Tristram's face. A duel
began. Duplay had readiness, suavity, volubility, a trick of flattering
deference; on Harry's side were a stronger suggestion of power and an
assumption, rather attractive, that he must be listened to. Janie liked
this air of his, even while she resented it; here, in his own county at
least, a Tristram of Blent was somebody. Bob Broadley was listening to
Iver's views on local affairs; he was not in the fight at all, but he
was covertly watching it. Perhaps Iver watched too, but it was not easy
to penetrate the thoughts of that astute man of business. The fortune of
battle seemed to incline to Harry's side; the Major was left out of the
talk for minutes together. More for fun than from any loyalty to her
kinsman, Mina rose and walked over to Harry.

"Do take me to see the greenhouses, Mr Tristram," she begged. "You're
all right with uncle, aren't you, Janie?"

Janie nodded rather nervously. After a pause of a full half-minute,
Harry Tristram rose without a word and began to walk off; it was left
for Mina to join him in a hurried little run.

"Oh, wait for me, anyhow," she cried, with a laugh.

They walked on some way in silence.

"You're not very conversational, Mr Tristram, I suppose you're angry
with me?"

He turned and looked at her. Presently he began to smile, even more
slowly, it seemed, than usual.

"I must see that my poor uncle has fair play--what do you call it?--a
fair show--mustn't I?"

"Oh, that's what you meant, Madame Zabriska? It wasn't the pleasure of
my company?"

"Do you know, I think you rather exaggerate the pleasure--no, not the
pleasure, I mean the honor--of your company? You were looking as if you
couldn't understand how anybody could want to talk to uncle when you
were there. But he's better-looking than you are, and much more
amusing."

"I don't set up for a beauty or a wit either," Harry observed, not at
all put out by the Imp's premeditated candor.

"No--and still she ought to want to talk to you! Why? Because you're Mr
Tristram, I suppose?" Mina indulged in a very scornful demeanor.

"It's very friendly of you to resent my behavior on Miss Iver's behalf."

"There you are again! That means she doesn't resent it! I think you give
yourself airs, Mr Tristram, and I should like----"

"To take me down a peg?" he asked, in a tone of rather contemptuous
amusement.

She paused a minute, and then nodded significantly.

"Exactly; and to make you feel a littl