now the dog that was going to bite is putting his tail between his
legs, and is ready to run away."

"Is he?" said Frank sharply, and a curiously stubborn look came into his
face. "Don't you be too sure of that. But, anyhow, I'm not going to
cross swords with you in real earnest."

"I thought so. You are afraid that I should pink you."

"Who's afraid?"

"Bah!" cried Andrew contemptuously. "You are."

"Oh, am I?" growled Frank. "Look here; I'm sure my father wouldn't like
me to fight you with swords, whether you pinked me as you call it, or I
wounded you."

"Pish! Frank Gowan, you are a poltroon."

"Perhaps so; but look here, Andrew Forbes, you've often made me want to
hit you when you've been so bounceable and patronising. Now, we were
going to see your friend to-night--"

"We are going to see my friend to-night, sir. Even if gentlemen have an
affair, they keep their words."

"If they can, and are fit to show themselves. I'm not going to that
place with you this evening, though I had got leave to go out. You can
go afterwards if you like; but if you'll come anywhere you like, where
we shan't be stopped, I'll try and show you, big as you are, that I'm
not a coward."

"Very well. I dare say we can find a place. But your sword is shorter
than mine. You must wear my other one."

"Rubbish! I'm not going to fight with swords!" cried Frank.

"What! you mean pistols?"

"I mean fists."

In Honour's Cause.

"Pah! like schoolboys or people in the mob."

"I shan't fight with anything else," said Frank stubbornly.

"You shall, sir. Now, then, name your friend."

"Can't; he wouldn't go. He's such a hot, peppery fellow too."

"Then he is as big a coward as you are."

"Look here," said Frank, almost in a whisper. "I don't know so much as
you do about what we ought to do here, but I suppose it means a lot of
trouble; and if it does I can't help it, but if you call me a coward
again I'll hit you straight in the face."

"Coward then!" cried Andrew, in a sharp whisper. "Now hit me, if you
dare."

As he spoke he drew himself up to his full height, threw out his chest,
and folded his arms behind him.

Quick as thought Frank doubled his fist, and as he drew back his arm
raised his firm white knuckles to a level with his shoulder, and then
reason checked him, and he stood looking darkly into his fellow-page's
eyes.

"I knew it," cried the latter--"a coward; and your friend is worse than
you,