSING
THIS day began with a surprise。 I found a letter on my breakfast…
table addressed to Edward Ducie； Esquire； and at first I was
startled beyond measure。 'Conscience doth make cowards of us all！'
When I had opened it； it proved to be only a note from the lawyer；
enclosing a card for the Assembly Ball on Thursday evening。
Shortly after； as I was composing my mind with a segar at one of
the windows of the sitting…room； and Rowley； having finished the
light share of work that fell to him； sat not far off tootling with
great spirit and a marked preference for the upper octave； Ronald
was suddenly shown in。 I got him a segar； drew in a chair to the
side of the fire； and installed him there … I was going to say； at
his ease； but no expression could be farther from the truth。 He
was plainly on pins and needles； did not know whether to take or to
refuse the segar； and； after he had taken it； did not know whether
to light or to return it。 I saw he had something to say； I did not
think it was his own something； and I was ready to offer a large
bet it was really something of Major Chevenix's。
'Well； and so here you are！' I observed； with pointless cordiality；
for I was bound I should do nothing t