“Were you? I'm not sure that I was,” replied Captain Jack.
“Well, you WERE savage, you know. You looked as if you were in a fight.”
“Did I? That was very rotten of me, wasn't it?”
“Oh, I don't know exactly. But it was a wonderful game. Of course, one doesn't play tennis like a fight, I suppose.”
“No! You are quite right, Pat,” replied Captain Jack. “You see, I'm afraid I lost my temper a bit, which is horribly bad form I know, and—well, I wanted to fight rather than play, and of course one couldn't fight on the tennis court in the presence of a lot of ladies, you see.”
“Well, I'm glad you didn't fight, Captain Jack. You have had enough of fighting, haven't you? And Rupert is really very nice, you know. He has a wonderful car and he lets me drive it, and he always brings a box of chocolates every time he comes.”
“He must be perfectly lovely,” said Captain Jack, with a grin at her.
The girl laughed a laugh of such infectious jollity that Captain Jack was forced to join with her.
“That's one for you, Captain Jack,” she cried. “I know I am a pig where chocs are concerned, and I do love to drive a car. But, really, Rupert is quite nice. He is so funny. He makes Mamma laugh. Though he does tease me a lot.”
Captain Jack drove on in silence for some moments.
“I was glad to see you playing though to-day, Captain Jack.”
“Where were you? I didn't see you anywhere.”
“Not likely!” She glanced behind her at the others in the back seat. She need not have given them a thought, they were too deeply engrossed to heed her. “Do you know where I was? In the crutch of the big elm—you know!”
“Don't I!” said Captain Jack. “A splendid seat, but—”
“Wouldn't Adrien be shocked?” said the girl, with a deliciously mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Or, at least, she would pretend to be. Adrien thinks she must train me down a bit, you know. She says I have most awful manners. She wants Mamma to send me over to England to her school. But I don't want to go, you bet. Besides, I don't think Dad can afford it so they can't send me. Anyway, I could have good manners if I wanted to. I could act just like Adrien if I wanted to—I mean, for a while. But that was a real game. I felt sorry for Rupert, a little. You see, he didn't seem to know what to do or how to begin. And you looked so terrible! Now in the game with Cousin Sidney you were so different, and you played so awfully well, too, but differently. Somehow, it was just like gentlemen playing, you know—”
“You have hit it, Patsy—a regular bull!” said Captain Jack.
“Oh, I don't mean—” began the girl in confusion, rare with her.
“Yes, you do, Pat. Stick to your guns.”
“Well, I will. The first game everybody loved to watch. The second game—somehow it made me wish Rupert had been a Hun. I'd have loved it then.”
“By Jove, Patsy, you're right on the target. You've scored again.”
“Oh, I'm not saying just what I want—but I hope you know what I mean.”
“Your meaning hits me right in the eye. And you are quite right. The tennis court is no place for a fight, eh? And, after all, Rupert Stillwell is no Hun.”
“But you haven't been playing this summer at all, Captain Jack,” said the girl, changing the subject. “Why not?” The girl's tone was quite severe. “And you don't do a lot of things you used to do, and you don't go to places, and you are different.” The blue eyes earnestly searched his face.
“Am I different?” he asked slowly. “Well, everybody is different. And then, you know, I am busy. A business man has his hours and he must stick to them.”
“Oh, I don't believe you a bit. You don't need to be down at the mills all the time. Look at Rupert. He doesn't need to be at his father's office.”
“Apparently not.”
“He gets off whenever he wants to.”
“Looks like it.”
“And why can't you?”
“Well, you see, I am not Rupert,” said Captain Jack, grinning at her.
“Now you are horrible. Why don't you do as you used to do? You know you could if you wanted to.”
“Yes, I suppose, if I wanted to,” said Captain Jack, suddenly grave.
“You don't want to,” said the girl, quick to catch his mood.
“Well, you know, Patsy dear, things are different, and I suppose I am too. I don't care much for a lot of things.”
“You just look as if you didn't care for anything or anybody sometimes, Captain Jack,” said Patricia quietly. Then after a few moments she burst forth: “Oh, don't you remember your hockey team? Oh! oh! oh! I used to sit and just hold my heart from jumping. It nearly used to choke me when you would tear down the ice with the puck.”
“That was long ago, Pat dear. I guess I was—ah—very young then, eh?”
“Yes, I know,” nodded the girl. “I feel the same way—I was just a kid then.”
“Ah, yes,” said Captain Jack, with never a smile. “You were just—let's see—twelve, was it?”
“Yes, twelve. And I felt just a kid.”
“And now?” Captain Jack's voice was quite grave.
“Now? Well, I am not exactly a kid. At least, not the same kind of kid. And, as you say, a lot of things are different. I think I know how you feel. I was like that, too—after—after—Herbert—” The girl paused, with her lips quivering. “It was all different—so different. Everything we used to do, I didn't feel like doing. And I suppose that's the way with you, Captain Jack, with Andy—and then your Mother, too.” She leaned close to him and put her hand timidly on his arm.
Captain Jack, sitting up very straight and looking very grave, felt the thrill of the timid touch run through his very heart. A rush of warm, tender emotion such as he had not allowed himself for many months suddenly surprised him, filling his eyes and choking his throat. Since his return from the war he had without knowledge been yearning for just such an understanding touch as this child with her womanly instinct had given him. He withdrew one hand from the wheel and took the warm clinging fingers tight in his and waited in silence till he was sure of himself. He drove some blocks before he was quite master of his voice. Then, releasing the fingers, he turned his face toward the girl.
“You are a real pal, aren't you, Patsy old girl?” he said with a very bright smile at her.
“I want to be! Oh, I would love to be!” she said, with a swift intake of breath. “And after a while you will be just as you were before you went away.”
“Hardly, I fear, Patsy.”
“Well, not the same, but different from what you are now. No, I don't mean that a bit, Captain Jack. But perhaps you know—I do want to see you on the ice again. Oh, it would be wonderful! Of course, the old team wouldn't be there—Herbert and Phil and Andy. Why! You are the only one left! And Rupert.” She added the name doubtfully. “It WOULD be different! oh, so different! Oh! I don't wonder you don't care, Captain Jack. I won't wonder—” There was a little choke in the young voice. “I see it now—”
“I think you understand, Patsy, and you are a little brick,” said Captain Jack in a low, hurried tone. “And I am going to try. Anyway, whatever happens, we will be pals.”
The girl caught his arm