'* — Quite as though the Monnachins and the Massa-
womeks and all the other jaw-breakers were attacking
Fairhaven as they used to do on alternate Thursdays,
and affording both of us an excellent opportunity to get
nicely scalped in time for dinner. So I don't mind con-
fessing that it was against precisely such an emergency
I declined to turn out an elaborate suite of hair; and
now I expect the world at large to acknowledge that I
acted very sensibly."

"It is much more likely to be some drunken country-
man on his monthly spree — " I was reflecting while
Bettie talked nonsense that there had been no less than
four shots. I was wondering whom the last was for.
It would be much pleasanter, all around, if Hardress
had sent it into his own disordered brain. Yes, cer-
tainly, three bullets ought amply to account for an un-
prepared and unarmed and puny Charteris ....
So I said: "Well, I suppose my business with John
must wait for a while. Besides, Bettie, you are such a
dear in that get-up. And if you will come down into
the garden at once, I will explain a few of my reasons
for advancing the assertion."

Standing upon the porch, she patted me ever so
lightly upon the head. "What a child it is!" she said.
