have
most awful manners. She wants Mamma to send me over to England to her
school. But I don't want to go, you bet. Besides, I don't think Dad can
afford it so they can't send me. Anyway, I could have good manners if
I wanted to. I could act just like Adrien if I wanted to--I mean, for a
while. But that was a real game. I felt sorry for Rupert, a little. You
see, he didn't seem to know what to do or how to begin. And you looked
so terrible! Now in the game with Cousin Sidney you were so different,
and you played so awfully well, too, but differently. Somehow, it was
just like gentlemen playing, you know--"

"You have hit it, Patsy,--a regular bull!" said Captain Jack.

"Oh, I don't mean--" began the girl in confusion, rare with her.

"Yes, you do, Pat. Stick to your guns."

"Well, I will. The first game everybody loved to watch. The second
game--somehow it made me wish Rupert had been a Hun. I'd have loved it
then."

"By Jove, Patsy, you're right on the target. You've scored again."

"Oh, I'm not saying just what I want--but I hope you know what I mean."

"Your meaning hits me right in the eye. And you are quite right.
The tennis court is no place for a fight, eh? And, after all, Rupert
Stillwell is no Hun."

"But you haven't been playing this summer at all, Captain Jack," said
the girl, changing the subject. "Why not?" The girl's tone was quite
severe. "And you don't do a lot of things you used to do, and you don't
go to places, and you are different." The blue eyes earnestly searched
his face.

"Am I different?" he asked slowly. "Well, everybody is different. And
then, you know, I am busy. A business man has his hours and he must
stick to them."

"Oh, I don't believe you a bit. You don't need to be down at the mills
all the time. Look at Rupert. He doesn't need to be at his father's
office."

"Apparently not."

"He gets off whenever he wants to."

"Looks like it."

"And why can't you?"

"Well, you see, I am not Rupert," said Captain Jack, grinning at her.

"Now you are horrible. Why don't you do as you used to do? You know you
could if you wanted to."

"Yes, I suppose, if I wanted to," said Captain Jack, suddenly grave.

"You don't want to," said the girl, quick to catch his mood.

"Well, you know, Patsy dear, things are different, and I suppose I am
too. I don't care much for a lot of things."

"You just look as if you didn't care for anything or anybody sometimes,
Captain Jack," said Patri