n fighting.

Iberville sat at the governor's end, Gering at the other. It was noticed
by Iberville that Gering's eyes were much on Jessica, and in the spirit
of rivalry, the legitimate growth of race and habit, he began to speak
to her with the air of easy but deliberate playfulness which marked
their first meeting.

Presently she spoke across the table to him, after Colonel Nicholls had
pledged him heartily over wine. The tone was a half whisper as of awe,
in reality a pretty mockery. "Tell me," she said, "what is the bravest
and greatest thing you ever did?"

"Jessica, Jessica!" said the governor in reproof. An old Dutch burgher
laughed into his hand, and His Majesty's officers cocked their ears, for
the whisper was more arresting than any loud talk. Iberville coloured,
but the flush passed quickly and left him unembarrassed. He was not
hurt, not even piqued, for he felt well used to her dainty raillery. But
he saw that Gering's eyes were on him, and the lull that fell as by a
common instinct--for all could not have heard the question--gave him a
thrill of timidity. But, smiling, he said drily across the table, his
voice quiet and clear: "My bravest and greatest thing was to answer an
English lady's wit in English."

A murmur of applause ran round, and Jessica laughed and clapped her
hands. For the first time in his life Gering had a pang of jealousy and
envy. Only that afternoon he had spent a happy hour with Jessica in
the governor's garden, and he had then made an advance upon the
simple relations of their life in Boston. She had met him without
self-consciousness, persisting in her old ways, and showing only when
she left him, and then for a breath, that she saw his new attitude. Now
the eyes of the two men met, and Gering's dark face flushed and his brow
lowered. Perhaps no one saw but Iberville, but he, seeing, felt a sudden
desire to play upon the other's weakness. He was too good a sportsman to
show temper in a game; he had suddenly come to the knowledge that love,
too, is a game, and needs playing. By this time the dinner was drawing
to its close and now a singular thing happened. As Jessica, with demure
amusement, listened to the talk that followed Iberville's sally, she
chanced to lift her eyes to a window. She started, changed colour,
and gave a little cry. The governor's hand covered hers at once as he
followed her look. It was a summer's night and the curtained windows
were partly open. Iberville not