Square-toes"
(looking at me and stifling a yawn), "it is one of my diversions in this
very dreary spot to toast you and your master at the fire like
chestnuts. I have great pleasure in your case, for I observe the
nickname (rustic as it is) has always the power to make you writhe. But
sometimes I have more trouble with this dear fellow here, who seems to
have gone to sleep upon his cards.--Do you not see the applicability of
the epithet I have just explained, dear Henry? Let me show you. For
instance, with all those solid qualities which I delight to recognise in
you, I never knew a woman who did not prefer me--nor, I think," he
continued, with the most silken deliberation, "I think--who did not
continue to prefer me."

Mr. Henry laid down his cards. He rose to his feet very softly, and
seemed all the while like a person in deep thought. "You coward!" he
said gently, as if to himself. And then, with neither hurry nor any
particular violence, he struck the Master in the mouth.

The Master sprang to his feet like one transfigured; I had never seen
the man so beautiful. "A blow!" he cried. "I would not take a blow from
God Almighty!"

"Lower your voice," said Mr. Henry. "Do you wish my father to interfere
for you again?"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," I cried, and sought to come between them.

The Master caught me by the shoulder, held me at arm's length, and still
addressing his brother: "Do you know what this means?" said he.

"It was the most deliberate act of my life," says Mr. Henry.

"I must have blood, I must have blood for this," says the Master.

"Please God it shall be yours," said Mr. Henry; and he went to the wall
and took down a pair of swords that hung there with others, naked. These
he presented to the Master by the points. "Mackellar shall see us play
fair," said Mr. Henry. "I think it very needful."

"You need insult me no more," said the Master, taking one of the swords
at random. "I have hated you all my life."

"My father is but newly gone to bed," said Mr. Henry. "We must go
somewhere forth of the house."

"There is an excellent place in the long shrubbery," said the Master.

"Gentlemen," said I, "shame upon you both! Sons of the same mother,
would you turn against the life she gave you?"

"Even so, Mackellar," said Mr. Henry, with the same perfect quietude of
manner he had shown throughout.

"It is what I will prevent," said I.

And now here is a blot upon my life. At these words of mine t