"Don't believe I know him," Darrin returned.
"Then you haven't been deprived of much," replied Belle, in a tone that was very nearly bitter. "I've been meaning to tell you about him, Dave, but other matters have been cropping up and it has escaped me until now."
"What's wrong with Ardmore?" asked Dave.
"He's posing as an admirer of mine."
"I can't quarrel with his taste," smiled Darrin.
"But he annoys me."
"Has he dared to do that?" demanded Dave, a quick flash in his eyes.
"Not in any way that it would be easy to resent," Belle assured him.
"Who is this fellow Ardmore?"
"He appears to be a gentleman—at least in his ordinary conduct," Belle Meade answered. "He moved here last spring with his parents. The father is a retired lawyer, and wealthy. The Ardmores move in a rather good set in town. About a month ago Caspar Ardmore, the young man, met me at a church affair. Ever since then he has all but waylaid me. Several times he has tried to walk with me when we met, and has often tried to see me home from church or elsewhere. I've been almost downright rude to him, and have shown him in every way I can that I don't wish to continue acquaintance. But he's hard to discourage."