ppy and very ashamed. He hoped to recover his own
self-respect by hearing his mates declare the recent affair had been
"nothing." Herbert had gone so far, indeed, as to say that he, too,
would have resented being told "must" and "mustn't" by a mere hired man,
but Leslie knew that Herbert would never have struck anybody under any
provocation; and Monty had simply remarked: "Well, if you really liked
to soil your hands that way, all right."

Alfy was the first of the girls he had interviewed, though he had
gratefully recognized Helena's compassion and Dorothy's distress--for
himself. Molly--he guessed he wouldn't question Molly. That young
person had a flippant tongue and she was always inclined to "call a
spade a spade." He couldn't imagine her calling a coward a hero--and his
own heart told him he had not been that. But Alfy was poor and intensely
grateful for all his parents were doing for her. She would be the one to
soothe his self-esteem and overlook the episode, he thought, and so he
appealed to her.

Alfy's opening remark had been:

"I can't say I think very well. You might ha' done worse, course, you
might have used that pistol I saw you cocking round, this morning, if
you'd had it handy; and that you've got no more use for than a cat for
two tails. You beat the Dutch, Leslie Ford. You're feelin' mean as
pussley and you're coaxin' me to contradict you."

Then had followed that larger "slice" of the girl's opinion, recorded
above. It hadn't left a very pleasant "taste" in the lad's "mouth."

Summons to supper was an agreeable sound, just then, and nobody referred
to the event again. Yet, as has been told, the evening was a dull one
for most of the party, the singing of the "rounds" its greatest
amusement. Just as this ended, Dr. Jones appeared to read family
prayers.

Mrs. Ford had instituted this on her arrival at San Leon, and Mr. Ford
had conducted the little service with a dignified sincerity which could
not fail to impress his young guests. On leaving, he had requested the
doctor to take his place, saying:

"No ceremony that will help to bring a blessing on our home must be
omitted just because I am away."

But, to-night, they missed the master's earnest voice and Gray Lady's
wonderful singing of just the familiar, common hymn which everybody
knew. The house-servants, and such of the ranchmen as would, filed into
the spacious music-room and took their seats in reverent quiet. This was
new business t