The lad stepped down from the wagon and then stood still. "I resent
advice from you as much as I do your--uncalled for insolence an hour or
two ago," he said. "To lie low until honest men got used to him would
be considerably more becoming to a man like you."
"Well," said Winston, stung into forgetfulness, "I'm not going to
offend in that fashion again, and you can go to the devil in the way
that most pleases you. In fact, I only pulled you out of the pit
to-night because a lady, who apparently takes a quite unwarranted
interest in you, asked me to."
Ferris stared up at him, and his face showed almost livid through the
luminous night.
"She asked you to!" he said. "By the Lord, I'll make you sorry for
this."
Winston said nothing, but shook the reins, and when the wagon lurched
forward Dane looked at him.
"I didn't know that before," he said.
"Well," said Winston dryly, "if I hadn't lost my temper with the lad,
you wouldn't have known now."
Dane smiled. "You miss the point of it. Our engaging friend made
himself the laughing-stock of the colony by favoring Maud Barrington
with his attentions when he came out. In fact, I fancy the lady in
desperation had to turn her uncle loose on him before he could be made
to understand that they were not appreciated. I'd keep my eye on him,
Courthorne, for the little beast has shown himself abominably
vindictive occasionally, though I have a notion he's scarcely to be
held accountable.
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