'Come now,' said Piper, 'what is the sense of this quarrel? Are you women to behave in this unreasonable manner? You, both of you, look the worse for the squabble. What is it all about?'
'Upon my word, I do not know,' said Nanspian. 'I never did Langford a hurt in my life. Why did he insult me?'
'I insult him!' repeated Taverner. 'Heaven knows I bore him no ill-will, but when he dared to address me as——'
'I swear by——' burst in Hillary.
'Do not swear!' said Langford, hastily. 'Let your yea be yea.' The ice was broken between them. One had addressed the other. Now they looked each other full in the face. Hillary's eyes moistened. Taverner's mouth twitched.
'Why did you employ offensive language towards me?' asked Hillary.
'I!' exclaimed Taverner; 'no, it was you who addressed me in words I could not endure.'
The critical moment had arrived. In another moment they would clasp hands, and be reconciled for life. No one spoke, all watched the two men eagerly.
'Well, Taverner,' said Hillary, 'you know I am a hot man, and my words fly from my tongue before I have cooled them.'
'I dare say I may have said what I never meant. Most certainly what I did say was not to be taken seriously.'