“Well, well, do not threaten,” he said, throwing the match on the floor and rubbing it out with his boot; “let’s proceed to business.”
He got paper and pens, and we agreed on the following arrangements:
Time of meeting, the 3d of December; place, just in the South Carolina line; weapons, Derringer pistols; distance, ten paces.
“Is that all, now,” I said, rising to leave.
“I believe so,” he said, running his finger down the paper. “It’s pretty far off now, and we’ll have to keep our principals up to the point. I’m afraid they’ll cool off and make friends yet.”
“You need have no fears in regard to mine,” I said, haughtily, “he’ll make no overtures, and will certainly be ready when the time comes.”
I reported all to DeVare, who expressed himself satisfied with the arrangements, and apparently dismissed the subject from his mind for any allusion he made to it during the days and weeks following.
The same evening I walked out, and received a very gracious bow from Miss Carrover, which set my heart in a flutter, though I was considerably troubled at seeing Ellerton in the porch with her.
That night I wrote to father, with many excuses and reasons for the request, to send me my horse and Reuben; and feeling perfectly assured they would come, made up my mind what to do when they did.