She turned her back upon him and gave her whole attention again to Rube. The first duty of a woman is to respect herself, the second duty of a woman is to enforce the respect of others. Some of these days Jerome Devonhough would be only too glad if she would deign to permit him to speak to her.
“Aren’t you going to take part?” she asked her companion.
“No; I’m not in trim, and it’s no use trying to beat Devonhough.”
“You could beat him,” said she. She spoke with confidence and seductively.
“You are awfully complimentary, I declare! Do you wish me to run, Melville?”
“I do. Yes, Rube, I wish it particularly. Why should this stranger carry off the palm over our own boys?”
“For the best of reasons. He deserves to carry it off. Devonhough can out-run, out-leap, out-ride, out-do anything in the county.”
“Except you,” again insinuated Mell.
“Say! what makes you believe so strong in me?”
“Nothing makes me, but—I cannot help it!”