"Still, he had some provocation, and I think he was right.

So far as I could follow the discussion, the other man meant to question his ability to dismiss him, with the pistol." Alice Deringham said nothing further upon the subject until Alton joined them as they sat out on the verandah that night.

"You are not pleased with me ?" he said.
"There is nothing to warrant me telling you so, and I may have been mistaken," said the girl reflectively.
"No," said Alton, "that's the pity; but couldn't you remember just now and then that you are friends with me ?" "Things of this kind make it a little difficult," said Miss Deringham.
"Well," said Alton, "that machine cost me twelve months' grim self-denial, and the fellow broke it out of temper because I spoke to him." "It was," said Miss Deringham, "sufficiently exasperating, but was the rest justifiable because you were a stronger or bolder man than him ?" Alton laughed a little.

"You don't understand.

I did it because I was afraid," said he.