The demon Cardigan halted beside Shirley and stood gazing down at
her. He was smiling at her whimsically. She met his glance for a few
seconds; then her lids were lowered and she bit her lip with
vexation.
"Shirley," he said.
"You are presumptuous," she quavered.
"You set me an example in presumption," he retorted good humouredly.
"Did you not call ME by MY first name a minute ago?" He glanced
toward Colonel Pennington and observed the latter with his neck
craned across his protecting stump. He was all ears. Bryce pointed
sternly across the clearing, and the Colonel promptly abandoned his
refuge and retreated hastily in the direction indicated.
The heir to Cardigan's Redwoods bent over the girl. "You spoke to me
--after your promise not to, Shirley," he said gently. "You will
always speak to me."
She commenced to cry softly. "I loathe you," she sobbed.
"For you I have the utmost respect and admiration," he replied.
"No, you haven't. If you had, you wouldn't hurt my uncle--the only
human being in all this world who is dear to me."
"Gosh!" he murmured plaintively. "I'm jealous of that man. However,
I'm sorry I hurt him. He is no longer young, while I--well, I forgot
the chivalry my daddy taught me. I give you my word I came here to
fight fairly--"
"He merely tried to stop you from fighting.
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