Marian laughed heartily as she said:  “Mr. Strahan, if you fight as well as you talk, I foresee Southern reverses.  You have no idea how your indignation becomes you.  ‘As well-born,’ did you say?  Why, my good friend, you are worth a wilderness of such lackadaisical fellows.  Ciphers don’t count unless they stand after a significant figure; neither do such men, unless stronger men use them.”

“Your arithmetic is at fault, Miss Marian.  Ciphers do have the power of pushing a significant figure way back to the right of the decimal point, and, as a practical fact, these elegant human ciphers usually stand before good men and true in society.  I don’t believe it would be so with you, but few of us would stand a chance with most girls should this rich American, with his foreign airs and graces, enter the lists against us.”

In her sincerity and earnestness, she took his hand and said:  “I thank you for your tribute.  You are right.  Though this person had the wealth of the Indies, and every external grace, he could not be my friend unless he were a man.  I’ve talked with papa a good deal, and believe there are men in the Southern army just as honest and patriotic as you are; but no cold-blooded, selfish betwixt-and-betweens shall ever take my hand.”

“Make me a promise,” cried Strahan, giving the hand he held a hearty and an approving shake.

“Well?”

“If opportunity offers, make this fellow bite the dust.”

“We’ll see about that.  I may not think it worth the while, and I certainly shall not compromise myself in the slightest degree.”

“But if I bring him here you will be polite to him?”

“Just about as polite as he was to you, I imagine.”

“Miss Marian, I wouldn’t have any harm come to you for the wide world.  If—­if anything should turn out amiss I’d shoot him, I certainly would.”

The girl’s only answer was a merry peal of laughter.

CHAPTER XII.

“A vow.”

Bent, as was Strahan, upon his scheme of disturbing Merwyn’s pride and indifference, he resolved to permit several days to pass before repeating his call.  He also, as well as Marian, was unwilling to compromise himself beyond a certain point, and it was his hope that he might receive a speedy visit.  He was not disappointed, for on the ensuing day Merwyn sauntered up the Strahan avenue, and, learning that the young officer had gone to camp, followed him thither.  The cold glance from the fair stranger in the phaeton dwelt in his memory, and he was pleased to find that it formed sufficient incentive to action.

Strahan saw him coming with a grim smile, but greeted him with off-hand cordiality.  “Sorry, Merwyn,” he said, “I can give you only a few moments before I go on duty.”

“You are not on duty evenings?”

“Yes, every other evening.”

“How about to-night?”