When Courtland lifted his head at the sound of the doctor’s footsteps on the stairs he saw the challenge in Gila’s eyes.  Drawn up against the white enamel of the bathroom door, all her brilliant velvet and jewels gleaming in the brightness of the room, her regal little head up, her chin lifted half haughtily, her innocent mouth pursed softly with determination, her eyes wide with an inscrutable look—­something more than challenge—­something soft, appealing, alluring, that stirred him and drew him and repelled him all in one.

With a sense of something stronger than he was back of him, he lifted his own chin and hardened his eyes in answering challenge.  He did not know it, of course, but he wore the look that he always had when about to meet a foe in a game—­a look of strength and concealed power that nearly always made the coming foe quake when he saw it.

He shrank from going back to that red room again, or from being alone with her; and when she would have had him return to the library he declined, urging studies and an examination on the morrow.  She received his somewhat brusque reply with a hurt look, her mouth drooped grievedly, and her eyes took on a wide, child-like look of distress that gave an impression of innocence.  He went away wondering if, after all, he had not misjudged her.  Perhaps she was only an adorable child who had no idea of the effect her artlessness had upon men.  She certainly was lovely—­wonderful!  And yet the last glimpse he had of her had left that impression of jeweled horns and scarlet, pointed toes.  He had to get away and think it out calmly before he went again.  Oh yes, he was going again.  He had promised her at the last moment.

The sense of having escaped something fateful was passing already.  The coolness of the night and the quiet of the starlight had calmed him.  He thought he had been a fool not to have stayed a little longer when she asked him so prettily; and he must go soon again.

CHAPTER IV

“I think I’ll go to church this morning, Nelly.  Do you want to go along?” announced Courtland, the next morning.

Tennelly looked up aghast from the sporting page of the morning paper he was lazily reading.

“Go with him, Nelly, that’s a good boy!” put in Bill Ward, agreeably, winking his off eye at Tennelly.  “It’ll do you good.  I’d go with you, only I’ve got to get that condition made up or they’ll fire me off the ’varsity, and I only need this one more game to get my letter.”

“Go to thunder!” growled Tennelly.  “What do you think I want to go to church for a morning like this?  Court, you’re crazy!  Let’s go and get two saddle-horses and ride in the park.  It’s a peach of a morning for a ride.”

“I think I’ll go to church,” said Courtland, with his old voice of quiet decision.  “Do you want to go or not?”

There was something about Courtland’s voice, and the way Bill Ward kept up winking his off eye, that subdued Tennelly.