his experience in war, and his lack of
it in women, for he instantly conceived that her hesitation was due to
some other cause than maidenly incertitude, and that Harry Lacy, of
whom he had grown mightily jealous, was at the bottom of it.

He hated and envied Lacy. More, he despised him for his weaknesses and
their consequences. The two had been great friends once, but a year or
two before the outbreak of the war they had drifted apart.

Sempland did not envy Lacy any talents that he might possess, for he
was quite confident that the only thing he himself lacked had been
opportunity--Fate had not been kind to him, but the war was not yet
over. Consequently when he jumped to the conclusion that Fanny Glen
preferred Lacy, he fell into further error, and made the frightful
mistake of depreciating his rival.

Assuming with masculine inconsistency that the half acceptance she had
given him entitled him to decide her future, he actually referred to
Lacy's well-known habits and bade her have nothing to do with him.

CHAPTER II

SHE HATES THEM BOTH

"You are," he said at last, "a lonely, unprotected young girl. Where
you come from or what you have been doesn't matter to me. I know what
you are. And that is why I love you. You have no father or brother to
advise you. I must do it and I will, much as it pains me. If you won't
take my affection, you must my counsel,"--he called it counsel, but
only an expert could have distinguished it from command--"you do not
know this man Lacy. He is a dissolute, abandoned--"

"Stop!" cried the girl. "To me he is always a gentleman--a hero."

"The man is brave enough, I'll admit. And he has done some fine
things."

"Yes, while other men have escaped dangers by being made prisoners."

By that unkind remark she lost a large part of her advantage.

"As you say," he returned, wincing under her cruel thrust, but
persistent, "but we are not discussing me now, but Lacy."

"Speaking of wickedness, you would better discuss yourself, I think,
than him."

"I will not be put off in this way, Miss Fan--"

"Miss Glen, please," she interrupted, but he paid no attention.

"Lacy is well enough as a soldier. There is much to commend in him. He
has the manner of a gentleman when he wishes to exhibit it, but
nevertheless he is not a fit person to be entrusted with the future of
a lovely, pure, innocent young girl like you."

"Shame! Shame!" cried the girl.

"You may cry 'shame' upon m