!" commented Monck. He put his hand with very unwonted
kindness upon the lad's shoulder. "What do you want to kick me for,
Tommy?" he asked.

Tommy shrugged the shoulder under his hand. "If you don't know, I can't
tell you," he said gruffly.

Monck's fingers closed with quiet persistence. "Yes, you can. Out with
it!" he said.

But Tommy remained doggedly silent.

Several seconds passed. Then very suddenly Monck raised his hand and
smote him hard on the back.

"Damn!" said Tommy, straightening involuntarily.

"That's better," said Monck. "That'll do you good. Don't curl up again!
You're getting disgracefully round-shouldered. Like to have a bout with
the gloves?"

There was not a shade of ill-feeling in his voice. Tommy turned round
upon him with a smile as involuntary as his exclamation had been.

"What a brute you are, Monck! You have such a beastly trick of putting a
fellow in the wrong."

"You are in the wrong," asserted Monck. "I want to get you out of it if
I can. What's the grievance? What have I done?"

Tommy hesitated for a moment, then finally reached up and gripped the
hand upon his shoulder. "Monck! I say, Monck!" he said boyishly. "I feel
such a cur to say it. But--but--" he broke off abruptly. "I'm damned if
I can say it!" he decided dejectedly.

Monck's fingers suddenly twisted and closed upon his. "What a funny
little ass you are, Tommy!" he said.

Tommy brightened a little. "It's infernally difficult--taking you to
task," he explained blushing a still fierier red. "You'll never speak to
me again after this."

Monck laughed. "Yes, I shall. I shall respect you for it. Get on with
it, man! What's the trouble?"

With immense effort Tommy made reply. "Well, it's pretty beastly to have
to ask any fellow what his intentions are with regard to his sister, but
you pretty nearly told me yours."

"Then what more do you want?" questioned Monck.

Tommy made a gesture of helplessness. "Damn it, man! Don't you know she
is making plans to go Home?"

"Well?" said Monck.

Tommy faced round. "I say, like a good chap,--you've practically forced
this, you know--you're not going to--to let her go?"

Monck's eyes looked back straight and hard. He did not speak for a
moment; then, "You want to know my intentions, Tommy," he said. "You
shall. Your sister and I are observing a truce for the present, but it
won't last for ever. I am making plans for a move myself. I am going to
live at the Club."

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