me as you did when
we were children. I remember now----"

"_You_ did the bullying then."

"Did I? Then I'll continue."

"No, you won't; it's my turn."

"I will if I care to!"

"Try it."

"Very well. Take me to Kathleen."

"Not until I have the dances I want!"

Again their eyes met in silence. Dark little lights glimmered in hers;
his narrowed. The fixed smile died out.

"The dances _you_ want!" she repeated. "How do you propose to secure
them? By crushing my fingers or dragging me about by my hair? I want to
tell you something, Duane: these blunt, masterful men are very amusing
on the stage and in fiction, but they're not suitable to have tagging at
heel----"

"I won't do any tagging at heel," he said; "don't count on it."

"I have no inclination to count on you at all," she retorted, thoroughly
irritated.

"You will have it some day."

"Oh! Do you think so?"

"Yes.... I didn't mean to speak the way I did. Won't you give me a dance
or two?"

"No. I had no idea how horrid you could be.... I was told you were....
Now I can believe it. Take me to Kathleen; do you hear me?"

After a step or two he said, not looking at her:

"I'm really sorry, Geraldine. I'm not a brute. Something about that
fellow Dysart upset me."

"Please don't talk about it any more."

"No.... Only I _am_ glad to see you again, and I do care for your
regard."

"Then earn it," she said unevenly, as her anger subsided. "I don't know
very much about men in the world, but I know enough to understand when
they're offensive."

"Was I?"

"Yes.... Because you carried me away with a high hand, you thought it
the easiest way to take with me on every occasion.... Duane, do you
know, in some ways, we are somewhat alike? And that is why we used to
fight so."

"I believe we are," he said slowly. "But--I was never able to keep away
from you."

"Which makes our outlook rather stormy, doesn't it?" she said, turning
to him with all of her old sweet friendly manner. "_Do_ let us agree,
Duane. Mercy on us! we ought to adore each other--unless we have
forgotten the quarrelsome but adorable friendship of our childhood. _I_
thought you were the perfection of all boys."

"I thought there was no girl to equal you, Geraldine."

She turned audaciously, not quite knowing what she was saying:

"Think so now, Duane! It will be good for us both."

"Do you mean it?"

"Not--seriously," she said.... "And, Duane, please don't be too serious
with