"I haven't any friends," remarked Beatrice, sadly, to the Doctor.
"Friends are one thing," retorted Ronald, hotly, "and body servants are another. I'm willing to lead your horse around, because it's too hot for you to ride her, and I wouldn't want to be seen riding a nag like that anyhow; but I won't bathe her nor comb her hair nor put on her shoes." He turned on his heel and walked away, the personification of offended dignity.
Beatrice laughed, while Forsyth and the Doctor looked at her in amazement. "Oh," she gasped, "isn't he—isn't he funny when he's mad!" Ronald strode into the Fort and gave no sign of having heard, save by a tell-tale redness of the ears.
Robert felt concerned in a way, but the Doctor was not. "You'll find, Miss Manning," he said judicially, "as you grow older, that there's a limit to everything and everybody."
"Of course," returned the girl, seriously; "I was just locating it."
"Shall we go back, now?" asked Robert.
"No; I'm going to see Katherine."
"Very well." He started toward the Fort with her and Norton followed them.
"What?" she asked; "are you both coming, too?"
"I'm not," said the Doctor, quietly.