t only in jest. I shan't continue if you are
vexed."

There was silence.

"Please! I am not angry," Marjorie pleaded. "Do continue."

"I forget my story now. What did I tell? There was so much that I am
confused."

"The Knights of the Rose!" suggested Marjorie.

"Oh, yes! Well, this body of knights made the circuit of the square and
then saluted their ladies. On a sudden, a herald advanced with a
flourish of trumpets and announced that the ladies of the Blended Rose
excelled in wit, beauty, grace, charm and accomplishments those of the
whole world and challenged a denial by deeds of arms. Whereupon a
counter sound of trumpets was heard from afar and another herald
galloped before a body of knights in black and orange silk with the
device--a wreath of flowers surrounding a burning heart--over the motto,
'Love and Glory.' These were the Knights of the Burning Mountain, who
came to dispute the claim of the Knights of the Blended Rose."

"It must have been gorgeous!" exclaimed Marjorie, clasping her hands
before her.

"Indeed it was. Well, after several preliminaries, the encounter took
place, the knights receiving their lances together with their shields
from their esquires, whereupon they saluted and encountered at full
speed, shivering their spears against the shield of their adversaries.
They next encountered and discharged their pistols and then fought with
swords. Again the two chiefs of the warring factions, Captain Cathcart
of the Blended Rose and Captain Watson of the Burning Mountain, met in
mid field to try their arms as champions of their respective parties.
They parried and thrust with true knightly valor until Major Grayson, as
marshal of the field, intervened at the critical moment, declaring the
ladies of both parties to be fully satisfied with the proofs of love and
the feats of valor displayed by their knights. He then commanded the
combatants to desist. Thus ended the tournament."

"How wonderful!" sighed Marjorie. "I would I had been present. And your
knight was the hero?"

"Of course," replied Peggy with a smile. "I am sure that he would have
worsted Captain Watson, had not the Major stepped in. But the banquet
was splendid."

"And Captain Cathcart!" reminded Marjorie, with a slight manifestation
of instinctive envy.

"Why! He attended me, of course," was the proud response. "Each knight
escorted his lady through the triumphal arches erected in honor of the
Generals who were present, alon