Who
could have imagined that little Daisy Holroyd would have grown up
into this bewildering young lady? It was really too bad. Presently the
professor retired to his room, carrying with him an armful of drawings,
and bidding us not to sit up late. When he closed his door Miss Holroyd
turned to me. "Papa will work over those drawings until midnight," she said, with a
despairing smile. "It isn't good for him," I said. "What are the drawings?" "You may know to-morrow," she answered, leaning forward on the table
and shading her face with one hand. "Tell me about yourself and Jack in
Paris." I looked at her suspiciously. "What! There isn't much to tell. We studied. Jack went to the law
school, and I attended--er--oh, all sorts of schools." "Did you? Surely you gave yourself a little recreation occasionally?" "Occasionally," I nodded. "I am afraid you and Jack studied too hard." "That may be," said I, looking meek. "Especially about fossils." I couldn't stand that. "Miss Holroyd," I said, "I do care for fossils. You may think that I am
a humbug, but I have a perfect mania for fossils--now." "Since when?" "About an hour ago," I said airily. Out of the corner of my eye I saw
that she had flushed up. It pleased me. "You will soon tire of the experiment," she said with a dangerous smile. "Oh, I may," I replied indifferently. She drew back. The movement was scarcely perceptible, but I noticed it,
and she knew I did. The atmosphere was vaguely hostile. One feels such mental conditions
and changes instantly. I picked up a chessboard, opened it, set up the
pieces with elaborate care, and began to move, first the white, then
the black. Miss Holroyd watched me coldly at first, but after a dozen
moves she became interested and leaned a shade nearer. I moved a black
pawn forward. "Why do you do that?" said Daisy. "Because," said I, "the white queen threatens the pawn." "It was an aggressive move," she insisted. "Purely defensive," I said. "If her white highness will let the pawn
alone, the pawn will let the queen alone." Miss Holroyd rested her chin on her wrist and gazed steadily at the
board. She was flushing furiously, but she held her ground. "If the white queen doesn't block that pawn, the pawn may become
dangerous," she said coldly. I laughed, and closed up the board with a snap. "True," I said, "it might even take the queen." After a moment's
silence I asked, "What would you do in that case, Miss Holroyd?" "I should resign," she said serenely; then realizing what she had said,
she lost her self-possession for a second, and cried: "No, indeed! I
should fight to the bitter end! I mean----"

"What?" I asked, lingering over my revenge. "I mean," she said slowly, "that your black pawn would never have the
chance--never! I should take it immediately." "I believe you would," said I, smiling; "so we'll call the game yours,
and--the pawn captured." "I don't want it," she exclaimed. "A pawn is worthless." "Except when it's in the king row." "Chess is most interesting," she observed sedately. She had completely
recovered her self-control. Still I saw that she now had a certain
respect for my defensive powers. It was very soothing to me. "You know," said I gravely, "that I am fonder of Jack than of anybody. That's the reason we never write each other, except to borrow things. I
am afraid that when I was a young cub in France I was not an attractive
personality." "On the contrary," said Daisy, smiling, "I thought you were very big
and very perfect. I had illusions. I wept often when I went home and
remembered that you never took the trouble to speak to me but once." "I was a cub," I said; "not selfish and brutal, but I didn't understand
schoolgirls. I never had any sisters, and I didn't know what to say to
very young girls. If I had imagined that you felt hurt----"

"Oh, I did--five years ago. Afterward I laughed at the whole thing." "Laughed?" I repeated, vaguely disappointed. "Why, of course. I was very easily hurt when I was a child. I think I
have outgrown it." The soft curve of her sensitive mouth contradicted her. "Will you forgive me now?" I asked. "Yes. I had forgotten the whole thing until I met you an hour or so
ago." There was something that had a ring not entirely genuine in this
speech. I noticed it, but forgot it the next moment. "Tiger cubs have stripes," said I. "Selfishness blossoms in the cradle,
and prophecy is not difficult. I hope I am not more selfish than my
brothers." "I hope not," she said, smiling. Presently she rose, touched her hair with the tip of one finger, and
walked to the door. "Good-night," she said, courtesying very low. "Good-night," said I, opening the door for her to pass. III. The sea was a sheet of silver, tinged with pink. The tremendous arch of
the sky was all shimmering and glimmering with the promise of the sun. Already the mist above, flecked with clustered clouds, flushed with
rose colour and dull gold. I heard the low splash of the waves breaking
and curling across the beach. A wandering breeze, fresh and fragrant,
blew the curtains of my window. There was the scent of sweet bay in the
room, and everywhere the subtile, nameless perfume of the sea. When at last I stood upon the shore, the air and sea were all aglimmer
in a rosy light, deepening to crimson in the zenith. Along the beach I
saw a little cove, shelving and all ashine, where shallow waves washed
with a mellow sound. Fine as dusted gold the shingle glowed, and the
thin film of water rose, receded, crept up again a little higher, and
again flowed back, with the low hiss of snowy foam and gilded bubbles
breaking. I stood a little while quiet, my eyes upon the water, the invitation of
the ocean in my ears, vague and sweet as the murmur of a shell. Then I
looked at my bathing suit and towels. "In we go!" said I aloud. A second later the prophecy was fulfilled. I swam far out to sea, and as I swam the waters all around me turned to
gold. The sun had risen. There is a fragrance in the sea at dawn that none can name. Whitethorn
abloom in May, sedges asway, and scented rushes rustling in an inland
wind recall the sea to me--I can't say why. Far out at sea I raised myself, swung around, dived, and set out again
for shore, striking strong strokes until the flecked foam flew. And
when at last I shot through the breakers, I laughed aloud and sprang
upon the beach, breathless and happy. Then from the ocean came another
cry, clear, joyous, and a white arm rose in the air. She came drifting in with the waves like a white sea-sprite, laughing
at me from her tangled hair, and I plunged into the breakers again to
join her. Side by side we swam along the coast, just outside the breakers, until
in the next cove we saw the flutter of her maid's cap strings. "I will beat you to breakfast!" she cried, as I rested, watching her
glide up along the beach. "Done!" said I--"for a sea-shell!" "Done!" she called across the water.