t 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 chess-board, 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-possession. 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, sm