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Rh were the prettiest woman in the room, and because Frank Hallett is said to be engaged to you, and he didn't choose that anybody should beat him—more especially Frank Hallett."

"Do you think it is very nice of you to talk about your partner behind his back in that way?"

"It is only what I have said to his face, and you are quite at liberty to repeat every word. Blake knows it is true. But I've put myself in your power in another way."

"How?"

"By letting you see that I am jealous."

"Now, Miss Valliant, this is good going ground." Blake had cantered up and reined in his horse for a moment.

Elsie touched Gipsy Girl with the whip. Blake rode the Outlaw. They were soon striding on in advance of the others. "So Trant is jealous! Poor Trant! You must be nice to him. Miss Valliant. He is a very good fellow in his way—Trant."

Elsie was struck by the cool, half-contemptuous tone in which he spoke. "Is Mr. Trant very much your inferior?" she asked.

"Good gracious! Inferior! In what way?"

"In birth and position, I suppose. You speak as if he were."

"I am sorry I gave you that impression. Trant is—well, perhaps his ancestors tilled the soil when mine rode over it. I don't know that that makes much difference."

"You said once that you came of a wild race."

He laughed. "Ah, that's true, and I think I've done my best to carry on the family traditions. I've been wild enough, too, at times."

Elsie was silent for a minute. At last she began impulsively and stopped.

"I wonder"

"What is it that you wonder?"

He bent down from his saddle, and looked at her with that curiously sweet smile which he had.

"I was wondering, Mr. Blake, that you, who I suppose