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WILD MARGARET. it
““Tt—it ig shameful,” she went on, her lovely face grow-
ing carmine, her eyes flashing rebukingly, ‘‘for two men
to fight like—like dogs; and one a gentleman!”
He looked. rather bewildered, as if this view of the. pro-
ceedings was something entirely novel.
“Oh, come, you know,’’ he said, deprecatingly, ‘‘ there
isn’t much harm done.”’
‘““Not much! I saw you knock him down as if—as if he
were dead!’ she said, indignantly. ‘‘And you—oh, look
at your face!’ and she turned her eyes away.
As this was an impossibility, he did the next best thing
‘to it, and put his hand to his cheek and lips.
*T don’t think he’s hurt much,” he said, excusingly,
‘Cond I’m not a bit. I think we rather enjoyed it; I know
J did,” he added, half inaudibly, and with the beginning
of alaugh which was smitten dead as she said, with the
air of a judge: .
— You must be a savage!’’
“J_J think I am,” he assented, with a rueful air of
conviction. ‘But, all the same, I’m sorry you were here!
If I'd known there was a lady looking on I’d have put it
off! I’m afraid you’ve been upset; but don’t worry your-
self about either of us! Our long-legged friend will be all
the better for a little shaking up, and as for me——. The
dog isn’t hurt, is he?’
‘** T_T don’t know,” she said. °
He came a little nearer, and took the dog from her, .no-
ticing that in extending it to him she shrank back, as if
his touch would pollute her.
‘No; he’s all right!’ he said, after turning the animal
over, and getting bim on his legs. ‘‘He ought to have
some. of his ribs broken, but he hasn’t! I’m glad of that,
poor little beggar,’? and for the first time his voice soft-_
ened:
The girl looked et him with grave displeasure.
‘Tam afraid bz is the best Christian of the three,’’ she
said, severely. _
‘“By George, f shouldn’t wonder!’ he muttered, with
’ the ghost of a smile.
She gave him another glance, then, without a word,
raised her head loftily and passed on.
He lifted his hat and ‘looked after her, then tugged at
his mustache thoughtfully.
“So I’m a-savage, am I?’ he said. _ ‘‘ Well, I expect
she’s. about right! What a beautiful girl! I’m a savage!
By George, the old man will say the same if I present my-
self with this highly-colored physiognomy. I'd better go
back to the inn, and turn up later on.”’