"'Chess is most interesting,' she observed, sedately. She had completely recovered her self-possession. Still I saw that she now had a certain respect for my defensive powers. It was very soothing to me.
"'You know,' said I, gravely, 'that I am fonder of Jack than of anybody. That's the reason we never write each other, except to borrow things. I am afraid that when I was a young cub in France I was not an attractive personality.'
"'On the contrary,' said Daisy, smiling, 'I thought you were very big and very perfect. I had illusions. I wept often when I went home and remembered that you never took the trouble to speak to me but once.'
"'I was a cub,' I said—'not selfish and brutal, but I didn't understand school-girls. I never had any sisters, and I didn't know what to say to very young girls. If I had imagined that you felt hurt—'
"'Oh, I did—five years ago. Afterwards I laughed at the whole thing.'
"'Laughed?' I repeated, vaguely disappointed.
"'Why, of course. I was very easily hurt when I was a child. I think I have outgrown it.'
"The soft curve of her sensitive mouth contradicted her.
"'Will you forgive me now?' I asked.
"'Yes. I had forgotten the whole thing until I met you an hour or so ago.'